New COVID-19 Variants Appear In Indonesia, Task Force: Common In Pandemic Times

JAKARTA - A new variant of COVID-19 appeared in Indonesia with type B117. Spokesperson for the COVID-19 Handling Task Force Wiku Adisasmito said that a mutated new type of virus is common when a region is hit by a pandemic.

"I want the public to know that mutations of viruses or the emergence of new variants of viruses are common, especially during a pandemic," Wiku said in a YouTube broadcast of the Presidential Secretariat, Thursday, March 4.

Wiku said, the new variant of COVID-19 was the result of a mutation. Mutation is the process of an error when a virus multiplies, so that the juvenile virus is not the same as the original virus or parental strain.

He continued, the purpose of the mutated virus is to adapt to the environment. Sometimes, viruses can appear and survive, but can appear and then disappear because they are unable to adapt to their environment.

Therefore, Wiku asked the public not to respond to the problem of the emergence of the virus with this new variant with excessive concern.

"Therefore, I ask people not to worry too much. Researchers in the world, including in Indonesia, continue to carry out research on COVID-19 and its mutations," he explained.

Currently, the government has taken strategic steps in collaboration with researchers to better understand the development of this virus, and instruct officers in the field.

Chronology of the emergence of new variant COVID-19 cases

Initially, two female Indonesian workers (TKI) with the initials M and A returned from Saudi Arabia, using a Qatar Airways plane. The arrival of the two migrant workers to Indonesia used different planes even though they both landed at Soekarno Hatta Airport. M landed on January 28, 2021, while A landed January 31, 2021.

Both have been given PCR swab tests with positive results. Then the isolation was carried out in Jakarta. From the whole genome sequencing test, it was found that they had been exposed to a new variant of the corona from England.

Currently, West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil confirmed that the new variant of the COVID-19 case that infected its citizens already had negative test results. However, they are still undergoing independent isolation.

"Two (cases) per day have been negative from the new variant virus but are still isolated in their respective homes. We (West Java Provincial Government) are still not sure (not infectious). So we do additional isolation," said Ridwan Kamil.

Furthermore, the man who is familiarly called Kang Emil asked the Karawang Regent, Dandim, and the Head of the Karawang Metro Police to increase contact tracing of the two new variant cases.

"Don't let the mistakes get bigger and we finally can't control it. While it's only small, and maybe there could also be other things to detect immediately. We know when it's too late, the price of the teearment is very expensive," he said.