San Francisco Chronicle - (Sunday)
Indonesia speeds inoculations as infections climb
After a slow vaccination rollout, Indonesia is now scrambling to inoculate as many people as possible as it battles an explosion of COVID19 cases that have strained its health care system.
But inadequate global supply, the complicated geography of the world’s largest archipelago nation, and hesitancy among some Indonesians stand as major roadblocks.
Fueled by travel in May during the Islamic holiday of Eid alFitr, and the spread of the delta variant of the coronavirus first found in India, the most recent spike has pushed some hospitals to their limits. Over the past two weeks, the sevenday rolling average of daily cases rose from over 8,655 to 20,690. Nearly half of those who are tested return positive results.
The impact is obvious across Java, Indonesia’s most populated island. In midJune, hospitals began to assemble plastic tents to serve as makeshift intensive care units, and patients waited for days before being admitted.
Away from the hospitals, new land continues to be cleared for the dead. Families wait turns to bury their loved ones as gravediggers work late shifts.
Last year, Indonesia’s highest Islamic clerical body issued a decree that mass graves — normally forbidden in Islam — would be permitted during the pandemic crisis.
The government had been resisting imposing tougher COVID19 restrictions for fear of hurting the economy, Southeast Asia’s largest, which last year recorded its first recession since 1998. But the government imposed its strictest measures of 2021 on Saturday, including working from home, the closure of places of worship and malls as well as limiting restaurants to delivery only.
“We have agreed with the governors, mayors, to strictly enforce this emergency measure,” said Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, who has been appointed to lead the pandemic response.
President urges restraint in travel
President Hassan Rouhani said Saturday that Iran may face another wave of coronavirus infections, as health officials warned of the spread of the more infectious delta variant of the virus.
Rouhani, speaking at a national coronavirus task force meeting, urged people to postpone their summer travels and gatherings.
“There are concerns that we go into the direction of a fifth wave,” he said. “In southern provinces we should apply more treatment since the delta variant has infiltrated there.”
Iran remains among the countries hardest hit by the virus in the world and the worst hit in the Middle East. The Tehran capital and more than 90 other cities and towns have been declared red zones that require up to 70% of office staff to work from their homes. It also requires the closure of public spaces like movie theaters, gyms and restaurants.
The death toll from CO
VID19 rose by 111 over the previous 24 hours, putting the country’s total at 84,627 since the pandemic broke out.