[ad_1]
JAKARTA: Anies Baswedan, the governor of Indonesia’s capital Jakarta, said on Tuesday (December 1) that he had tested positive for COVID-19, as the world’s fourth-most populous country struggles to contain a surge in the number of infections. .
The 51-year-old governor of the largest city in Southeast Asia is among several politicians and officials who contracted the virus. Indonesia’s ministers of transport and religious affairs have previously been treated for the virus.
In a video posted on his Instagram account, the governor said that he was currently asymptomatic and that he would isolate himself.
“I would like to remind everyone that COVID-19 still exists and can reach anyone,” he said.
His deputy, Ahmad Riza Patria, also tested positive for the virus on Sunday, according to the city’s website.
READ: Indonesia Reports Record Daily Increase in COVID-19 Cases
LEE: Taiwan will curb the flow of Indonesian workers after the peak of COVID-19
Indonesia, a country of 270 million people, recorded three days with record numbers of cases last week.
With more than 530,000 infections and nearly 17,000 deaths, the country has the highest numbers in Southeast Asia, although some health experts say limited testing and contact tracing mask a much higher case load.
Jakarta, a bustling megacity, also set new records for infections in the past month, averaging around 1,240 cases a day last week.
Unlike some neighboring countries, Indonesia has not implemented strict national closures, instead opting for local restrictions.
READ: ‘Cinema under the stars’ offers Indonesians safe entertainment amid COVID-19 pandemic
Since October, the governor of Jakarta has relaxed sidewalks to re-establish “large-scale social restriction,” which means shopping malls and restaurants can operate with fewer hours.
Some experts and health officials have linked the recent increase in cases to mass gatherings around the capital.
This has included thousands of people joining street protests against a new job creation law and large gatherings, often with little social distancing, to mark the return from exile of the controversial Islamic cleric Rizieq Shihab.
CHECK THIS: Our comprehensive coverage of the coronavirus outbreak and its developments
Download our app or subscribe to our Telegram channel for the latest updates on the coronavirus outbreak: https://cna.asia/telegram
