Heru Andriyanto, Jakarta – Indonesia reported 684 new confirmed cases of coronavirus on Wednesday in a worrying start into the month, as projected Covid-19 peak is increasingly becoming a moving target.

The country now has a total of 28,233 cases, including 1,698 deaths or 6 percent of the total cases. By average, 18 people died from coronavirus in Indonesia every day since first cases were detected on March 2.

On the other hand, the number of recovered patients is gaining pace, accounting for 30 percent of total cases.

Models by the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) and the University of Indonesia projected the peak at between 21 May and 29 May, but recent figures indicated that the country's outbreak is nowhere near its peak.

The number of testing began to consistently meet the daily target of 10,000 only recently, meaning that confirmed cases will continue to spike in coming weeks.

In the first three days alone, the country has reported 1,760 new cases, compared to 1,074 cases in the first three days of May.

Since early last month, the country hasn't been able to significantly reduce probable cases at hospitals despite the improving testing capacity. The number of patients suspected of having the virus is hovering at between 12,000 and 14,000.

The epicenter has moved to East Java since mid-May. Unlike Jakarta, East Java has no sufficient ICU beds or makeshift isolation facilities to cope with the sudden surge in coronavirus patients.

East Java reported 183 cases in the 24-hour period on Wednesday, taking the province's total to 5,318 and becoming the only province to book a three-digit rise in the day.

Jakarta has the most cases of 7,623, including 523 deaths. Of the total cases, 2,586 patients, or 33.9 percent, have fully recovered and significantly reduced hospital load. There is also a large portion of patients with mild symptoms who self isolate at home.

The city has claimed that the occupancy rate of hospitals and isolation facilities designated for Covid-19 patients now dropped to below 50 percent.

On the other hand, only 15 percent of coronavirus patients in East Java have recovered, raising concern that its health system will soon be overwhelmed.

Source: https://jakartaglobe.id/news/indonesia-expects-another-tough-month-in-coronavirus-outbreak