Indonesia Tops ASEAN Countries In Terms of COVID-19 Recovery

Nikkei COVID-19 Recovery Index has reported that as of 6 October 2021, Indonesia tops the list of ASEAN countries in terms of COVID-19 recovery.

“Based on data from the Nikkei COVID-19 Recovery Index, Indonesia is the best among ASEAN countries. Indonesia is number 54 [in the world], while other ASEAN countries, such as Singapore is at 70, Malaysia at 102, and Thailand at 109,” Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto said in a press statement after attending a limited meeting on evaluation of the implementation of public activity restrictions (PPKM), Monday (11/10).

Meanwhile, based on data from Johns Hopkins University, daily confirmed cases in the country are 4.60 cases per one million population, much lower than that in other countries, including Singapore (541.9 cases), the UK (525.3 cases), Malaysia (277.7 cases), and the Philippines (95.55 cases) per one million population.

Airlangga explained that national active cases from 9 August 2021 to 10 October 2021 decreased by 94.55 percent.

The decline in the provinces of the island of Java and Bali reached 95.93 percent, while for provinces in Sumatra, the figure has decreased by 94.10 percent.

He added that in Nusa Tenggara, the decrease is 95.26 percent, in Kalimantan it is 93.18 percent, in Sulawesi it is 90.90 percent, and in Maluku and Papua it is 88.86 percent.

“The assessment [of the pandemic situation] is improving on a weekly basis. Of the 27 provinces outside Java and Bali, none is at level 4. Three provinces are at level 3, 22 provinces are at level 2, and two provinces are at level 1, namely Riau Islands and West Nusa Tenggara,” said Airlangga.

Meanwhile, for weekly assessments in regencies / cities outside Java and Bali, Airlangga added that out of 386 regions, one region is still at level 4, and 38 regions are at level 3, 278 regions are at level 2, and 69 regencies / cities are at level 1.

Furthermore, of the six regencies / cities outside Java and Bali that implemented PPKM Level 4 in the period of 5-19 October, there were two regions that saw improvements, namely in Padang City and Banjarmasin City.

“The positivity rate has also decreased in five regencies, namely Pidie, Bangka, Padang City, Bulungan, and Tarakan. Testing target that was not achieved occurred in Pidie, Banjarmasin, and Bulungan regencies. Meanwhile for vaccination, four regencies / cities are below the national average. Vaccination rate for the elderly in four regencies / cities are also below the national average,” said Airlangga. (FID / UN) (EST / EP)