TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) chairman Jusuf Kalla or JK predicted that the number of Covid-19 cases in Indonesia would reach 2 million in April 2021. This, he added, could happen if the addition of new infections per day consistently hit above 12,000.

“If this goes on without hard efforts, including vaccinations which are greatly vital, there will be 2 million positive cases by the end of April,” said JK in the online launching event of the SOE Plasma program on Monday, February 8.

If the country records two million cases, the government will have to deal with a new problem that hospitals will no longer be able to accommodate patients, the former Vice President opined.

Indonesia’s number of positive cases continued to rise. Based on the government data as of 12 p.m. Sunday, there were 10,827 new infections in the last 24 hours, pushing the total tally to 1,157,837 since the first cases were detected on March 2, 2020.

Meanwhile, 10,806 more patients have been cured, bringing the total recovery to 949,990. The government also recorded 163 more deaths on Sunday, causing the total death to 31,558.

Even though the government has carried out the Covid-19 vaccination program, Jusuf Kalla asserted that people must be disciplined in applying the health protocols. He also called for more plasma donations to save others from the pandemic.

Also Read: Jusuf Kalla: Private Covid-19 Vaccination will Expedite Govt Program

MUHAMMAD HENDARTYO