The death toll from COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia rose to 48 on Sunday, while the number of positive cases increased by 64, bringing the total to 514 cases, the government's spokesman for COVID-19 handling, Achmad Yurianto. said.

"The number of patients who recovered  increased by nine, after they had twice tested negative for the coronavirus, bringing the total number to 29,," Yurianto said to journalists in Jakarta on Sunday.

The new confirmed cases of coronavirus  emerged from Jakarta (40), West Java (4), Central Java (1), East Java (15), South Kalimantan (1), Maluku (1), and Papua (2).

Yurianto said, the updated data has been informed to local health offices for further measures in the hospitals and for contact tracing.

"This information is forwarded to the leaders in the respective regions," he continued.

He further reiterated the importance of social distancing saying that people should learn from the previous cases.

The government, on the other hand, has prepared additional hospitals for COVID-19 patients, conducted rapid test, and prepared some medicines.

"Once again, these medicines are on medical prescription. It is not allowed to keep it and consume it for prevention. Because for prevention, we have different medicine," he said.

He reminded that restricting contact is still the best way of prevention, in addition to maintaining personal fitness and working from home. (ANTARA)