Ministry Of Health Records First Case Of Death Due To Omicron, DKI Health Office: Don't Take It Lightly

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) recorded two cases of COVID-19 variant B.1.1.529 or Omicron died. The death of the Omicron case in Indonesia is the first time this has occurred.

For this matter, the Head of Disease Prevention and Control (P2P) of the DKI Health Service, Dwi Oktavia, reminded the public not to underestimate the spread of Omicron.

Although, he said, the average Omicron case currently has mild and asymptomatic (OTG) symptoms. However, this condition can be severe in vulnerable groups such as people with comorbid or congenital diseases.

"The presence of a death case in COVID-19 with the Omicron variant shows that we should not take Omicron lightly, especially for vulnerable groups," said Dwi when contacted, Monday, January 24.

Therefore, Dwi asked the public to continue to discipline the application of health protocols. Residents are also asked to vaccinate for those who have not.

"For those who have not been vaccinated, get vaccinated immediately. Then, immediately get a booster vaccination (third dose) for those who are entitled. If there are complaints, then immediately check and do a swab. If you suffer from COVID-19, isolate well and obey," he said.

It is known that the cases of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 that died were one case of local transmission and one case of overseas traveller (PPLN). Both died while being treated at the hospital.

Director of Prevention and Control of Direct Infectious Diseases at the Ministry of Health, Siti Nadia Tarmizi, said that the two Omicron cases that died were comorbid or had congenital diseases.

"When confirmed positive, both cases of Omicron experienced severe symptoms and shortness of breath," said Nadia.

In Jakarta, as of January 23, 1,313 cases of Omicron have been recorded. Of those infected, as many as 854 people were foreign travelers, while the other 459 were local transmissions.

There are currently 7,166 active cases of COVID-19 in the capital, with 79 percent being local transmissions and 21 percent traveling abroad. The positivity rate or the percentage of positive cases in the last week in Jakarta was 6.6 percent.