Ministry Of Health Forms Team To Study COVID-19 Mutations In UK

JAKARTA - The Corona virus or SARS-CoV-2 that causes COVID-19 has mutated in the UK. To anticipate this virus, the Minister of Health (Menkes) Budi Gunadi Sadikin will form a special team to study it.

Budi Gunadi Sadikin said studying the study of the findings of this new variant of the virus was imperative to confirm what actually happened. Furthermore, Budi asked the public not to reject or simply swallow the information.

He emphasized that the government is now continuing to strive to find out more clearly about the new variant of COVID-19 in the UK and South Africa in coordination with microbiologists.

"Because this is a very technical biological medicine. We have to consult the experts immediately. I have asked my medical friends to confirm what actually happened," he said, in a virtual press conference, Friday, December 25.

On the same occasion, Deputy Minister of Health, Dante Saksono Harbuwono emphasized that with the current situation, positive communication must be built.

Especially, said Dante, in building discipline and public awareness in implementing 3M's health protocol, namely wearing masks, maintaining distance and washing hands.

"Positive communication is more important than us raising the issue of this mutation, because communication by not frightening people but making them care for 3M is much more important and better than us raising the issue," said Dante.

On the other hand, Dante revealed that the Ministry of Health had coordinated to form a team to study the findings.

"Earlier, the Minister said that there is indeed a new variant, we have studied it, we will form a team to study the study. But the most important thing is that our friends help us all to make positive communication," he said.

Previously, in South Wales, England a new variant of COVID-19 was discovered. Now Singapore is also reporting a new variant of COVID-19. This was conveyed directly by the Singapore Ministry of Health.

The patient is a 17 year old girl who has studied in England. The 17-year-old Singaporean girl infected with the new variant of the coronavirus has been studying in Britain since August.

He returned to Singapore on 6 December and received notification of self-isolation upon arrival. He had a fever the next day and was confirmed positive for COVID-19 on December 8. All of his close contacts have been quarantined and tested negative by the end of their quarantine.

"Since he was isolated upon arrival in Singapore, we were able to fence off this case so that no further transmission could arise from him," said Singapore's Ministry of Health.