JAKARTA (Reuters) – Indonesia’s death toll from the new coronavirus has likely reached 1,000, nearly double the official figure of 535, Indonesian Doctors Association (IDI) chairman Daeng Faqih was quoted saying on Saturday.
There is a discrepancy between official figures and IDI’s estimate, as official data did not include deaths of patients suspected to have coronavirus but still awaiting tests.
“Those who were yet to be confirmed with COVID-19 were also reported by hospitals as death by coronavirus,” Daeng told local media.
Indonesia’s health ministry was not immediately available for comment.
Even with the official figure, Indonesia has reported more coronavirus deaths than any Asian country except China.
Indonesia’s health ministry on Saturday reported 325 new coronavirus cases, taking the total number of infections in the world’s fourth most populous country to 6,248.
University of Indonesia’s public health faculty has warned that there could be more than 140,000 deaths and 1.5 million cases across Indonesia by May unless the government takes tougher action.
Indonesia on Friday surpassed the Philippines to become the country with the highest number of infections in Southeast Asia.
(Reporting by Tabita Diela and Fathin Ungku; Editing by Matthew Tostevin and William Maclean)
