Indonesia capital Jakarta extends social restrictions as Covid-19 infections rise

Women wear face masks while travelling on public transport in Jakarta on Aug 13, 2020. PHOTO: AFP

JAKARTA (REUTERS) - Indonesia's capital Jakarta extended its social restrictions on Thursday (Aug 13) to stem surging coronavirus transmission as the country reported 2,098 new cases, its governor said.

Indonesia has reported 132,816 coronavirus infections and 5,968 deaths. Jakarta logged 608 new cases on Thursday, bringing the total to 27,761, the most in Indonesia's 34 provinces, according to central government data.

Governor Anies Baswedan extended restrictions, which see restaurants, places of worship and public transportation operate at limited capacity, to Aug 27.

"Through this extension, we, along with the police and the military, will focus on law enforcement, especially on the use of masks among the people," Mr Baswedan said in a statement.

Mr Baswedan said 65 per cent of Jakarta's 4,456 isolation beds had been filled.

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