INDONESIA PRESENCE OF NEW OMICRON VARIANT PEOPLE SHOULD BE VIGILANT

Indonesia has a variant of the Omicron XBB virus. This finding has been reported by Kementerian Kesehatan (Kemenkes) that the XBB variant was found in a 29-year-old woman who had just returned from Lombok, Nusa Tenggara Barat.

Quoted from Kementrian Kesehatan website, “There are symptoms such as cough, runny nose, and fever. She then underwent an examination and tested positive on September 26. After undergoing isolation, the patient was declared cured on October 3,” said M. Syahril.

There are as many as 24 countries reporting the findings of the XBB variant including Indonesia and it has also been reported to have attacked the State of Singapore which resulted in an increase in Covid-19 cases reaching 2 times. There are more than 11,934 new cases of Covid-19 in Singapore (18/10).

Kementerian Kesehatan Spokesperson M Syahril said that although the new XBB variant is rapidly infectious, its fatality is not more severe than the Omicron variant. However, the country cannot be said to be safe from the COVID-19 pandemic. Because various new variant mutations still have the potential to continue to occur.

Dr. Syahril asked the public to be vigilant again and comply with health protocols such as wearing masks, avoiding crowds and washing hands with masks, and testing if they experience signs and symptoms of COVID-19. In addition, also hasten the COVID-19 vaccination to increase protection against COVID-19.

“Immediately do a booster for those who have not, to reduce morbidity and mortality due to Covid-19,” he said.