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JAKARTA: Indonesia recorded its largest daily increase in COVID-19 deaths on Friday (December 25) with 258 deaths, bringing the total to 20,847, data from the country’s Ministry of Health showed.
The data showed that coronavirus infections increased by 7,259, bringing the number of cases to 700,097.
Indonesia has the highest number of coronavirus cases and deaths in Southeast Asia.
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Christmas celebrations in Indonesia were a low-key affair after the Indonesian government imposed a ban on large gatherings during Christmas and New Year’s Eve earlier this month. Churches are limited to just 50 faithful.
Most major churches in the mostly Muslim country of 270 million complied with the restriction on Thursday. About 10 percent of the population are Christians.
Indonesian Catholics who wear face masks to protect against the coronavirus attend a mass Christmas service at a church in Bali, Indonesia, Thursday, Dec. 24, 2020 (AP Photo / Firdia Lisnawati)
Church Unity Secretary General Prist Jacklevyn Frits Manuputy said many churches in the capital Jakarta and other cities have established online services.
“We did everything we could to keep people connected to God this Christmas Eve,” he said.
Indonesian Catholics who wear face masks to protect against the coronavirus attend a mass Christmas service at a church in Bali, Indonesia, Thursday, Dec. 24, 2020 (AP Photo / Firdia Lisnawati)
Following the discovery of a new variant of the coronavirus spreading in Britain, Indonesia recently banned travelers from the UK.
The rules for those arriving from Europe and Australia have also been tightened due to an indication that the virus variant was spreading there.
READ: Indonesia’s cabinet change is not a panacea as the COVID-19 crisis deepens
President Joko Widodo appointed six new ministers this week in a cabinet shakeup, including a replacement for Health Minister Terawan Agus Putranto, who was heavily criticized for his handling of the pandemic.
“The president has tasked me with concentrating on how we can handle the COVID-19 problem as quickly and as best as possible,” said new Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin, who stepped down as Deputy Minister of State Enterprises and Chief by Jokowi. economic recovery working group.
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