VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Indonesia’s coronavirus case count has shot up to 18,496 as of Tuesday, with 4,467 people recovering from the virus and 1,221 people succumbing to it, according to Achmad Yurianto, the government's spokesperson for COVID-19 response.

"Let's take a broad look, (we can see) that transmission is still happening," Yurianto said at a press conference held by the Task Force for the Acceleration of COVID-19 Response on Tuesday at Graha BNPB in Jakarta.

Since Monday noon, Indonesia has added 486 new confirmed cases, bringing the total to 18,496 cases. Coronavirus infections have been reported across 390 districts and cities in 34 provinces in the country.

Meanwhile, the number of people recovering from the novel coronavirus disease has increased by 143 on Tuesday, Yurianto stated.

In addition, the task force has recorded 30 new deaths, which have raised the death toll to 1,221.

According to Yurianto, the government has tested 202,936 specimens using real-time PCR (polymerase chain reaction) and molecular rapid tests (TCM).

So far, Indonesia has placed 45,300 people under monitoring (ODP) and 11,891 patients under surveillance (PDP), according to the latest data provided by the COVID-19 task force.

Yurianto said the government will soon complete laboratory examinations to confirm the status of the PDPs.

He urged the public to comply with health protocols to reduce the rate of novel coronavirus transmission.

"In fact, the impact (of COVID-19 has been felt) not only in community groups, but many health workers have also been affected," Yurianto, concurrently the director general of Disease Prevention and Control (P2P) of the Ministry of Health, noted.

He conveyed the government's condolences over the death of several health workers who contracted the disease in the past few days.

He urged community members to strengthen their commitment to take steps to reduce the number of COVID-19 infections.

Yurianto also called on concerned parties to cooperate simultaneously and continuously to break the chain of COVID-19 transmission. (ANTARA)