Health Office Tightens North Sumatran Entrance To Anticipate Omicron Variant

MEDAN - The North Sumatra Provincial Health Office has tightened supervision and inspection of people's arrival at the entrances to land, sea and air routes as a preventive measure for the spread of the Omicron variant of COVID-19.

Secretary of the North Sumatra Health Service, Dr. Aris Yudhariansyah, said the rules for tightening the entrance were regulated in Circular (SE) Number 440.443/1086/DINKES/1/2022 regarding the prevention and control of COVID-19, including the emergence of an Omicron variant.

In the circular, it was stated that several areas were the entry points to the North Sumatra region, including Asahan, Tanjung Balai, Batubara, Medan, Deli Serdang, North Tapanuli, and Sibolga.

"Tightening at the entrance of the country related to foreign pedestrians and at the interprovincial border regarding domestic pedestrians to anticipate the entry of a new variant of the coronavirus," he said, quoted by Antara, Friday, January 21.

Aris said that his party was collaborating with the Port Health Office (KKP) to carry out PCR examinations for every traveler from abroad.

If a positive PCR result for COVID-19 is found, overseas travelers must refer the regiment to the Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) laboratory.

Aris asked each district and city health office to record and report, as well as coordinate with the provincial health office in the prevention and control of Omicron cases.

"We ask for the support and cooperation of local governments, health service facilities, health human resources, and relevant stakeholders in the implementation of prevention and control of cases of COVID-19, the Omicron variant," said Aris.