Third COVID wave looms in Indonesia as omicron spreads

By NINIEK KARMINI
Associated Press

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Indonesia is bracing for a third wave of COVID-19 infections as the highly transmissible omicron variant drives a surge in new cases. The country reported over 11,500 new confirmed infections and 17 deaths in the last 24-hour period. It was the highest daily caseload since August last year when Indonesia was struggling to contain a delta-driven wave. It was among the countries in the region hit hardest until daily infections had fallen to about 200 by December. Now cases are rising again just weeks after it reported its first local omicron transmission. The health minister says the current wave would likely peak at the end of February or in early March. Some experts doubt the measures will be enough given the lax enforcement.