Heru Andriyanto, Jakarta – Indonesia's recent surge in coronavirus cases is partly attributable to soaring newly cases in West Sumatra and Riau, both have reached five digits in overall number with their daily average being outnumbered only by four worst-hit provinces in Java.

West Sumatra became the 11th province to have accumulated over 10,000 cases of the virus on Friday after reporting another new high for the third day in a row.

It reported 484 new cases, beating yesterday's record of 363, to take its total to 10,250. Riau meanwhile became the ninth province to pass 11,000 cases by adding 278 more on Friday.

Both have been experiencing a dramatic surge in cases since early September and overtaking other hotspots hit earlier by the virus to join the group of worst-affected provinces.

The country has recorded 4,301 cases in the last 24 hours to take its total to 353,461, including 12,347 deaths. It has been averaging 4,153 cases since Oct. 1, in comparison to an average of 3,740 last month.

The number of cured or discharged Covid-19 patients increased by 3,883 for a total of 277,544. Indonesia has a total of 63,570 active cases of the virus, equivalent to 18 percent of overall cases.

Jakarta remains the only province to ever report a four-digit daily number, adding another 1,045 on Friday for a total of 92,382.

It reported 24 more Covid-19 deaths, the highest daily death toll across the country, bringing the total number of fatalities to 1,994.

East Java registered 291 new cases and 19 deaths, to take the total number of cases and fatalities to 48,452 and 3,516, respectively. The surge is slowing in East Java with daily average falling below 300 this month.

Confirmed coronavirus cases in West Java rose by 424 for a total of 29,543, including 559 deaths. The country's most populous province averages 459 cases month-to-date to outpace both East and Central Java.

Central Java also has higher daily caseloads than East Java, reporting 443 new cases on Friday to take its total to 28,307, including 1,569 deaths.

South Sulawesi followed in fifth with a total of 17,286 cases, 107 more from a day earlier.

Meanwhile, South Kalimantan (11,329 cases) and North Sumatra (11,775) seemed to have been past their peak by keeping daily numbers below three digits. No other provinces among the top 15 have managed to do so.

Bali also joined East Java, South Kalimantan and North Sumatra in reporting a slower growth of newly cases compared to last month. The resort island averages 108 cases this month and has a total of 10,605 as of Friday.

But East Kalimantan saw an uptick in cases, with an average of 166 month-to-date. It has a total of 11,306 cases.

Source: https://jakartaglobe.id/news/w-sumatra-riau-add-speed-to-indonesias-covid-caseloads