The Indonesian Government has decided to extend the area of the large-scale social restrictions to West Java, the most populous province in the country, as the number of COVID-19 cases there spikes.
Health workers collect samples for COVID-19 testing in West Java province of Indonesia on April 4 (Photo: Xinhua/VNA)
Jakarta (VNA) – The Indonesian Government hasdecided to extend the area of the large-scalesocial restrictions to West Java, the most populous province in the country, asthe number of COVID-19 cases there spikes.
West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil said the large-scalerestrictions will start on April 15 and be applied on the provincial towns ofBekasi, Depok and Bogor that share borders with the country's Jakarta capital.
The provincial administrationhas also been preparing the provincial capital of Bandung for applying thelarge-scale social restrictions, he noted, adding that social assistance in theforms of cashes and logistics would be delivered to the people affected by thepolicy.
The Indonesian Government'sspokesman for the COVID-19-related matters Achmad Yurianto confirmed that thecentral government has given an approval to West Java province on its requestto apply the restrictions.
Banten, another Indonesian province that borders Jakarta, hasalso requested for applying the large-scale social restrictions.
Indonesia on April 12reported the biggest daily hike of COVID-19 cases, 399, bringing the total to4,241 with 373 deaths.
Meanwhile, the Philippines recorded 220 new cases ofCOVID-19 and 50 deaths, the highest number of fatalities in a single day,raising the respective figures to 4,648 and 297. A total of 197 patients haverecovered with 40 announced on April 12.
In Malaysia, this country confirmed 153 new cases and threedeaths on the day, bringing total infections to 4,683 – the highest inSoutheast Asia, including 76 deaths. Its Health Ministry said 45 percent of allcases have recovered.
New COVID-19 cases in Thailand dropped to a double-digitnumber for the fourth straight day on April 12. The infected patients there totalled2,551 with 38 deaths./.
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Health workers collect samples for COVID-19 testing in West Java province of Indonesia on April 4 (Photo: Xinhua/VNA) 
