Indonesia's COVID-19 deaths top 1,000 as those under 45 urged to resume work
13 May, 2020
Indonesia's death toll from the novel coronavirus passed the 1,000 mark on Tuesday (May 12), even while authorities signalled they were poised to help ease some social restrictions aimed at curbing the spread of the virus in the Southeast Asian country.
Indonesia confirmed its first two cases of the virus on Mar 2, well behind most neighbours, but its fatality rate has since overtaken those of all its East Asian peers aside from China.
There have been 16 new fatalities and 484 new infections, taking the country's total to at least one 1,007 deaths and 14,749 cases, health ministry official Achmad Yurianto said on Tuesday.
Despite social restrictions scheduled to perform until the end of May, the top of Indonesia’s coronavirus response taskforce Doni Monardo said on Tuesday that people under 45 will be permitted to return to work in designated sectors.
"Why we are suggesting heads of companies prioritise relatively young staff is due to the actual fact that those aged 60 and above have the best mortality rate," Monardo told a briefing at the palace, noting data showed this group made up 45 % of deaths as the 46-59 generation accounted for 40 %.
Currently, 11 sectors in the united states - including security and defence, health, food, finance, communication and logistics - are exempt from the large-scale social restrictions on the workforce.
The Indonesian government has been criticised by epidemiologists for pushing to prematurely ease social restrictions without compelling evidence the united states is flattening the coronavirus curve, or showing a slower rate of infection.
The other day, Indonesia’s finance minister said the coronavirus pandemic had set poverty-eradication efforts back ten years.
The federal government has been pushing to kickstart the economy and justified the proceed to encourage some people to come back to work on the basis that young persons are more resilient to COVID-19, the condition caused by the brand new coronavirus.
"We realise perfectly that the group of 45 years and below are productive forces who've a high immunity to withstand this disease," said heath ministry spokesperson Yurianto.
The median age in Indonesia, a country greater than 160 million, is merely about 30 years, in line with the World Population Review.
The latest announcement, which comes days after transportation restrictions were also controversially relaxed, appeared to cause some confusion in the government.
Administrative and Bureaucratic Reforms Minister Tjahjo Kumolo said there is no plans to allow millions of Indonesians to come back to work.
Meanwhile, President Joko Widodo called for a calibrated approach.
"The easing for PSBB (large scale social restrictions) ought to be carried out carefully rather than in a rush, all predicated on data from the field so that the decision is valid,” he said.
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