Indonesia official says vaccines help Jakarta reach 'herd immunity'

A healthcare worker wearing personal protective equipment suits (PPE) takes a swab sample from an elderly man with mental illness to test for the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) at a social home in Jakarta, Indonesia, on Monday (Aug 23, 2021). - Reuters

JAKARTA, Aug 23 (Reuters): Weeks after the Delta variant of the coronavirus ripped through Jakarta, the Indonesian capital has reached "herd immunity", the city's deputy governor said, ahead of an expected decision by the president on Monday on whether to extend Covid-19 curbs.

For much of last month, Jakarta was devastated by the outbreak with inundated hospitals, oxygen shortages and Covd-19 patients dying at home, but in recent weeks case numbers have dropped sharply, while vaccination rates have climbed.