Indonesia health minister leads push for stricter COVID curbs

COVID-19 - JAKARTA. Indonesia's health minister is leading a push for stricter controls as coronavirus cases surge to unprecedented levels, according to sources familiar with government discussions.

Coronavirus infections in Indonesia have tripled in the past three weeks, overwhelming hospitals in the capital Jakarta and on the heavily populated island of Java.

On Monday, Indonesia recorded 20,694 new infections, bringing the weekly total to 131,553.

Three sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Reuters that health minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin had urged government leaders to enact tougher social restriction measures but his request was overruled. He is continuing to push his case, they said.

One of the sources, who declined to be named as they were not authorized to speak on the matter, said government meetings on the issue would take place this week.

The health minister's position was supported by the country's tourism minister Sandiaga Uno, who confirmed to Reuters that a tougher lockdown was under active consideration.

"I am encouraging a tougher lockdown (but) we would need to provide the basic necessities for the people," he said.

"If the number of cases is increasing, then we need to adjust very quickly."

Citing the need to safeguard Southeast Asia's biggest economy, Indonesia has mostly rejected the lockdowns imposed by its neighbours and large developing countries like India.

Instead, Jakarta has opted for social restrictions targeting villages and neighbourhoods deemed "red zones" due to high infections, a policy known as PPKM Mikro.

Last week, the head of the country's COVID-19 taskforce, coordinating economy minister Airlangga Hartarto, banned religious activities at houses of worship, closed schools and bars and required offices, restaurants, cafes and malls to operate at 25% capacity in red zones for two weeks.