Today, we bring you a bizarre news story about a man posing as a woman in order to board a plane.

With fake identification documents and a negative PCR test result, an Indonesian man infected with coronavirus disguised himself as his wife and boarded a domestic flight.

Wearing a niqab that covered his face, this man boarded the plane.

However, the cover did not last very long.

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According to police, a flight attendant noticed the man change his clothes in the lavatory aboard the Citilink aircraft on Sunday while travelling from Jakarta to Ternate in North Maluku province.

His wife's name was on the plane ticket, the PCR test result, and the vaccination card. Aditya Laksimada, the chief of the Ternate police department, told reporters after arresting the man at the airport that all his documents are in his wife's name and that the only way to identify him was by his initials.

Following arrest, a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus">COVID-19</a> test was conducted on him, and it came back positive.

In the meantime, police are continuing their investigation, as the man has been kept in home isolation.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-reporter-amin-hafeez-interviews-a-buffalo-on-eid-ul-zuha-and-even-gets-a-response-399668">Pakistan reporter Amin Hafeez interviews a buffalo on Eid-ul-Zuha and even gets a response</a>

With 33,772 new confirmed cases and 1,383 deaths in the last 24 hours, Indonesia is experiencing the worst coronavirus outbreak in Asia. Overall, there have been almost 2.9 million reported cases with 77,583 deaths.

As part of toughened precautions for this week's Eid al-Adha holiday, the government has implemented strict travel restrictions, including mandatory coronavirus tests.

Today, we bring you a bizarre news story about a man posing as a woman in order to board a plane. With fake identification documents and a negative PCR test result, an Indonesian man infected with coronavirus disguised himself as his wife and boarded a domestic flight.

Today, we bring you a bizarre news story about a man posing as a woman in order to board a plane. With fake identification documents and a negative PCR test result, an Indonesian man infected with coronavirus disguised himself as his wife and boarded a domestic flight. Wearing a niqab that covered his face, this man boarded the plane. However, the cover did not last very long. Also read | NASA rover preparing to take first Mars rock samples According to police, a flight attendant noticed the man change his clothes in the lavatory aboard the Citilink aircraft on Sunday while travelling from Jakarta to Ternate in North Maluku province. His wife's name was on the plane ticket, the PCR test result, and the vaccination card. Aditya Laksimada, the chief of the Ternate police department, told reporters after arresting the man at the airport that all his documents are in his wife's name and that the only way to identify him was by his initials. Following arrest, a COVID-19 test was conducted on him, and it came back positive. In the meantime, police are continuing their investigation, as the man has been kept in home isolation. Also read | Pakistan reporter Amin Hafeez interviews a buffalo on Eid-ul-Zuha and even gets a response With 33,772 new confirmed cases and 1,383 deaths in the last 24 hours, Indonesia is experiencing the worst coronavirus outbreak in Asia. Overall, there have been almost 2.9 million reported cases with 77,583 deaths. As part of toughened precautions for this week's Eid al-Adha holiday, the government has implemented strict travel restrictions, including mandatory coronavirus tests.

Indonesian man dresses up as wife to escape coronavirus detection

Foreigners caught not wearing face masks on the Indonesian resort island of Bali are being subject to an unusual punishment: push-ups.

Video footage circulating on social media this week shows tourists in T-shirts and shorts being made to do the exercise in sweltering tropical heat as masked security officials stood over them.

Bali authorities made wearing a face mask in public mandatory last year as&nbsp;Indonesia&nbsp;battled a raging Covid-19 outbreak.

In recent days, however, scores of foreigners have been caught without face coverings, said security official Gusti Agung Ketut Suryanegara.

More than 70 people paid a fine of 100,000 rupiah ($7), but about 30 others said they did not have the cash.

Instead, they were ordered to do push-ups.

Those not carrying a mask had to do up to 50, while those who were wearing one improperly were punished with 15.&nbsp;

"At first, they would claim that they didn't know the regulation," Suryanegara told AFP.&nbsp;"Then they said they forgot, or that the mask was wet or damaged."

Some Indonesians on the island, which is a pocket of Hinduism in the world's most populous Muslim-majority country, have also been hit with the unusual punishment.

Bali's authorities have also warned that foreigners who break virus regulations could be thrown out of the country, although so far there have no reports of anyone being deported for failing to wear a mask.

The island, which has been hammered by the epidemic, remains officially closed to overseas tourists but is home to many long-term residents from abroad.

