Jakarta (ANTARA) - Head of the professional development division of the Indonesian Epidemiologists Association (PAEI), Masdalina Pane, has highlighted the need for strengthening the health protocols to anticipate infections caused by new Omicron subvariants.

"The public must remain vigilant and improve (compliance with the) health protocols," she said when contacted here on Wednesday.

Pane, who is also a researcher with the Center for Public Health Research at the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), noted that currently, there are three new subvariants of Omicron spreading in various countries.

"The three subvariants that are currently spreading are BA.4, BA.5, and BA.2.75," she informed.

Nevertheless, people must not panic too much and strengthen health protocol implementation to reduce the risk of contracting COVID-19, she added.

The community can also continue to carry out activities by observing the health protocols strictly, she added.

She stressed that the community must protect vulnerable people such as older adults, pregnant women, children, and people with comorbidities from the deadly virus.

"Protecting them means maintaining the health of our nation," she remarked.

Besides following the health protocols, getting the first, second, and booster doses of the COVID-19 vaccine are essential for all people, the epidemiologist noted.

She also highlighted the need to carry out the 3T measures, namely testing, tracing, and treatment. The 3T measures must be intensified in order to prevent COVID-19 transmission, especially at the micro level, she added.

"3T practices plus good compliance of implementing the health protocols and vaccinations are some of the efforts needed to accelerate the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic," she said.

The first case of COVID-19 in Indonesia was confirmed in March 2020. According to data from the COVID-19 Handling Task Force, as of July 13, 2022, the nation has recorded 6,120,169 COVID-19 cases, 5,939,564 recoveries, and 156,818 deaths.

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Translator: Wuryanti Puspitasari, Raka Adj
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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