Based on the results of the study, it turned out that the patient was infected with the BI525 virus, but it did not spread widelyTanjungpinang (ANTARA) - B1525, a new variant of COVID-19, was detected in Batam in an Indonesian migrant worker in Malaysia that had returned to the country, according to the Riau Islands Provincial Health Office.
Bisri, head of the Riau Islands Health Service, stated here on Thursday that the case of the COVID-19 variant B1525 was identified after a study was conducted on a patient, who was an Indonesian migrant worker in Malaysia that had returned to Indonesia via Batam about two months ago.
"Based on the results of the study, it turned out that the patient was infected with the BI525 virus, but it did not spread widely," he remarked.
The migrant worker departed from Malaysia to Batam aboard a ferry. Based on the search results, no people had come in close contact with these patients.
The patient experienced mild symptoms and was not treated. The patient conducted independent isolation at a halfway house in Batam before returning to his hometown. "The patient has recovered," Bisri stated.
Bisri had yet to confirm whether there are other patients in the province infected with B1525 or other new variants as the delivery of virus samples is conducted by the Batam City Environmental Health and Disease Control Engineering Center (BTKLPP), and research is conducted periodically by the Directorate for Prevention and Control of Direct Communicable Diseases (P2PML) of the Health Ministry.
The case of the new COVID-19 variant B1525 was first discovered in the UK some time ago.
"No more cases would hopefully be detected. We are optimistic of the public tightening health protocols," he remarked.
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Translator: Nikolas Panama, Katriana
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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