Foreigners living elsewhere in&nbsp;Indonesia&nbsp;can still visit.&nbsp;

Foreigners caught not wearing face masks on the Indonesian resort island of Bali are being subject to an unusual punishment: push-ups. Video footage circulating on social media this week shows tourists in T-shirts and shorts being made to do the exercise in sweltering tropical heat as masked security officials stood over them.

Foreigners caught not wearing face masks on the Indonesian resort island of Bali are being subject to an unusual punishment: push-ups. Video footage circulating on social media this week shows tourists in T-shirts and shorts being made to do the exercise in sweltering tropical heat as masked security officials stood over them. Bali authorities made wearing a face mask in public mandatory last year as Indonesia battled a raging Covid-19 outbreak. In recent days, however, scores of foreigners have been caught without face coverings, said security official Gusti Agung Ketut Suryanegara. More than 70 people paid a fine of 100,000 rupiah ($7), but about 30 others said they did not have the cash. Instead, they were ordered to do push-ups. Those not carrying a mask had to do up to 50, while those who were wearing one improperly were punished with 15. "At first, they would claim that they didn't know the regulation," Suryanegara told AFP. "Then they said they forgot, or that the mask was wet or damaged." Some Indonesians on the island, which is a pocket of Hinduism in the world's most populous Muslim-majority country, have also been hit with the unusual punishment. Bali's authorities have also warned that foreigners who break virus regulations could be thrown out of the country, although so far there have no reports of anyone being deported for failing to wear a mask. The island, which has been hammered by the epidemic, remains officially closed to overseas tourists but is home to many long-term residents from abroad. Foreigners living elsewhere in Indonesia can still visit.

Foreigners without face masks punished with push-ups in Bali

Indonesia reached a grim milestone on Monday in surpassing more than half a million coronavirus cases, as average new daily infections hit a record and hospitals in the country's most populated province edged closer to capacity.

Indonesia hits half million virus cases as infection spike strains hospitals

The coronavirus severely disrupted the academic calendar across the globe. Schools were shut and children were confined to their homes for months. Some countries were the COVID-19 pandemic is slowly coming under control, schools are reopening. Watch report on schools re-opening in Indonesia.

Fineprint: Is it too early to reopen schools? Indonesia re-open schools in COVID-19 pandemic

An Indonesian politician is facing a lot of criticism after he asked female civil servants to wear niqab once in a week in defence of novel coronavirus.&nbsp;

Mohammad Suhaili Fadhil Thohir, the head of Central Lombok regency, said he made the decision after government employees complained about wearing face masks in the office during calisthenics held outside every Friday.

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Critics slam the order as a means to impose conservative Islamic rules and said niqab did not bring sufficient protection to curb the spread of coronavirus.&nbsp;

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Thohir however defended his order and denied calling it based on "radical teachings or fanaticism".&nbsp;

"It is purely for COVID-19 prevention," he said, reported AFP, adding there is no punishment for ignoring this rule.&nbsp;

"To make sure civil servants cover their nose and mouth during the weekly exercise we asked them to wear veils."

The policy that was imposed last month asked male civil servants to don medical masks while performing these exercises.&nbsp;

The rights groups have slammed the move and called for a review.&nbsp;

"The policy should be reviewed because it could threaten women's health rights," Andy Yentriyani, a commissioner at the National Commission on Violence Against Women said.&nbsp;

However, Yayuh, a civil servant, said she expects this policy to become compulsory during work hours.&nbsp;

"But I don't mind as it's a way to learn about wearing appropriate clothes taught in Islam," she said.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

An Indonesian politician is facing a lot of criticism after he asked female civil servants to wear niqab once in a week in defence of novel coronavirus. Mohammad Suhaili Fadhil Thohir, the head of Central Lombok regency, said he made the decision after government employees complained about wearing face masks in the office during calisthenics held outside every Friday.

An Indonesian politician is facing a lot of criticism after he asked female civil servants to wear niqab once in a week in defence of novel coronavirus. Mohammad Suhaili Fadhil Thohir, the head of Central Lombok regency, said he made the decision after government employees complained about wearing face masks in the office during calisthenics held outside every Friday. Also read | Indonesia's military academy in West Java province hit by COVID-19 outbreak; over 1,300 infected Critics slam the order as a means to impose conservative Islamic rules and said niqab did not bring sufficient protection to curb the spread of coronavirus. Also read | Indonesian president threatens to reshuffle cabinet over COVID-19 response Thohir however defended his order and denied calling it based on "radical teachings or fanaticism". "It is purely for COVID-19 prevention," he said, reported AFP, adding there is no punishment for ignoring this rule. "To make sure civil servants cover their nose and mouth during the weekly exercise we asked them to wear veils." The policy that was imposed last month asked male civil servants to don medical masks while performing these exercises. The rights groups have slammed the move and called for a review. "The policy should be reviewed because it could threaten women's health rights," Andy Yentriyani, a commissioner at the National Commission on Violence Against Women said. However, Yayuh, a civil servant, said she expects this policy to become compulsory during work hours. "But I don't mind as it's a way to learn about wearing appropriate clothes taught in Islam," she said.

