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COVID-19 deaths soar despite government claims of easing
On Wednesday, the country reported 1,824 confirmed coronavirus-related deaths, just a day after smashing past the 2,000-fatalities mark and bringing the total death toll nationwide to nearly 89,000 people.
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A worker wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) rests while preparing a grave at a burial area provided by the government for COVID-19 victims as case numbers surge, in Bekasi, West Java, on July 15, 2021. (Reuters/Willy Kurniawan)
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ndonesia posted four-digit COVID-19 fatality figures for the 13th consecutive day on Wednesday despite a dip in new cases in the official data and claims from authorities that the situation has relatively improved following the implementation of stricter activity curbs on July 3.
Given the inconsistent and underreported COVID-19 data collection since the beginning of the outbreak last year, the number of deaths is thought to be the only reliable marker for demonstrating the true scale of the pandemic in the country.
But now concerns are mounting that the figures reported from the regions could be much higher, with the government not including deaths outside of healthcare facilities in its daily official tally.
On Wednesday, the country reported 1,824 confirmed coronavirus-related deaths, just a day after smashing past the 2,000-fatalities mark and bringing the total death toll nationwide to nearly 89,000 people.
The Health Ministry's director for communicable disease prevention and control, Siti Nadia Tarmizi, said that the number of deaths nationwide rose by 36 percent last week compared with the previous week.
"We will use [these figures] as part of the government’s evaluation, so that we can make improvements and ensure every patient in a hospital or anyone self-isolating at home can be saved," Nadia said in a virtual press conference on Wednesday.
The admission of the problem walks back on statements made the previous day about the relative improvement in the national situation.
