JAKARTA, 26 Jan 2021:
The number of Covid-19 cases in Indonesia surpassed one million today, as the Covid-19 vaccination programme is underway in the republic which has a population of nearly 290 million.
According to data posted by the Indonesian government on Covid-19, today, 13,094 more cases were recorded in the last 24 hours – bringing the total number of positive cases in the republic to 1,012,350.
The number of patients who have fully recovered from the disease in Indonesia now stands at 820,356. A total of 336 fatalities were recorded overnight, bringing the death toll to 28,468, it added.
The vaccination programme which began on Jan 13 and is targeting more than 182 million people in the republic is expected to be completed before the end of this year.
The vaccine is not given to those aged 12 and below, 60 and above, as well those with health risks such as pregnant women, and those with critical illnesses such as heart disease.
On 6 Dec 2020, Indonesia received 1.2 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine from China, followed by another 1.8 million doses on Dec 31, and 15 million vaccine doses on Jan 12.
In addition to the Sinovac vaccine from China, the Indonesian government had also signed an agreement to purchase another 426 million doses of vaccine from Astrazeneca, Pfizer, and Novovax.
Meanwhile, Thailand has recorded the highest daily increase in Covid-19 cases since the outbreak in the kingdom in January last year – following active case detection in Samut Sakhon, a province where the current outbreak began in mid-December and the cases continue to rise.
The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) spokesman Thaweesilp Wissanuyothin said Thailand recorded 959 Covid-19 cases and zero deaths over the last 24 hours – bringing the total number of cases to 14,646 while the fatalities remain at 75 after the two reported yesterday.
Of the 959 new cases, he said 937 were local transmissions including 848 through active case detection in Samut Sakhon (760 migrant workers and 84 Thais) and Bangkok (four), while 89 cases were patients who sought treatment at hospitals and 22 were imported cases.
“Active case detection at the epicentre of the most recent outbreak could effectively contain the outbreak in the kingdom.”
Yesterday, CCSA’s assistant spokesman Dr Apisamai Srirangsan had said Thailand planned to test at least 60,000 people in factories, dormitories, markets and communities this week in Samut Sakhon to halt the spread of Covid-19 in the kingdom.
Thaweesilp said the new wave of Covid-19 cases since mid-December has hit the kingdom with 10,409 cases and 15 fatalities.
He said the latest outbreak saw 58% of patients aged 20 to 29 years, prone to infection, followed by the 30-39 years age group (29%).
He added that the CCSA would meet tomorrow to discuss the relaxation of restrictions and measures in the kingdom.
– Bernama