Jokowi: We Are Experiencing An Increasing Trend Of COVID-19 Cases Due To The Omicron Variant

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) said the trend of increasing cases of COVID-19 due to the Omicron variant occurred in the country. However, he asked the public not to overreact but also to remain vigilant.

"Currently, we are experiencing an upward trend in COVID cases caused by the Omicron variant. Therefore, all of us must be aware of this trend but do not need to overreact," Jokowi said in a video description posted on the Presidential Secretariat's YouTube, Tuesday, January 18.

Not only that, Jokowi also asked no parties to cause panic in the community. Moreover, various studies related to the Omicron variant of COVID-19 mention that this variant has mild symptoms even though the transmission is easier.

"You need to be careful, you need to be vigilant but don't cause fear and don't cause panic. Various studies including the WHO report say the Omicron variant is indeed more easily transmitted but the symptoms are milder," he asserted.

"Patients who are infected with this variant generally recover without having to be hospitalized. But again, we have to be vigilant, don't get excited, and don't be rash," added Jokowi.

Previously reported, the Ministry of Health said that the number of cases of infection with the SARS-CoV-2 variant of the B.1.1.529 or Omicron corona virus in Indonesia increased to 840 cases.

"Since Omicron was detected on December 15, 2021 until January 17, 2022, there have been 840 positive cases of Omicron," said Director of Prevention and Control of Directly Infectious Diseases at the Ministry of Health, Siti Nadia Tarmizi, quoted by Antara, Tuesday, January 18.

Nadia said 609 cases of Omicron infection occurred among travelers from abroad and in addition there were 174 cases of local transmission of Omicron and 57 cases of other transmission of Omicron whose source of transmission is still being investigated.

The most cases of Omicron infection occurred among travelers from Saudi Arabia (112 cases) followed by travelers from Turkey (106 cases), the United States (62 cases), Malaysia (49 cases), and the United Arab Emirates (45 cases).

Nadia also explained that of the 840 people infected with Omicron, 79.1 percent had received two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine; 4.2 percent had received the first dose of vaccination, seven percent had not received the vaccination, and 9.7 percent had no known vaccination status.

"Of course, it is our vigilance that even people who have been vaccinated can still get Omicron, especially those who have not been vaccinated. We see people who have been vaccinated with Omicron have milder symptoms," said Nadia.