Indonesia reports highest daily figure in Covid-19 cases

Jakarta, Jul 12 (EFE).- Indonesia reported 40,027 coronavirus cases on Monday, its highest daily figure since the beginning of the pandemic, according to health ministry data.

It also reported 891 new deaths, taking the total toll to 67,355 fatalities and 2.5 million infections since the pandemic first hit the archipelago.

More than 8,000 deaths have occurred in the past two weeks, with saturated health centers and an alarming shortage of oxygen supply for critical patients.

The increase is driven by the more contagious Delta variant and a slow vaccination campaign, even though some of the deceased patients had received both doses of the Chinese-made Sinovac vaccine.

Indonesian authorities imposed a partial lockdown on July 3 that includes the temporary closure of schools, religious sites, parks, museums, sports stadiums, shopping malls, bars and restaurants.

The lifting of restrictions is expected on July 20.

So far, 36.3 million Indonesians have received the first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine, representing 13% of the total population.

Some 15 million people are fully vaccinated, equivalent to 5.5% of the country’s 270 million inhabitants. EFE

sh-grc/mp/lv