Indonesia to expand coronavirus testing in urban areas before easing curbs

Before the gradual reopening, the government will increase testing capacity, especially in heavily populated places in the Greater Jakarta area and other big urban agglomerations, Luhut said.

"We hope to begin in one or two days and we will do so massively so that when we ease on the 26th, if all goes well, we will underline testing, tracing and vaccination. They will all go in parallel," he said.

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The government has also banned entry of foreign workers into Indonesia, except for those with existing permits or on diplomatic or humanitarian missions, until further notice, law minister Yasonna Laoly said.

Laura Navika Yamani, an epidemiologist with Indonesia's Airlangga University, said any talk of relaxing curbs is premature as the positive test rate has remained high.

Wednesday's rate was 29%. The World Health Organization says a rate of 5% indicates an epidemic is under control.

"That the curbs have reduced cases isn't clear. We can't say (they are) effective yet," Laura said.

Indonesia has vaccinated about 6% of its population.