We are staying on high alert after Omicron cases were officially announced in IndonesiaSemarang, C Java (ANTARA) - The Central Java administration has appealed to its residents to continue to stay alert to the potential spread of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 ahead of and during this year's Christmas and year-end holidays.
"We are staying on high alert after Omicron cases were officially announced in Indonesia," Central Java Deputy Governor Taj Yasin Maimoen noted here on Monday.
The Indonesian government has been studying methods of systematically handling Omicron cases, the deputy governor noted while pressing for continued public compliance to the strict implementation of health protocols in the province.
During the year-end holiday period, crowds of people are commonly observed.
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“This time, we impose a ban. We do not ban the welcoming of the new year, but we prohibit crowds of people from gathering," he emphasized.
Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo has also appealed to the people at large in the province to lower the risks of the Omicron variant.
Pranowo has also instructed the local authorities to conduct an early detection of this new variant of COVID-19 through the whole genome sequencing testing.
ANTARA had reported earlier that Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin announced Indonesia's first Omicron case last Thursday.
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The first person to be infected with the new variant was a janitor working at the Wisma Atlet Kemayoran emergency hospital for COVID-19, he stated.
The case was detected after three workers at the hospital were found positive for COVID-19, he noted.
In response to the detection of the first Omicron case, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has called on people to stay calm.
"It is important to be vigilant, but do not panic," he emphasized while adding that so far, the Omicron variant had not caused severe symptoms, especially in patients, who have been vaccinated.
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He also urged Indonesians to get vaccinated without further ado to protect themselves and to continue to implement strict health protocols.
To stem the spread of this new variant of COVID-19, a senior legislator has urged the Indonesian government to increase surveillance at international travel entry points at airports across the country.
"Omicron cases have been found in Indonesia. Hence, we need to remain on alert at our travel entry points, especially our international airports," Saleh Partaonan Daulay noted recently.
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Translator: Wisnu AN, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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