Indonesia passes Philippines as Southeast Asia's virus hot spot

High death rate signals stress on country's health care capacity

20200417N Indonesia coronavirus

Shoppers line up outside a Jakarta supermarket April 17: Indonesia's COVID-19 case totals are rising ahead of next week's start of Ramadan. © AP

KOYA JIBIKI, Nikkei staff writer

JAKARTA -- Indonesia has overtaken the Philippines to become the Southeast Asian nation with the most cases of the coronavirus disease COVID-19, and the government predicts the number could peak at 106,000 in June or July.

Indonesia reported 407 new COVID-19 cases Friday afternoon, bringing its total to 5,923. This put the country ahead of the Philippines, which has confirmed 5,878.

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