There will be new virus variants due to the high number of confirmed cases. Indonesia must be prepared.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin has asked Indonesian citizens to remain alert and prepare for the projected emergence of new virus mutations in the first three months of 2023.



"There will be new virus variants due to the high number of confirmed cases. Indonesia must be prepared," he said at a press conference after attending a meeting held to evaluate community mobility restrictions (PPKM) here on Tuesday.



Indonesia must prepare to face the variants since other countries, such as Japan, the United States, and several countries in Europe, are experiencing a significant spike in COVID-19 cases, he added.


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Daily positive cases in Europe and the US have been recorded at 100 thousand, while in Japan, their number has breached 200 thousand.



Another reason for increased vigilance is the occurrence of viral mutations and the emergence of new sub-variants, Sadikin said.



The current increase in positive cases is linked to the emergence of new sub-variants, such as BA.4 and BA.5, in the community, he explained.



He said that Indonesia has not experienced a new wave of COVID-19 infections because the protection from antibodies at the community level has increased to 98.5 percent or 2 thousand units per milliliter. However, positive cases can explode at any time due to virus mutations that are continuing to occur.


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"We will face a new challenge in the next six months when the antibodies start to decrease," Sadikin said.



Indonesia is one of the few countries that have managed to surpass the BA.4 and BA.5 sub-variant waves, he added. He then asked all parties to work together to prevent another wave of COVID-19.



People must maintain their immunity, balanced with the current rate of COVID-19 vaccination, to reduce the possibility of a new wave, he said.



If Indonesia manages to maintain good conditions, it is likely to become one of the best countries in dealing with the pandemic for 12 months in a row, he added.



"Our challenge now is to prepare for the next wave around January, February, and March 2023," he said.


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Translator: Hreeloita Dharma S, Resinta S
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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