Increased number of burials hint towards a higher death toll in Jakarta

Jakarta has a total of4,317 positive coronavirus cases, with a death toll of 375. However, it is being speculated that the number of coronavirus cases, especially the death toll, might be higher than what is being reported.

The burials in Jakarta were close to record high in the last month. According to a report filed by Reuters, there have been 4,377 burials in the last one month, and 4,422 burials in March. Thus, indicating that2,500 more people have died in the city in the past two months than the average for the period. However, the burials data on the website of the city's parks and cemeteries department does not identify a reason for these deaths.

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Overall, Indonesia has had 800 deaths from the disease, Health Ministry official Achmad Yurianto said on Friday. He also toldReutersthat the death toll only reveals the number of people who died after being tested for coronavirus.Some people who died with COVID-19 symptoms were not tested at all, while others had their samples collected "incorrectly", Yurianto said. He did not elaborate on what the incorrect samples meant.

"I'm struggling to find another reason than unreported COVID-19 deaths," City Governor Anies Baswedan was quoted by Reuters.

While a slight decline was observed in the burials i. the month of April, the reason behind that can also be that some people left for their hometown before the borders were sealed on April 24. However, the government has not commented on it.

"We don't have daily data to get a precise trend. However, deducting for out-migration, it's not slowing down yet," an anonymous source toldReuters.

A Reuters review of data from 16 of Indonesia`s 34 provinces showed this week that more than 2,200 people have died with acute symptoms of COVID-19 but were not recorded as victims of the disease.

(With inputs from Reuters)