Real Trend in Covid-19 Cases Presumed to be Higher, Anies Says

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan presumed the real trend in Covid-19 cases was higher than data published by the Health Ministry as referred to the surge in the number of funerals throughout April and May.

Anies conveyed his presumption during an interview with The Sidney Herald uploaded via a Youtube account of the city administration. “We think the number is far higher than that reported by the Health Ministry,” said Anies to the reporter James Massola in a video accessed by Tempo on Monday, May 11. 

He elaborated that within two weeks in March, Jakarta served some 4,300 funerals and 4,590 more in April. While the average funeral service before the pandemic arose recorded at some 3,000 monthly. The hike, of course, caused shocks to the city administration.

Thus, he assessed that the surge was attributable to the virus cases. “If the fatality rate ranges from 5 to 10 percent, the number of cases will likely be around 15,000-30,000,” Anies said, adding that the data issued by the Health Ministry obtained from the test results.

As of Monday morning, May 11, the city's official page corona.jakarta.go.id showed that Jakarta has 5,195 positive cases. Of which, 2,258 patients are still being treated, 836 patients have recovered, 453 patients have succumbed to the illness, and 1,648 people were implementing self-isolation at their homes. Additionally, 1,774 people were waiting for their test results. 

Meanwhile, Indonesia records 14,265 Covid-19 cases, 2,881 recoveries, 991 death tolls, and the rest were being put under medical treatments.

ADAM PRIREZA