VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Updated covid-19 patients in Indonesia - Task Force

Indonesia on Saturday recorded 14,518 new coronavirus infections, 10,242 recoveries, and 210 deaths over a single day, the Task Force for COVID-19 Handling reported.

With this, the total tally of cases in the country has risen to 1,066,313, while total recoveries have reached 862,502, and the death toll has climbed to 29,728.

At present, Indonesia has 174,083 active cases and 80,114 people in 510 districts and cities are suspected to have contracted the virus.

In the last 24 hours, a total of 70,026 specimens from 40,629 people have been tested in 613 laboratories across the country, bringing the cumulative examined specimens to 9,194,031 so far. The country's positivity rate is currently pegged at 17.4 percent.The provinces with the highest number of new cases on Saturday comprise West Java with 4,601 cases, followed by Jakarta (3,491), Central Java (1,237), East Java (830), and East Kalimantan (701).

The largest number of daily recoveries have been recorded in Jakarta (3,885), followed by West Java (1,484), East Java (830), South Sulawesi (627), and Central Java (528).

Jakarta has so far recorded the highest cumulative number of confirmed COVID-19 cases at 266,244, and total recoveries at 238,438.

In terms of the death toll, East Java has recorded the highest number of deaths at 7,754//ANT

A test tube labelled "vaccine" in front of an AstraZeneca logo in this illustration taken, Sep 9, 2020. (Photo: REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration)

The European Union on Friday (Jan 29) approved the Oxford-AstraZeneca coronavirus jab for use on all adults as the World Health Organization (WHO) warned wealthy countries against "vaccine nationalism", saying it will only prolong the pandemic.

Coronavirus outbreaks are raging around the globe with COVID-19 deaths nearing 2.2 million, and while some parts of the world are fighting over limited vaccine supplies, there are fears the less privileged will not get access for a long time.

The vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford became the third to get EU approval after Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, but it came under the shadow of a bitter diplomatic row with Britain over which countries will get the scarce doses currently available."I expect the company (AstraZeneca) to deliver the 400 million doses as agreed," tweeted European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen, as she announced the authorisation.The British-Swedish firm has admitted it will only be able to deliver a fraction of the doses promised to the bloc in the short-term due to production problems, saying there is not enough to fulfil supply promises to both Britain and Europe.

The supply issue is a huge blow to Europe's already stumbling vaccine rollout, setting it on a collision course with Britain, which left the bloc just weeks ago.

In a sign of the growing tensions, the EU on Friday released a redacted version of its contract with AstraZeneca, while announcing a mechanism that could allow it to deny the export of vaccines made on European soil.

The EU-Britain tussle has highlighted the impact of shortages on ambitious mass vaccination programmes, even on wealthy nations, and fears are growing that the developed world is hogging doses, leaving poorer nations behind.

World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned on Friday against "vaccine nationalism", saying there was a "real danger that the very tools that could help to end the pandemic - vaccines - may exacerbate" global inequality//CNA

Travellers wearing protective face masks to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) reclaim their luggage at the airport in Denver, Colorado, U.S., November 24, 2020. REUTERS/Kevin Mohatt/File Photo

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a sweeping order late Friday requiring the use of face masks on nearly all forms of public transportation on Monday (Feb 1) as the country continues to report thousands of daily COVID-19 deaths.

The order, which takes effect at 11.59 pm EST on Monday (0459 GMT Tuesday), requires face masks to be worn by all travellers on airplanes, ships, trains, subways, buses, taxis, and ride-shares and at transportation hubs like airports, bus or ferry terminals, train and subway stations and seaports.

President Joe Biden on Jan 21 ordered government agencies to "immediately take action" to require masks in airports and on commercial aircraft, trains and public maritime vessels, including ferries, intercity bus services and all public transportation.

Under Donald Trump, who was president until Jan 20, a CDC push to mandate masks in transit was blocked and the agency instead only issued strong recommendations for mask use. Trump also rejected efforts by Congress to mandate mask use.

"Requiring masks on our transportation systems will protect Americans and provide confidence that we can once again travel safely even during this pandemic," said the 11-page order signed by Marty Cetron, director for CDC's Division of Global Migration and Quarantine.

The CDC said people violating the order could potentially face criminal penalties but suggested civil penalties would be more likely if needed. The order will be enforced by the Transportation Security Administration and federal, state and local agencies.

The order says passengers must wear a mask in transit except for brief periods, such as to eat, drink or take medication. Masks may be either manufactured or homemade.

The only exceptions are for travellers younger than two and for those with certain medical conditions. People in private cars and solo commercial truck drivers do not have to wear masks.

US airlines raised concerns this week about passenger requests to opt out of mask-wearing on health grounds.

The CDC order says airlines and other transit modes may require medical documentation and consultation by a medical specialist as well as requiring a negative COVID-19 test from a passenger in order to board a plane or other mode of transportation.

The CDC said this week it was "actively looking" at requiring negative COVID-19 tests for domestic air travel after mandating it for nearly all international travel effective Jan 26. The prospects of domestic COVID-19 testing drew strong opposition on Friday from airlines and other groups.

The CDC order says airlines and other operators must "at the earliest safe opportunity, disembark any person who refuses to comply".

Federal agencies must submit plans no later than Friday to enforce a separate Biden order requiring masks in all federal building and on all federal lands//CNA

Tennis - Davis Cup Qualifiers - Croatia v India - Dom Sportova Hall in Zagreb, Croatia - March 7, 2020. India's Rohan Bopanna reacts. REUTERS/Antonio Bronic

India's Rohan Bopanna will emerge from his 14-day quarantine in Melbourne later on Saturday with a spring in his step after his quest for a new doubles partner for next month's Australian Open finally ended.

The former doubles world number three is one of 72 players who have been confined to their hotel rooms in Melbourne after fellow passengers on the flights that brought them to Australia tested positive for COVID-19.

Compounding his problem, Bopanna was forced into searching for a new partner after Joao Sousa was unable to travel to Australia on time after testing COVID-19 positive.

"Playing with Ben McLachlan from Japan in Australian open," Bopanna told Reuters in a message on Saturday. McLachlan is a New Zealand-born player who represents Japan.

He will team up with China's Duan Yingying for the mixed doubles.

In next week's ATP event at Melbourne Park, Bopanna will partner Denmark's Frederik Nielsen in the men's doubles.Denied training like most other players, Bopanna earlier told Reuters he had been relying on exercise bands and mats to stay fit//CNA