JAKARTA, 30 Dec 2020:
Indonesia has recorded 8,002 new cases of Covid-19 within a period of 24 hours, bringing the total number of cases in the republic to 735,124.
The highest number of new cases so far at 8,369 was recorded on Dec 3.
Based on information available on the official Twitter account of the Indonesian National Agency for Disaster Management today, 603,741 patients have recovered while another 67,615 are still being monitored.
Between noon yesterday and noon today, 241 more deaths were recorded – bringing the cumulative number in the republic to 21,944.
Jakarta province has recorded the highest total number of positive cases so far with 181,713 including 2,053 new cases, while East Java has reported 5,762 deaths, the highest number to date.
Meanwhile, Thailand has imposed a ban on all public gatherings – which includes new year celebrations and concerts – in Covid-19 hit areas effective immediately in a bid to halt the spread of the deadly virus in the kingdom.
Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration spokesman Thaweesilp Wissanuyothin said public gatherings will be prohibited at highly-controlled areas where more than 50 confirmed cases were reported and controlled areas where there is more than 10 confirmed cases.
He said the latest outbreak has spread to 48 of 77 provinces in the kingdom. “The surge of daily Covid-19 cases is worrying. We don’t want to see another lockdown,” he said at a press conference today.
At present, targeted lockdowns have been imposed in some areas including the resort island of Pattaya and Hua Hin.
Thaweesilp said provincial governors have been given the authority to ban any events and activities that pose a transmission risk.
Meanwhile, authorities also urged the public to avoid travelling to contain the spread of Covid-19.
Over last 24 hours, Thailand recorded 250 Covid-19 cases – including 241 local transmissions, 29 of which had a history of going to entertainment outlets, nine linked to Samut Sakhon’s shrimp market cluster, three from Rayong’s cluster and two migrant workers.
The source of infections for a total of 198 cases is still under investigation in which 108 cases were reported in Chonburi province and 53 in Rayong province.
To date, Thailand has recorded 6,690 cases with 61 fatalities.
Also, Thailand’s Cabinet yesterday approved eight special holidays for 2021 in a bid to boost local tourism.
Deputy government spokesperson Traisuree Taisaranakul said Feb 12 will be a holiday for the Lunar New Year – which normally is not an official holiday.
Other special holidays included April 12 as another Songkran holiday and July 27 as a holiday in lieu of the Buddhist Lent day.
Some of the approved events combining with weekends create long holidays in February, April, July and October.
The newly planned holidays were aimed at stimulating tourism. Heads of government and private organisations could decide if they would use the special holidays or not, in the way that would not affect their operations, said Traisuree.
According to official data, Thailand hosted 3,065 foreign tourists in November, the second month of receiving long-stay visitors since a ban was imposed in April to keep Covid-19 infections under control.
– Bernama