IDI: COVID-19 Virus Mutation Impossible To Stop

JAKARTA - The General Manager of the Indonesian Doctors Association (PB IDI), Mariya Mubarika assessed the natural mutation of the COVID-19 virus that forms a new variant. Because viral mutations are natural things that can not be stopped.

"This mutation is a natural thing, so it will continue to exist. Stopping mutations is an impossible thing to do", Mariya said in a discussion of Polemik Trijaya titled New Variant of COVID-19 online, Saturday, May 22.

Based on the report received by IDI six months after COVID-19, she said, there have been many new variants found. In fact, not only 3 as later reported, but the number reaches hundreds of types.

"Six months after the pandemic mutations from different variants alone have been up to 240 types. So the number is already a lot", said Mariya.

Therefore, the IDI claimed to be concerned if the new variant became polemic in the community. Nevertheless, Mariya understands that the presence of viral mutations is new to the public so that not everyone understands what is happening.

"Indeed this new emerging disease is a new thing. So the community does not yet fully understand what is happening. So that whatever they do is not something concrete, which is beneficial for them. But things are causing new problems which is counterproductive", concluded Mariya.

It is known that in early May, the Ministry of Health ensured that there are three variants of coronavirus from abroad that have spread in Indonesia.

The three variants are:

- Variant B.1.1.7, first detected in the UK

- Variant B.1.617, first detected in India

- Variant B.1.351, first detected in South Africa