If local transmission continues to occur, it can contribute to a rise in COVID-19 casesJakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia needs to intensify contact tracing and mass testing among communities to curb a potential resurgence in COVID-19 cases in view of the local transmission of the Omicron variant, a top researcher said.
"If local transmission continues to occur, it can contribute to a rise in COVID-19 cases," Amin Soebandrio from the Eijkman Molecular Biology Research Center of the Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) said.
The public must also comply with the 5M health protocols to curb infections, he added.
Compliance with the health protocols is indispensable because Omicron infections can only be confirmed by PCR tests and whole-genome sequencing (WGS), he said.
Thus, the 5M health protocols -- wearing masks, keeping a safe distance, staying away from crowds, washing hands with soap, and reducing mobility -- should be strictly implemented, he added.
"Whatever COVID-19 variants exist, what we must do is the same, namely implementing the 5M or 3T health protocols, and vaccinations," he added.
ANTARA had reported earlier that Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin had announced Indonesia's first Omicron case on December 16, 2021.
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 informed.
The case was detected after three workers at the hospital tested positive for COVID-19, he noted.
In response to the detection of the first Omicron case, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) had urged people to stay calm.
"It is important to be vigilant, but do not panic," he emphasized, adding that the Omicron variant had not caused severe symptoms, especially in vaccinated patients.
He also urged Indonesians to get vaccinated without delay to protect themselves and to continue to implement strict health protocols.
To stem the spread of the new variant of COVID-19, senior legislator Saleh Partaonan Daulay recently urged the Indonesian government to increase surveillance at international 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," he noted.
As of January 5, 2022, the Health Ministry has recorded 254 confirmed cases of the Omicron variant in Indonesia, chiefly comprising Indonesian citizens with a history of travel to other countries.
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Translator: Martha HS, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Sri Haryati
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