The 218 new cases of coronavirus in Indonesia had brought the overall number to 2,491. The 209 confirmed deaths of people who contract the virus is the highest number of deaths outside of China in Asia.
The increase in the death toll among doctors, which has doubled since last week, followed a criticism of Indonesia’s lack of protective gear.
“The trend of (doctors dying) is heading to the sky,” said Halik Malik, an Indonesian Doctors Association spokesperson who reported the deaths of the doctors from COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the latest coronavirus.
“The possibility of being infected by medical staff is still there … But the aim is to protect the medical staff in every way, “Malik said. A number of rights groups have expressed outrage, including Amnesty International, about the high proportion of deaths among medical staff.
Health experts have pointed to the high percentage of deaths among the number of reported cases as an indication. In fact, the outbreak is far greater than official data in the fourth most populated nation in the world indicate.
Last week, Indonesia’s own intelligence agency announced it had expected coronavirus cases to peak in the next three months, reaching 100,000 cases by July.
President Joko Widodo told a cabinet meeting on Monday that personal protective equipment (PPE) had been distributed across Indonesia. Although he said that the regional officials would monitor the delivery of the equipment in hospitals.
Indonesian healthcare staff faced a lack of protective equipment at the time. Some doctors having to wear raincoats and carry their own masks to defend themselves against the virus.
A shortage in hospital beds, medical personnel and intensive care facilities has raised fears about the coronavirus epidemic. Therefore, it could push the health system in Indonesia to the brink.