Zubi M, Rahmad Nasution, Jakarta – Indonesia reported its biggest daily increase in coronavirus infections with 64,718 cases recorded as of 12 noon on Wednesday, according to data released by the national COVID-19 Task Force.

The figure exceeded the peak single-day jump of 56,757 recorded on July 15, 2021, during the Delta wave, the task force said.

Meanwhile, as of Wednesday, total confirmed COVID-19 cases since the coronavirus hit the archipelago in March 2020 reached 4,966,046.

The provinces of West Java, Jakarta, East Java, Banten, and Central Java contributed the most cases on Wednesday, the task force reported.

The number of daily confirmed cases in West Java was recorded at 15,196, while Jakarta, East Java, Banten, and Central Java reported 12,388, 7,919, 6,798, and 4,991 cases, respectively.

In the midst of the extraordinary surge in daily cases, Indonesia recorded 25,386 single-day recoveries, which took the total number of patients who have recovered from COVID-19 since March 2020 to 4,375,234.

The task force also reported 167 new deaths on Wednesday, bringing the death toll to 145,622.

To curb the spread of COVID-19 in the country, Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) appealed to all citizens to keep calm and remain disciplined in implementing the government's health protocols.

He also urged the people to reduce unnecessary activities in view of the exponential growth of Omicron cases.

As predicted, the increase in daily COVID-19 cases in Indonesia has almost reached the peak seen in July 2021, President Widodo said.

Omicron is more transmissible but its fatality rate is less severe than the Delta variant, he said while urging unvaccinated Indonesians to take the shots without delay.

"The COVID-19 vaccine booster shots are also needed for eligible persons who fully get vaccinated," he said.

ANTARA had reported earlier that Indonesia's first Omicron case was announced by Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin on December 16, 2021.

The first person to be infected with the new variant was a janitor working at Wisma Atlet Kemayoran emergency hospital for COVID-19, he stated.

Source: https://en.antaranews.com/news/215689/indonesia-reports-biggest-daily-jump-in-covid-19-infection