Doing outdoor activities in public spaces has largely contributed to Omicron cases among childrenSurabaya, E Java (ANTARA) - Surabaya Mayor Eri Cahyadi urged parents in the city to comply with the government's health protocols to protect their kids from getting infected with the Omicron coronavirus variant.
The Omicron variant largely infects children, aged 5-17, he told local journalists in Surabaya, East Java, on Tuesday.
Omicron cases among children in the city are recorded at 17.39 percent of the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases driven by this highly transmissible variant, he remarked.
The surge in Omicron cases is related to high outdoor activities and mobility of parents or adults in families. This condition has triggered family COVID-19 clusters in the city, Cahyadi remarked.
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To protect their children from COVID-19 infections, both parents and adults in families should implement health protocols while staying with their kids, as they are vulnerable to contracting COVID-19, he added.
Speaking in connection with Omicron cases among children, Surabaya City Health Office Head Nanik Sukristina said they got infected while conducting outdoor activities or staying in public spaces.
"Doing outdoor activities in public spaces has largely contributed to Omicron cases among children," she remarked, adding that kids contracting the coronavirus infection could conduct self-isolation at the Surabaya haj dormitory.
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During their self-isolation period at the haj dormitory, parents are able to accompany them until they fully recovered, Sukristina noted.
Asymptomatic and mild patients generally need three to seven days to recover, but they are suggested to continue to conduct self-isolation for 10-14 days, she remarked.
ANTARA had reported earlier that Indonesia's first Omicron case was announced by Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin 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 stated.
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 had urged 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.
He also urged Indonesians to get vaccinated without delay to protect themselves and to continue implementing strict health protocols.
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To stem the spread of the new variant of COVID-19, a senior legislator 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 stated.
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Translator: A Hakim, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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