Bali Task Force: Swab Results Of 11 Close Contacts Of Omicron Surabaya Patients Negative

DENPASAR - The Bali Province COVID-19 Handling Task Force reported that the results of a PCR-based swab test on 11 hotel employees who had close contact with tourists from Surabaya, East Java, who were exposed to the Omicron variant of COVID-19, were all negative.

"Reporting the swab results of close contacts of the Omicron Surabaya case with a history of traveling to Bali, all negative," said Secretary of the Bali Province COVID-19 Task Force I Made Rentin in a written statement, Monday, January 3.

A total of 11 hotel employees on Monday were tested with PCR-based swabs and the negative results were released on Monday evening.

"Furthermore, all must be quarantined for five days and later on the fifth day, another PCR swab test (exit test) will be carried out," said Rentin, who is also the Chief Executive of the Bali Province BPBD.

Likewise, the results of the swab test for the case of a Russian foreigner and the close contacts of the villa employees were all negative.

Even though the results of the PCR-based swab test were negative, said Rentin, all had to be quarantined for five days and on the fifth day, another PCR swab test (exit test) was carried out.

This, he said, was also based on the results of communication with the National Task Force to prevent the spread of the Omicron variant on the Island of the Gods.

Regarding the findings of the Omicron variant case in Surabaya from domestic tourists who previously traveled to Bali, the Bali Province COVID-19 Task Force and the local Health Office have also coordinated with the East Java Health Office and the Surabaya City Health Office.

"This is to ensure wherever the person concerned has the opportunity to interact when in Bali," said Rentin.

According to Rentin, tracing is not only limited to where tourists stay, but also to a number of tourist objects that have been visited by involving a joint team from the Badung Regency Health Office and the thickening of the Bali Police Dokkes and Kodam IX Udayana personnel.