Bekasi Regency Government Says Found 4 Omicron COVID-19 Cases, Ministry Of Health Denies

Illustration (Pixabay)

JAKARTA - The Bekasi Regency Government, West Java revealed that it found four residents exposed to cases of COVID-19 variant B.1.1.529 or Omicron based on the results of the whole genome sequencing (WGS) examination.

This was revealed by the Head of the Bekasi District Health Office, Sri Enny Mainiarti, on the official website of eksikab.go.id. Sri said the four Omicron cases found in Bekasi were residents of Jakarta.

"So the 4 residents who were exposed to the Omicron virus were not residents of Bekasi Regency but residents of DKI Jakarta," said Enny as quoted on the official website of the Bekasi Regency Government, Wednesday, December 8.

Enny said that the four residents who were exposed to the Omicron virus were discovered after traveling from abroad. They tested positive for COVID-19 of the Omicron type after examining samples at the Farmalab laboratory.

VOI again asked for confirmation from the Ministry of Health regarding the findings of the four Omicron cases. Apparently, the Ministry of Health denied the news that Omicron had entered Indonesia.

"It's not true (there are 4 cases of Omicron). Until now there is no Omicron," said Nadia in a short message to VOI.

For information, Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin said that the whole world, especially experts in the field of virology, were still researching the characteristics of the COVID-19 variant type B.1.1.529 or Omicron. Budi revealed that there are three groups of dangers that are being studied for this Omicron type corona mutation.

In the increasing severity group, to date there has been no indication that Omicron increases the severity of an infected person.

Meanwhile, in the group increasing transmission and then reducing antibodies from immunity after vaccination and COVID-19 survivors, Budi said it was most likely the correct identification.

"There are 3 groups of danger, increasing severity, increasing transmission, decreasing the ability of antibodies from infection and vaccination. The first has not been confirmed, the second and third most likely yes. But again it has not been confirmed because it is being studied by experts," said Budi, Sunday, November 28.

Therefore, currently the government has only determined 11 countries of origin for travelers who are prohibited from entering Indonesia, namely South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Mozambique, Eswatini, Malawi, Angola, Zambia and Hong Kong.

Meanwhile, the government has also extended the quarantine period for international travelers entering Indonesia, outside of the 11 prohibited countries. Previously, the quarantine period was valid for 3 days and now it is valid for 7 days.