Indonesia COVID Deaths Reach 170... Surpassing South Korea

Indonesian President Joko Widodo is speaking during a visit to a hospital in Batam treating COVID-19 patients on the 1st.

The number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) in Indonesia increased by 113 on the 2nd, reaching a total of 1,790. The death toll rose to 170, surpassing South Korea's death toll of 169. This occurred just one month after the first confirmed case was announced on March 2.

The number of confirmed cases in Indonesia has increased by more than 100 daily for 10 consecutive days up to this date, following the distribution of rapid diagnostic kits.

The fatality rate, which represents the ratio of cumulative deaths to cumulative confirmed cases, stands at 9.49%. Italy, which has the highest number of deaths worldwide (13,155 deaths), has a fatality rate of 11.89%.

Although the situation is gradually worsening, Indonesia, unlike neighboring countries such as Malaysia, has not implemented a "lockdown" measure.

President Jokowi, after inspecting the COVID-19 emergency hospital built on Galang Island the day before, was reported by the daily Kompas to have bluntly stated, "Lockdown is not an option because it would disrupt the economy."

It is analyzed that the underlying reason President Jokowi opposes lockdown is the concern that a sudden lockdown of the Jakarta metropolitan area could trigger riots, especially among daily wage workers.

In Indonesia, the nationwide bloodshed riots in 1998 were triggered by a rise in oil prices, which eventually led to the resignation of President Suharto, who had ruled with an iron fist for 32 years.