FILE PHOTO: A healthcare worker wearing protective gear walks through a traditional market while collecting swab samples from vendors to test for coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Jakarta, Indonesia, June 25, 2020. REUTERS / Willy Kurniawan
JAKARTA (Reuters) – Indonesia overtook China on Saturday as the country with the most confirmed coronavirus cases in East Asia with 84,882 infections, and authorities said the actual infection rate could be higher due to undetected cases.
Data from the country’s COVID-19 working group showed 1,752 new coronavirus infections on Saturday and 59 deaths, bringing the number of coronavirus-related deaths to 4,016.
China, where the first coronavirus cases were reported late last year, has had 83,644 cases as of Friday, with 4,634 deaths.
“There is a possibility that positive cases without symptoms will be detected,” said spokesman for the working group Achmad Yurianto, adding that authorities would continue to prioritize tracing contacts.
Epidemiologists have criticized the government for imposing lighter restrictions than its neighbors to control the pandemic and for the limited scope of the tests.
Some restrictions were reduced in early June, even as cases continued to increase, to allow for the resumption of some economic activity.
Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan delayed the loosening of edges this week, including postponing the reopening of theaters. The capital city reported 346 new cases on Saturday, its largest daily increase, with eight new deaths.
The country’s most populous province, West Java, will begin to fine people who do not wear face masks in public places starting July 27, its governor Ridwan Kamil said on Twitter.
(This story has been filled in to correct a confusing sentence in the final paragraph)
Tabita Diela’s Report; Additional reports from Yuddy Cahya; Gayatri Suroyo and Frances Kerry edition
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