JAKARTA: As many as 21 new cases of Covid-19 were confirmed in Indonesia, bringing the total number to 117, the government said on Sunday (March 15).

"Today we recorded 21 new cases, 19 of which were found in Jakarta and 2 were in Central Java," the government spokesperson for all coronavirus-related matters Achmad Yurianto told a press conference at the State Palace in Jakarta.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo said on Sunday he would get tested for coronavirus, while some of his ministers had also undergone precautionary tests after the Southeast Asian country's transport minister tested positive for the disease.

Widodo also suggested people work from home and avoid mass gatherings, as he sought to calm rising concerns about the spread of the virus in the sprawling archipelago.

Indonesia, the world's fourth most populous country, reported on Sunday the number of infections had risen by 21 to 117 and added five people with the virus have died in the country.

Jakarta and several other provinces and cities have already announced school closures starting this week, and some companies are asking staff to work from home.

Transport Minister Budi Karya Sumadi was confirmed to be suffering from Covid-19 on Saturday. Widodo, who led a cabinet meeting attended by Sumadi on Wednesday, said the minister was still being isolated in a hospital.

Other ministers, including State Owned-Enterprises Minister Erick Thohir, were tested for coronavirus on Sunday, CNBC Indonesia reported.

Sofyan Djalil, a minister in charge of land planning who was sitting closest to Sumadi at the cabinet meeting, had tested negative, a ministry spokeswoman said.

 - ANN