Indonesian volunteer army helps fight coronavirus with data and web

Indonesian President Joko Widodo (left) wearing a face mask visits an MRT station in Jakarta on Tuesday (May 26), to inspect measures the capital city is implementing amid concerns of the coronavirus outbreak. - AFP

JAKARTA: As Indonesia's most populous province weighed tough movement restrictions to stop the new coronavirus, it turned to a loosely-knit volunteer group of data scientists and health experts.

The Kawal Covid-19 (Guard against Covid-19) group organised a data model presented to the provincial governor that showed there could be 70,000 deaths by July in West Java if no restrictions were imposed compared with only 20,000 if it took tough action.