Explainer | Indonesia to reopen economy as coronavirus cases surge. Is it ready?

Indonesia is shifting to the ‘new normal’ as malls reopen, people return to work, and it looks to reopen its borders to certain countries

But the country now has the highest number of Covid-19 cases in Southeast Asia, with a researcher saying it has not reached the peak of infections yet

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An Indonesian commuter, wearing a protective mask, gloves and face shield, is pictured in Jakarta before returning to work. The country is easing its partial lockdown and reopening the economy, but coronavirus cases are still on the rise. Photo: Bloomberg

Published: 8:00am, 18 Jun 2020Updated: 9:36am, 18 Jun 2020

Last week, the Indonesian government said it was looking to reopen its borders to travellers from China, South Korea, Japan, and Australia, leaving many online commentators in disbelief as coronavirus cases in the country of 270 million have shown no signs of slowing down.

On Wednesday, Indonesia reported 1,031 new coronavirus infections, taking its total number to 41,431. And it reported 45 more deaths, with a total of 2,276 fatalities.

Indonesia now has the highest number of Covid-19 cases in Southeast Asia, and the highest coronavirus death toll in East Asia outside China.

The country closed its borders to international visitors from April 2 and some provincial governments have implemented large-scale social distancing measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus in their provinces. Domestic flights resumed last month.

HOW BAD IS THE SITUATION IN INDONESIA?

Dicky Budiman, a researcher pursuing his PhD in global health security and pandemics at Australia’s Griffith University, said Indonesia had not yet reached the peak of infections as cases were still rising.

“We are still in the first wave,” he said, adding that only countries starting to see a decline in positive cases while conducting mass testing should lift social distancing restrictions.

Explainer | Indonesia to reopen economy as coronavirus cases surge. Is it ready?

Indonesia is shifting to the ‘new normal’ as malls reopen, people return to work, and it looks to reopen its borders to certain countries But the country now has the highest number of Covid-19 cases in Southeast Asia, with a researcher saying it has not reached the peak of infections yet

Indonesia is shifting to the ‘new normal’ as malls reopen, people return to work, and it looks to reopen its borders to certain countries

But the country now has the highest number of Covid-19 cases in Southeast Asia, with a researcher saying it has not reached the peak of infections yet