Indonesian politician's veil policy to curb coronavirus draws ire

Spraying disinfectant and beating slit drums, a group of superheroes recently descended upon a village in Indonesia's Sukoharjo to warn people about the danger of the new coronavirus and teach them tricks to combat it.

Superheroes to the rescue in Indonesia's war against coronavirus

In Indonesia a village on Java Island 'Kepuh' has deployed a cast of 'ghosts' to patrol the streets, hoping that age-old superstition will keep people indoors and safely away from the novel coronavirus. Watch report.

Indonesia develops creative way to fight novel coronavirus: Ghosts keep people indoor amid lockdown

Indonesia said on Saturday that coronavirus cases had topped 2,000 and deaths risen to 191, but doubts have been raised over official figures by data showing a big jump in funerals last month in the capital Jakarta.

Health Ministry official Achmad Yurianto said there had been 106 new confirmed infections, taking the total number of cases in the Southeast Asian country to 2,092, with 10 new deaths.

"We are still on high alert over infections that are taking place in the community that are caused by positive cases among people who are not showing symptoms," said Yurianto.

Indonesia is relying mainly on social distancing policies to combat the virus since President Joko Widodo has opposed the harsh lockdown measures adopted in many neighbouring countries.

The country reported its first case of the virus a month ago, but epidemiologists say a relatively low level of testing means the number of cases may be vastly under-reported.

Indonesia has almost doubled tests in the past week but has conducted only 7,896 tests in a country of more than 260 million people.

According to a Reuters review of statistics from Jakarta's Department of Parks and Cemeteries, there were nearly 4,400 funerals in the city in March, 40 per cent higher than any month since at least January 2018.

The city has been at the epicentre of COVID-19 infections in Indonesia, accounting for 1,028 cases and around 90 deaths, according to central government data, or roughly half the country's total for both.

Jakarta's governor, Anies Baswedan, and some public health experts suspect the number of infections and deaths in the city has been significantly under-reported due to the low rates of testing.

"It is extremely disturbing," Baswedan told Reuters on Friday, referring to the funeral statistics. "I'm struggling to find another reason than unreported COVID-19 deaths."

Officials at the health ministry and at the presidential office did not respond to requests for comment.

In an interview on Thursday, before Baswedan had made his comments, Yurianto defended the reporting and testing system and said the central government based its data on lab results using the accurate polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method.

Indonesia said on Saturday that coronavirus cases had topped 2,000 and deaths risen to 191, but doubts have been raised over official figures by data showing a big jump in funerals last month in the capital Jakarta.

Indonesia said on Saturday that coronavirus cases had topped 2,000 and deaths risen to 191, but doubts have been raised over official figures by data showing a big jump in funerals last month in the capital Jakarta. Health Ministry official Achmad Yurianto said there had been 106 new confirmed infections, taking the total number of cases in the Southeast Asian country to 2,092, with 10 new deaths. "We are still on high alert over infections that are taking place in the community that are caused by positive cases among people who are not showing symptoms," said Yurianto. Indonesia is relying mainly on social distancing policies to combat the virus since President Joko Widodo has opposed the harsh lockdown measures adopted in many neighbouring countries. The country reported its first case of the virus a month ago, but epidemiologists say a relatively low level of testing means the number of cases may be vastly under-reported. Indonesia has almost doubled tests in the past week but has conducted only 7,896 tests in a country of more than 260 million people. According to a Reuters review of statistics from Jakarta's Department of Parks and Cemeteries, there were nearly 4,400 funerals in the city in March, 40 per cent higher than any month since at least January 2018. The city has been at the epicentre of COVID-19 infections in Indonesia, accounting for 1,028 cases and around 90 deaths, according to central government data, or roughly half the country's total for both. Jakarta's governor, Anies Baswedan, and some public health experts suspect the number of infections and deaths in the city has been significantly under-reported due to the low rates of testing. "It is extremely disturbing," Baswedan told Reuters on Friday, referring to the funeral statistics. "I'm struggling to find another reason than unreported COVID-19 deaths." Officials at the health ministry and at the presidential office did not respond to requests for comment. In an interview on Thursday, before Baswedan had made his comments, Yurianto defended the reporting and testing system and said the central government based its data on lab results using the accurate polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method.