Indonesia Sees Hike in COVID-19 Red Zones, Task Force Confirms

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The national COVID-19 mitigation task force noted an increase in the number of red zones across the country from 35 regions last week to 53 regions this week.

“The number of red zones rises from 35 to 53, and the number of orange zones also jumps from 169 to 185 regencies/cities. This is not encouraging news and we need to put concerns on it together,” said the task force spokesman Wiku Adisasmito in the Presidential Office on Monday, July 27.

Wiku even confirmed that 14 regencies or cities remained as the red zones for three weeks in a row. “We appeal to the public and the regional administrations to be more disciplined in complying with the health protocols so that the condition will be better,” he asserted.

The 14 regions are West Jakarta, Central Jakarta, Semarang (Central Java), Gresik and Surabaya (East Java), Banjar, Banjarbaru, Banjarmasin, Tabalong, Tanah Laut (South Kalimantan), Mataram (West Nusa Tenggara), Jayapura (Papua), and Medan and Deli Serdang (North Sumatra).

Therefore, the task force demanded regional governments pay attention to the hike in red zones in their regencies and cities. “This is tough work. To recover the region, it is better to join hands by abiding by the health protocols,” Wiku added.

Moreover, Indonesia’s COVID-19 cases have reached 100,003 as of Monday, July 27, with new 1,525 new infections. Of which, 58,173 patients have recovered, 37,292 patients were still being treated, and 4,838 patients died.

Read also: Jakarta Tightens COVID-19 Health Protocols at Workplaces

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