Aceh Still Zero Cases Of Corona B117 Virus Mutation

Illustration (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - Spokesman for the Aceh COVID-19 Handling Task Force Saifullah Abdulgani stated that the B117 variant of the coronavirus has not been detected in the Aceh region.

"The B117 coronavirus has not been detected in Aceh, people do not need to panic, but they need to be vigilant", he said in Banda Aceh, quoted by Antara, Monday, March 8.

Saifullah explained that the coronavirus variant B117 which was first discovered in the UK at the end of 2020 was the result of a mutation from the SAR-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19.

The new variant of the coronavirus, he continued, spread to several countries including countries in the Asian region.

The Ministry of Health said that cases of transmission of the coronavirus variant B117 have been found in several regions in Indonesia.

"The mutation results from the SAR-CoV-2 virus spread more quickly, but there is no scientific evidence that B117 is more deadly than the coronavirus we know so far", he said.

He said that the government had tried to prevent the spread of the B117 coronavirus by tightening supervision of the arrival of foreigners into Indonesian territory, increasing surveillance at international airports, and intensifying case examinations and tracking.

"The government has anticipated it according to the standards for handling infectious diseases, and people do not need to panic but must be more vigilant", he said.

He also emphasized the importance of increasing awareness of the transmission of a new variant of the coronavirus in the Aceh region.

"Previous experience, the first case of COVID-19 in Indonesia was announced by President Joko Widodo on March 2, 2020, and 25 days later there was the first case in Aceh. This means that B117 may also arrive in Aceh", he said.

Also, he stressed the importance of disciplined application of health protocols and vaccinations to prevent transmission of the coronavirus, including new variants of the virus.

"Successful vaccination is an act of inhibiting the mutation process of the coronavirus through continuous transmission", he said.