Ministry Of Health: Characteristics Of Omicron Can Generate A Wave Of COVID-19

JAKARTA - Spokesperson for the COVID-19 Vaccination of the Ministry of Health, Siti Nadia Tarmizi, said the characteristics of the Omicron variant could lead to waves of COVID-19 cases in various countries.

"This Omicron has become a variant that has attracted a lot of attention, especially with its characteristics that allow it to generate waves of COVID-19 cases in various countries," said Nadia, quoted by Antara, Wednesday, December 15.

Nadia conveyed that the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that as of December 15, 2021, as many as 76 countries reported having found cases of Omicron.

Omicron cases found in these countries were obtained from travelers as well as those obtained from the community.

"This means that there may have been transmission at the community level of positive cases of Omicron without any history of travel abroad," she said.

According to Nadia, several studies have been reported to WHO regarding Omicron that the transmission rate of Omicron is three times higher than the Delta variant.

In addition, continued Nadia, cases of reinfection in people with a history of vaccination were also found, confirming the previous assumption that this Omicron variant was able to evade the human immune system.

Therefore, the Ministry of Health asks all levels of society to remain vigilant and be prepared if the next wave appears along with the expansion of the new variant of Omicron.

"So far, from the results of national screening, we have not found any Omicron cases in our country," she said.

If you look at the current national situation, Nadia said, there was a 17 percent decline in weekly new cases despite a 14 percent increase in deaths.

"Which means we have to be more vigilant to make early detection," she said.

Nadia added, the testing rate and positivity rate as well as the use of COVID-19 beds including the ICU in the country are still maintained at a safe level.

"Of course we have to maintain this good trend by continuing to pursue survey activities, contact tracing and accelerate vaccination," she said.