Indonesia study warns Ramadan exodus would fuel coronavirus

DAMPAK VIRUS CORONA - JAKARTA. Indonesian researchers have warned the government that plans to allow millions of people to leave for their home villages at the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan next month could send coronavirus infections soaring.

Meanwhile, a separate study showed the health system in the world's fourth most populous country was likely to be overwhelmed by demand for intensive care units even with strong efforts to suppress the outbreak.

President Joko Widodo has resisted pressure for a total ban on the Ramadan exodus, known in Indonesia as "mudik", citing tradition and economic factors, instead seeking to persuade people to stay put and using only limited curbs on transport.

Health experts have already said that Indonesia faces a sharp rise in cases after a slow government response masked the scale of infections in a country that has already suffered 399 dead - more than any Asian country except China.

In a new model seen by Reuters, the University of Indonesia's public health faculty forecast that if mudik proceeds, there could be one million infections by July on Java, the country's most populous island and home to the capital Jakarta.

"If we don't have mudik, we can keep the numbers from reaching that high," said reasearcher Pandu Riono, adding that the model still forecast another 750,000 even without mudik.

Asked to comment, Abraham Wirotomo, an expert in the presidential office, said it invited input from researchers and would base its policymaking on the research.

Indonesia has recorded 4,557 infections so far, but modellers have estimated the real number could be far higher. Riono estimates it might have 250,000 cases already.

The study, which was presented to government officials on Sunday, cites a government survey that says 7% of the total population in the Greater Jakarta area of around 30 million people are considering travelling.