JAKARTA, Sept. 8 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia's areas with high potentials of the novel coronavirus transmissions have widened recently amid the surging number of the confirmed virus cases, the COVID-19 Task Force said on Tuesday.
The number of cities and districts classified as high risk areas, or red zones, have risen to 70 from 65 a week ago, the COVID-19 Task Force's spokesman Wiku Adisasmito said.
"This is not too encouraging, because the risk level of several areas has worsened to a high level from a moderate level," the spokesman told a virtual press briefing.
In addition, Adisasmito said the number of cities and districts with the moderate risk level, or the orange zone category, has climbed to 267 from 230 a week earlier. Indonesia has 514 cities and districts.
He pointed out that Bali resort island has recorded the highest weekly increase of confirmed cases in Indonesia, followed by South Sulawesi province, Riau province and the country's capital of Jakarta.
Bali recorded over 100-percent hike last week to 1,134 cases from 565 cases a week earlier, he said.
The climb occurred after the government reopened tourism in the resort island in July. However, the plan to welcome foreign travelers on Sept. 11 has been put off to next year due to surging COVID-19 cases.
President Joko Widodo on Monday stressed that the government would put a higher priority on the fight against the virus transmissions in the hope the measure would set up a strong basis for economic recovery.
Indonesia's COVID-19 confirmed cases have exceeded the psychological level of 200,000 as the Health Ministry reported a daily increase of 3,044 confirmed cases on Tuesday. Enditem
