Daily Confirmed Cases Ranked No.1 Worldwide on the 15th and 16th
[Asia Economy Reporter Minji Lee] Indonesia reported 51,000 new COVID-19 cases on the 16th, marking the fourth consecutive day with over 50,000 cases. The Indonesian Ministry of Health announced that 51,952 new cases were added that day, bringing the total to 2,832,755, with 1,092 new deaths, raising the cumulative death toll to 72,489.
COVID-19 infections in Indonesia have surged since last month due to the spread of the Delta variant originating from India. Daily confirmed cases skyrocketed from 20,000 on June 24, to 30,000 on July 6, 40,000 on July 12, 54,000 on July 14, and 56,000 on July 15, before slightly decreasing to 54,000 on July 16 and 51,000 on the day of the report.
Indonesia ranked first worldwide in daily cases on July 12 and 13, dropped to second place behind Brazil on July 14, and returned to first place on July 15 and 16. The number of deaths jumped to 1,040 on July 7, fluctuated around 1,000 thereafter, rose to 1,205 on July 16, and slightly decreased again on the day of the report.
As the local situation worsens, the number of Korean nationals in Indonesia infected with or deceased from COVID-19 continues to rise. The Korean Embassy has recorded two additional confirmed cases on the day, bringing the total to 273, with 14 deaths and 82 Koreans repatriated via air ambulance or chartered flights. However, there are reports of deaths not included in the official count. Koreans who died after returning to Korea for treatment or those who changed their nationality to Indonesian before dying from COVID-19 are not included in the embassy’s statistics unless reported.
A Korean man in his 50s, Mr. A, contracted COVID-19 and died in a Korean hospital after returning from Jakarta that morning. Mr. A tested positive on June 11, self-isolated, was hospitalized locally on June 16, and his condition worsened, leading to his repatriation by air ambulance on June 22. It was confirmed that he received his first dose of the AstraZeneca (AZ) vaccine on July 3.
On July 15, another Korean man in his 50s, Mr. B, who worked in the shoe industry, died in a Korean hospital. Mr. B was infected with COVID-19 in Indonesia and returned to Korea at the end of last month for treatment before passing away.
In response, President Joko Widodo emphasized, "During the emergency period, all ministries, agencies, and leaders must have a strong sense of crisis."
Meanwhile, President Jokowi fully canceled the paid sale policy of the Sinopharm vaccine. Initially, starting July 12, Kimia Farma, a subsidiary of the state-owned pharmaceutical company Bio Farma, planned to offer a paid service administering two doses of the Chinese Sinopharm vaccine for a total of 879,140 rupiah (approximately 70,000 KRW). However, opposition parties and consumer groups protested, saying, "COVID-19 vaccines should all be free," leading to a temporary suspension on the day the service was to begin. Ultimately, on July 16, the paid sales were officially canceled.
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