The discovery of the first Omicron case is a warningJakarta (ANTARA) - The first positive case of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 is a wake-up call for people to remain disciplined in implementing the health protocols, COVID-19 Task Force spokesperson Wiku Adisasmito has said.
"The discovery of the first Omicron case is a warning. We must remain vigilant by consistently implementing the health protocols and not worrying excessively," Adisasmito said in a statement here on Friday.
The first Omicron case in the country was reported at a quarantine facility of the Wisma Atlet Jakarta Hospital. The patient is a hospital janitor, identified by his initials as N.
The case was announced on Thursday by Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin.
The case was identified based on the results of a genome-sequencing analysis received by the Health Ministry on December 15, 2021.
Adisasmito said he expected the public to strictly implement the health protocols even though there has been no spike in COVID-19 cases.
Given the impact caused by the spike in the second wave of COVID-19, the public must continue to implement strict health protocols, he added.
Health protocols are the easiest, most affordable, and most effective way for people to prevent the transmission of COVID-19.
The government is also making efforts to protect the public, including by adjusting policies based on the development of COVID-19 cases, both nationally and globally, he noted.
The policy changes to deal with COVID-19 also showed that the government is committed to enforcing policies solely to protect the public from any potential spike in COVID-19 cases, he observed.
He asked people to remain vigilant and monitor information on the development of COVID-19 cases in Indonesia so that they can follow the rules imposed to prevent the transmission of COVID-19.
"We ask the entire community to comply with the policies," he said.
The policy has been enforced for the entire community in accordance with the provisions in the Circular of the Task Force for Handling COVID-19 Number 25 of 2021, he added.
Violations of the COVID-19 prevention procedures will be dealt with according to the law. The COVID-19 Handling Task Force will continue to support every legal step set by the authorities, he said.
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Translator: Katriana
Editor: Sri Haryati
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