Virus-battered Indonesia extends Covid-19 restrictions by another week
Jakarta, July 26 (EFE) .- Indonesia Monday extended Covid-19 restrictions by another week to Aug.2 to contain the worst outbreak linked to the highly infectious delta variant of the virus that has turned the country into a new epicenter of the pandemic in Asia.
The measures, which include travel restrictions and work from home, began on July 3 for the islands of Java and Bali.
The authorities subsequently extended the restriction to more cities across the Indonesian archipelago.
President Joko Widodo, in a televised speech last night, said the government decided to ease the restrictions for some essential services like street food vendors and traditional markets.
The government has also ramped up the digital contact tracing system across the country.
On Sunday, the country added more than 38,600 new cases and 1,266 deaths, bringing the total number of infections to 2.5 million, including 83,279 fatalities since the pandemic began.
The Indonesian vaccination drive is also sluggishly lagging behind the official program.
The authorities have fully inoculated some 18 million Indonesians or 6.6 percent of the 270 million inhabitants. Another 44.5 million or 16 percent have received their first vaccine doses. EFE
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