COVID-19 Task Force Stated Symptoms Of People Exposed To Mild Omicron Variant, Self-Isolating Is Enough

JAKARTA - Member of the Medical Specialist Task Force for Handling COVID-19 Erlina Burhan revealed that people exposed to COVID-19 variant B.1.1.529 or Omicron tend to have symptoms that are quite mild even though they are easily transmitted.

Judging from the cases of Omicron exposure in a number of countries, said Erlina, most of the infected and vaccinated patients do not even experience symptoms.

"Several countries report mild symptoms. The good news is that this group of people who were vaccinated had no symptoms. So, indeed, the Omicron variant was found, but the people were asymptomatic because they had been vaccinated," said Erlina in a virtual discussion broadcast on ILUNI FKUI Youtube, Sunday, 12 December.

Erlina said that patients with the Omicron variant of COVID-19 only needed to self-isolate on average. Because, the symptoms that arise in cases in South Africa are usually fatigue, headaches, and body aches.

"This is different from the delta, this Omicron has no smell or taste disturbances, no anosmia, and aguesia," he said.

However, Erlina asked the public to maintain the application of health protocols. Then, the public is also asked to carry out a complete dose of vaccination before Omicron enters Indonesia.

"There's no need to delay vaccination, get vaccinated immediately, it's difficult for us to prevent Omicron from entering Indonesia because of its high mobility, so even if Omicron comes in, if we've been vaccinated, it turns out that there are no symptoms," said Erlina.

As is known, so far WHO revealed that Omicron variants have been reported in 57 countries with the number of patients requiring hospitalization is likely to increase as it spreads.

The government has taken steps to prevent the entry of Omicron into Indonesia, including extending the quarantine period for foreign travelers from 7 days to 10 days.

Then, specifically for people who travel from countries with community transmission of the Omicron variant and other countries that are geographically close to each other, they are required to quarantine for 14 days.