Coronavirus Surges in Indonesia; Colombia Death Toll Passes 100000 – Democracy Now!

Health officials in Indonesia are tightening public health measures as the world’s fourth most populous nation recorded a record number of new COVID-19 cases Monday. Authorities are blaming the fast-spreading Delta coronavirus variant, though the explosion of new cases follows a surge of travel at the end of the month of Ramadan when many Indonesians ignored travel restrictions to visit their hometowns.

In Colombia, COVID-19 deaths have passed the 100,000 mark amid a devastating third wave of cases. This is Colombian epidemiologist Andrea Ramírez.

Andrea Ramírez Varela: “Certainly, this is the worst moment of the pandemic. From the perspective of positive cases, we are seeing 40% positivity, four out of 10 people infected. Also, the collapse of the ICUs. It is the first time that Bogotá has had such a prolonged hospital collapse, and we have had this alarming figure for several days now.”