Virus deaths ‘redefinition’ slammed

Worrying sign: Indonesia, though yet to include probable deaths in its death toll, saw the tally cross 10,000 on Thursday. — AP

Jakarta: The country’s coronavirus response has once again become clouded by confusion after the government attempted to rework the definition of Covid-19 deaths, evoking criticism that it was focusing on anything but the most essential efforts to contain the virus.

East Java governor Khofifah Indah Parawansa has reportedly told the Health Ministry that deaths among patients with comorbidity factors should be categorised differently from the deaths of patients without pre-existing conditions, which would affect the death toll.