Different With The Central Data, Omicron In Jakarta Already Has 162 Cases, Here's The Health Office's Explanation

JAKARTA - Head of the Disease Prevention and Control Division of the DKI Jakarta Health Service (Dinkes), Dwi Oktavia, confirmed that currently there were 162 cases of COVID-19, the Omicron variant, in the capital.

This data is different from the explanation from the central government which stated that there were 152 cases of Omicron in Indonesia as of January 3.

Why is the data different? Dwi explained that this was due to differences in data cuts or cut offs for the addition of Omicron cases between DKI and the center.

"(The difference in the number of Omicron cases) is a matter of timing, that's the cut off," said Dwi when contacted, Tuesday, January 4.

However, the findings of the Omicron case have been reported to the Ministry of Health. "If it's there, both those released by the Ministry of Health and Jakarta are always synchronized. For example, at the Ministry of Health, there is no A's name, or we don't have one, we will immediately enter it," she continued.

Dwi said that of the 162 Omicron cases detected in Jakarta, the majority were foreign travelers. Meanwhile, six of the cases were infected by local transmission.

As long as they are positive, the Omicron case in Jakarta is undergoing isolation at the Kemayoran Athlete's Wisma, Sulianti Saroso Hospital, and the hotel that is being used as a place of isolation. However, they are not allowed to isolate in their respective homes.

"We know that Omicron will have more potential (infectious). So, we certainly try to slow it down. Do not let transmission be too easy because the isolation conditions are not ideal at home. So, as much as possible we are currently under the control of isolation," said Dwi.

Previously, the number of Omicron cases in Jakarta as many as 162 cases was disclosed by the Deputy Governor of DKI Jakarta, Ahmad Riza Patria.

Riza explained that the 162 cases were an accumulation of additional cases of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 in Jakarta, based on the results of the Ministry of Health's Litbangkes examination, as many as 15 people and from the GSI Lab as many as 12 people.

"As we all know, recently Omicron has increased. In Jakarta alone, there have been 162 cases and generally this is the result of those coming from abroad," said Riza, yesterday.