People with Pre-Existing Conditions at Higher Risk of Coronavirus in Indonesia

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – Individuals with pre-existing conditions are at a higher risk of contracting coronavirus in Indonesia.

People in this risk category have been the dominant group in Indonesia's coronavirus-related deaths.

Those with kidney disease, in particular, are at the highest risk, said Epidemiologist of the National Covid-19 Task Force Dewi Nur Aisyah.

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“The analysis is completed and it turns out that people with pre-existing conditions have the highest fatality rate," Dewi said during a press conference at the Indonesian National Board for Disaster Management (BNPB) on Monday. "Those who suffer from kidney disease are most at risk with a higher chance of suffering from infection and have a higher fatality rate.”

Ailments that are immunity-related such as HIV or lupus also put the individual at higher risk of contracting coronavirus in Indonesia.

Heart disease is another pre-existing condition on the list.

Even though most of the pre-existing health conditions mentioned predominantly affect Indonesia’s senior citizens, it does not exempt the younger generation from being infected by coronavirus.

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Indonesia's Covid-19 fatality rate is the highest in Southeast Asia and East Asia ex-China.