There Are 22 Delta Variants Of COVID-19 In Indonesia, Delta Plus Has Not Been Found

JAKARTA - Spokesperson from the Ministry of Health, Siti Nadia Tarmizi said that currently there were 22 derivatives or variations of the Delta type of COVID-19 variant.

So, if you add the Delta variant itself, there are already 23 types. Meanwhile, worldwide there are already around 75 derivatives of the Delta variant.

"We have found 22 derivatives of the Delta variant in Indonesia. In total, when combined with the B1617 (Delta variant), there are 23," said Nadia in a virtual discussion, Thursday, November 4.

Nadia said, the provinces that reported findings of the Delta variant of COVID-19 cases were mostly in densely populated areas, such as DKI Jakarta, West Java, and Central Java.

"The highest is in DKI Jakarta, where 1,300 Delta variants have been detected. In Central Java, there are around 300. In West Java, there are 700 Delta variants that have been reported," said Nadia.

As for the variants of the Delta variant of COVID-19 in Indonesia that have been found, such as B1617.2, AY.1, AY.11, to AY16. Meanwhile, the AY.4.2 or Delta Plus variant which was most recently detected in the UK and Singapore has not been recorded in Indonesia. Nadia said the presence of the Delta variant with all its derivatives must be watched out for. This is because the Delta variant has a faster transmission capability than the original COVID-19.

"Obviously this is our concern not to give the delta variant the opportunity to develop further," he said.

Anticipating this, Nadia said there are 2 ways that the government has taken. The first is strengthening the entrance to Indonesia by requiring vaccination for everyone who enters Indonesia. Second, carry out PCR tests to quarantine for international travelers.