The Government Is Preparing Steps To Anticipate The New Covid-19 Virus Variant

Wiku Adisasmito, Spokesperson for the Task Force for Handling COVID-19

JAKARTA - Global concerns continue to increase regarding the spread of a new variant of the COVID-19 virus, including Indonesia. The government has taken surveillance steps and is analyzing the possibility of spreading the new variant of the corona virus.

"The surveillance measures will continue to be strengthened by the government by continuously monitoring the development of this very dynamic virus," said Spokesperson for the Covid-19 Task Force, Prof. Wiku Adisasmito, in a press statement, Wednesday, December 23.

Despite the development of the latest Covid-19 variant, the government still asks the public to be disciplined to comply with 3M's health protocol, namely wearing masks, maintaining distance and washing hands. Health protocols must be applied in every activity and are important in preventing transmission.

"So that we can protect ourselves and those closest to Covid-19. In addition, it is important for local governments to ensure 3T, so that early detection can be done to the public and close contacts who are positive for Covid-19. So they can get treatment," suggested Wiku.

In addition, still answering media questions, during the long Christmas and New Year 2021 holidays, the Covid-19 Handling Task Force tightened the mobility of travelers. Monitoring of travel requirements will be carried out in each region including those using land transportation. The Covid-19 Task Force will establish an integrated security post such as a terminal or rest area.

"The regional task force will carry out unannounced visits (unannounced) at certain points, the government still recommends the public to conduct tests as a form of responsibility for travelers," explained Wiku. For this supervision, the regional task force is asked to conduct surveillance in the border area. As an effort to screen travelers.

So far, more than 40 countries have banned travel from the UK. This was done in connection with the spread of a new virus variant of Covid-19 in the UK.

Following the discovery of a new variant of the corona virus with a spread rate of 70 percent faster than the known corona virus so far. Britain ranks sixth among countries with the highest death tolls in the world, after the United States, India, Brazil, Russia and France, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.