Government Strategy To Handle Omicron: Tighten Quarantine To Deploy PCR Test Kits At Entrances From Overseas

JAKARTA - The government has implemented four strategies to deal with and prevent the spread of the new variant of COVID-19, Omicron.

The four strategies are tightening health protocols or 3M, surveillance (test, trace, isolation), vaccination and treatment, said Minister of Communications and Information Johnny G Plate in a statement.

Another scenario, Johnny continued, is prepared by tightening the quarantine of travelers, considering that 98 percent of Omicron cases in Indonesia occur in international travelers.

The government has also prepared centralized quarantine locations in Jakarta, Surabaya, Batam and Entikong. In addition, the government has also increased the number of PCR test equipment to identify Omicron variants.

"The test kits are distributed to all major entrances from abroad, so that Omicron can be identified more quickly," he said, quoted by Antara, Tuesday, December 28.

According to him, the government is increasing the number of genome sequencing equipment to accelerate and expand the test network outside Java.

The government also continues to accelerate and expand national vaccinations, especially for groups of people who have a high risk of being exposed to COVID19.

"Health facilities and hospitals along with beds, medicines, oxygen have been prepared to deal with the possibility of a spike in cases," said Johnny.

At the same time, the government continues to invite the public to increase discipline in implementing health protocols that have been proven to be effective in preventing the transmission of COVID-19.

Community discipline plays an important role in supporting various anticipatory efforts made by the government, starting from tightening supervision, accelerating vaccination, and testing.

"The government invites the public to implement the 3M health protocol (using masks, washing hands, and maintaining distance) to prevent transmission of new variants of COVID-19 such as Omicron," Johnny emphasized.

The Minister of Communication and Information revealed, based on data as of December 12, 2021, it was recorded that there were still around 1,948 of the 8,584 villages and sub-districts, or 22.69 percent who did not comply with the rules for wearing masks.

Meanwhile, the number of villages and sub-districts that were monitored for not complying with the rules of social distancing were 1,995 out of 8,584 villages and sub-districts, or 23.24 percent.

"All regulations and appeals made by the government are solely to protect the public from the Omicron variant and keep the pandemic condition under control," said the Minister of Communication and Information.