Eight Indonesian men were ordered by local authorities to dig graves for COVID-19 victims as a punishment for not wearing face masks in public.

Footage filmed on Monday (September 14) in Cerme district, Gresik, East Java shows the men digging graves at a public cemetery in the village of Ngabetan. The men are also seen praying for the victims.

Cerme district leader Suyono, who reportedly suggested the punishment, said: "“There are only three available gravediggers at the moment, so I thought I might as well put these people to work with them.”

Indonesia reported on Wednesday 3,963 new coronavirus infections, taking the country’s total tally to 228,993.