Citizens should not be panicking over this finding. What is important is that we maintain the health protocols togetherKota Pekanbaru, Riau (ANTARA) - Riau Governor Syamsuar has urged residents to tighten the implementation of the health protocols after a patient in Pekanbaru was confirmed to have contracted the Omicron variant of COVID-19.
Based on a laboratory examination in Batam, Riau Islands, a Pekanbaru resident was confirmed with Omicron infection, he noted here on Saturday.
He then appealed to the people to participate in the vaccination program to prevent a massive spread of infections.
The health protocols should be carried out by the people, which comprise wearing masks while conducting activities, diligently washing hands, maintaining distance, and preventing crowding, he said.
Earlier, acting head of the Riau Health Office, Masrul Kasmy, had informed that the Pekanbaru Omicron patient was traveling to Batam on Wednesday when he took a swab test which came out positive.
"We have received the letter from Batam, which we have forwarded to the Pekanbaru Health Office, and KKP," he informed.
"To this end, we have asked the Pekanbaru Health Office to track the presence of a Pekanbaru resident who has been detected with Omicron," he said.
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After the patient is tracked, tracing and testing will be conducted on everyone who came in close contact with the patient, he added.
"To break the chain of infection, we will certainly carry out tracing and testing. We do not know exactly where the patient lives and we leave it up to the municipal government to locate the patient," he said.
"Citizens should not be panicking over this finding. What is important is that we maintain the health protocols together," he remarked.
As of Wednesday, the number of Omicron patients in Indonesia had reached 1,988, he noted.
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Translator: Frislidia, Fadhli Ruhman
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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