COVID-19 cases in Indonesia surpass 6,000

The Indonesian government on Saturday announced 325 new confirmed cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of infections in the archipelagic country to 6,248.

At a press conference, the government's spokesperson for the COVID-19-related matters Achmad Yurianto said there are also 15 new deaths, taking the total number of fatalities to 535, the highest in Southeast Asia, China's Xinhua news agency reported.

Meanwhile, as many as 24 more people have been discharged from hospitals after their recoveries, taking the total number of recovered patients to 631.

According to data provided by Yurianto, who is a health ministry official, the latest total number of COVID-19 suspects across the country is 12,979.

Jakarta, home to some 10 million people, suffers the highest number of deaths totaling 253, followed by West Java 56, East Java 49, Central Java 41, Banten 34, South Sulawesi 25, North Sumatra 9 and the rest recorded in other areas.

Authorities have been conducting rapid tests in areas where cases were detected, and ordering the public to always wear masks in a bid to contain the spread of the virus.

-- BERNAMA