Australia's ambassador to Indonesia is being evacuated based on medical advice

It comes as the spread of coronavirus in the country continues to surge.



The Foreign Affairs Department has assessed the risk of coronavirus in Indonesia is now too high for diplomats regarded as most vulnerable.

It's understood Ambassador Gary Quinlan is regarded as a high risk for acute illness if he were to catch the virus.

He's being relocated back home temporarily but will continue as ambassador from Canberra.

Australia's consul in Bali has already returned for similar reasons.

The ABC has also learnt that an Australian man has died in Jakarta with symptoms of COVID-19, although he was not tested for the disease.

At least one other Australian is known to have been severely ill.

The number of confirmed deaths in Indonesia has jumped to 280, with 3,293 cases. But a low rate of testing means the true number of deaths and cases is likely to be far higher.

The number of cases in Indonesia is expected to peak around May.

Reporting by Indonesia correspondent Anne Barker