COVID-19 Cases Begin To Increase, Government Checks Availability Of Anticipatory Medicines Hospital Omicron BA.4-BA.5

JAKARTA - The Main Expert Staff of the Presidential Staff Office (KSP) Abraham Wirotomo said the government continues to carefully examine hospital capacity, drug and oxygen availability to anticipate the potential spread of COVID-19, the Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 sub-variants.

"We can't be careless, don't get stuck before the finish," he said in a written statement in Jakarta, Monday, June 13.

According to KSP, daily COVID-19 cases have increased again in one month after Eid 2022.

KSP, citing data from the Ministry of Health (Kemenkes), said that there was an increase in daily cases such as on June 9, 2022, which recorded an increase of up to 556 cases. The increase in cases is due to the new variant that has entered Indonesia. namely Omicron BA.4 and BA.5.

Despite the increase in cases, according to him, the rate of transmission of COVID-19 in Indonesia is still under control due to the reference to the "positivity rate" and low case transmission rates.

The public is advised to maintain health protocols and immediately obtain a booster vaccine or a third dose of vaccine.

“We see the increase in the number of cases as a 'warning'. If we want to keep Indonesia 'on track' towards an endemic, then we must not ignore health protocols and do not refuse booster vaccines," said Abraham Wirotomo.

New COVID-19 sub-variants Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 have been detected in Indonesia. These sub-variants are known to have low morbidity rates in confirmed positive patients.

The new sub-variant cases BA.4 and BA.5 were first reported in Indonesia on June 6, 2022. There were 4 cases, one positive for BA.4 and three positive for BA.5.