Data on COVID-19 deaths in Indonesia is still complicated
The LaporData LaporCovid19 Volunteer Team found that the number of positive COVID-19 deaths reached 47,642 people as of Wednesday (28/4/2021). Even then, there are still 12 provinces that have not updated their data because the site has problems. The central government itself released 45,116 deaths as of Thursday (29/4/2021). This means that there is a difference of up to 2,526 deaths recorded by the regional government and the central government.
FINDINGS
Data on COVID-19 deaths in Indonesia is still complicated
It has been more than a year since the COVID-19 pandemic hit Indonesia. About 1.6 million people were exposed. However, data on cases of death due to this invisible virus is still unknown. Apart from not being updated in a number of regions, data on COVID-19 deaths between regional and central governments is also still unequal.
The LaporData LaporCovid19 Volunteer Team found that the number of positive COVID-19 deaths reached 47,642 people as of Wednesday (28/4/2021). Even then, there are still 12 provinces that have not updated their data because the site has problems. The central government itself released 45,116 deaths as of Thursday (29/4/2021). This means that there is a difference of up to 2,526 deaths recorded by the regional government and the central government.
Number of positive COVID-19 deaths at provincial level
Of the 33 provinces, seven provinces recorded more than 1,000 deaths due to COVID-19. The top ranking is still held by Central Java with 11,794 cases, East Java (10,654 cases), DKI Jakarta (6,690 people), West Java (3,692 cases), East Kalimantan (1,624 people), Banten (1,201 cases), and Riau (1,049). These seven provinces represent 77% of positive COVID-19 deaths in Indonesia. See the following graph.
The number of deaths could be greater if the government followed the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for including cases probable (have symptoms of COVID-19 but have not had time to undergo a test) as a case of COVID-19 death. The LaporCovid19 team recorded probable cases reaching 10,156 people. This means that the total deaths due to COVID-19 in Indonesia reached 57,798 people.
Even then, only six provinces present case data probable in detail. These areas are DKI Jakarta with 6,858 cases, East Java (1,477 cases), West Java (1,451 cases), South Sulawesi (222 cases), Nusa Tenggara (93 cases), and Banten (55 cases). Proportion of death cases probable in Banten and South Sulawesi it reaches more than 90% of probable cases. This means that the majority of probable cases in these two provinces resulted in death.
Differences in Central and Regional Government Death Data
The difference in death data between regional and central governments shows that the government is not serious about providing information updates handling COVID-19 to the public. There should be no attempts to hide data on deaths due to COVID-19 amidst the increase in cases in Indonesia and several countries, such as India.
Based on the team's observations, a number of areas have the potential to experience a spike in active positive cases of COVID-19. The following are 51 of the 514 district cities with the highest number of active positive cases and are still undergoing isolation. Remember, the COVID-19 pandemic is not over.
| Ranking | Province | Regency/City | Number of Active Positives | |
| 1 | West Papua | Manokwari | 2.371 | |
| 2 | Riau | Pekanbaru City | 1.797 | |
| 3 | West Java | Depok City | 1.715 | |
| 4 | Jakarta | East Jakarta City | 1.662 | |
| 5 | Jakarta | South Jakarta City | 1.486 | |
| 6 | North Sulawesi | Manado City | 1.461 | |
| 7 | Papua | Jayapura City | 1.415 | |
| 8 | Special Region of Yogyakarta | Sleman | 1.204 | |
| 9 | Jakarta | West Jakarta City | 923 | |
| 10 | West Java | Bandung | 905 | |
| 11 | Jakarta | North Jakarta City | 843 | |
| 12 | South Kalimantan | Banjarmasin City | 803 | |
| 13 | Special Region of Yogyakarta | Bantul | 796 | |
| 14 | West Sumatra | Padang City | 788 | |
| 15 | West Java | Subang | 770 | |
| 16 | West Java | Bandung | 755 | |
| 17 | Central Kalimantan | Palangka Raya City | 754 | |
| 18 | South Sumatra | Palembang City | 744 | |
| 19 | Central Sulawesi | Palu City | 670 | |
| 20 | North Sumatra | Medan City | 669 | |
| 21 | West Java | Garut | 630 | |
| 22 | Central Java | Brebes | 622 | |
| 23 | West Java | Cianjur | 599 | |
| 24 | West Java | West Bandung | 592 | |
| 25 | West Java | Bogor City | 587 | |
| 26 | West Java | Brass | 580 | |
| 27 | North Sumatra | Deli Serdang | 554 | |
| 28 | North Maluku | City of Tidore Islands | 534 | |
| 29 | West Java | Bekasi | 523 | |
| 30 | North Maluku | Morotai Island | 518 | |
| 31 | North Maluku | Morotai Island | 518 | |
| 32 | Jakarta | Central Jakarta City | 501 | |
| 33 | West Java | Indramayu | 495 | |
| 34 | Riau | Dumai City | 487 | |
| 35 | West Java | Cirebon | 481 | |
| 36 | Central Java | Banyumas | 476 | |
| 37 | Bali | Denpasar City | 475 | |
| 38 | Central Java | Cilacap | 474 | |
| 39 | West Java | Bekasi City | 474 | |
| 40 | Papua | Mimika | 450 | |
| 41 | West Java | Cirebon City | 447 | |
| 42 | East Kalimantan | Balikpapan City | 444 | |
| 43 | Riau islands | Batam City | 436 | |
| 44 | Special Region of Yogyakarta | Kulon Progo | 404 | |
| 45 | Papua | Breeding Numfor | 376 | |
| 46 | Bangka Belitung Islands | Pangkal Pinang City | 371 | |
| 47 | Central Java | Semarang | 369 | |
| 48 | Special Region of Yogyakarta | Yogyakarta City | 368 | |
| 49 | West Nusa Tenggara | Mataram City | 366 | |
| 50 | East Kalimantan | West Kutai | 366 | |
| 51 | West Java | Purwakarta | 363 |
COVID-19 Data Still Not Transparent
The issue of COVID-19 death data has been dragging on for more than a year. LaporCovid19 tried to have an audience with the Minister of Health (Menkes) Budi Gunadi Sadikin on April 28 2021. However, the Minister of Health was not happy and did not provide a disposition. In fact, COVID-19 data must be transparent. Covering up COVID-19 data is tantamount to hampering the fight against the pandemic.
