TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Head of the Jakarta Parks and Forest Agency data center, Ivan Murcahyo, on Wednesday revealed that the capital city has logged in total 19,800 funerals conducted under the Covid-19 health protocols. He also said the agency recorded its highest daily burials.

“As of June 22 there were 143 bodies. Higher than the daily highest number on June 20 which logged 122 bodies,” said Ivan to Tempo on June 23.

The North Jakarta public cemetery Rorotan saw 68 bodies buried under covid-19 protocols with a total of 866 bodies already filling the cemetery with 6,300 remaining available burials.

On average, the agency records 100-120 burials each day and with this trend, Ivan forecasts, the entire cemetery space for victims of the pandemic will only be able to be used for 2 months ahead.

There are also reports that agency members tasked to bury the bodies are no longer able to keep up with the rapidly increasing rate and that the agency deemed it impossible to transport the deceased in ambulances.

“And today we will transport [the bodies] with trucks that can carry eight caskets as it is no longer feasible with ambulances,” said the Jakarta Financial Management Agency Head Edi Sumantri in a House hearing with the Jakarta Legislative Council (DPRD).

Read More: Jakarta Carries Coffins of Covid-19 Victims Using Trucks

ADAM PRIREZA | LANI DIANA