Joe Biden and Elon Musk Will Come to Bali for G20

The government of Indonesia predicts the wave of the new COVID-19 variants will peak in either December 2022 or January 2023. The cases in Indonesia are currently rising with the G20 summit only less than two weeks away. 

The COVID-19 Weekly Epidemiological Update Edition 116, which was released on November 2, reveals that Indonesia got 19,661 new cases from October 24 to October 30. The figure from Indonesia was the largest among the ASEAN countries during the same period.

New COVID-19 variant XBB has already entered Indonesia. Meanwhile, the United States of America is threatened by the BQ.1 and BQ.1.1 variants which are currently spreading in New York and California. 

Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said on his Instagram that more cases are emerging in Bali and Java. He noted that there were more than 5,000 cases in the past week. 

Central Java and Yogyakarta Provinces are under spotlight for having more cases.

"According to the various data that we monitor and based on the previous Covid-19 cases, the peak of the various new variants is predicted to happen between the next one or two months. Especially for Java-Bali region, the confirmed cases are increasing in all Provinces of Java and Bali," said Minister Luhut on his Instagram on Friday (4/11). 

Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan asks the public to keep following the health protocol, including to wear masks in indoor settings. Moreover, the government will keep the public activity restrictions (PPKM system).

Maulandy Rizky Bayu Kencana and Ade Nasihudin Al Ansori contributed to this report.