Even Though Omicron Has Been Detected, Minister Of Health Budi Gunadi Says Indonesia Is Much Safer Than Many Foreign Countries

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JAKARTA - The case of COVID-19 variant B.1.1.529 or the Omicron variant has now been detected in Indonesia after various tightening efforts at the entrance from abroad for travelers.

Although the Omicron case has entered the country, Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin still asked the public not to go abroad if there is no urgent business, especially for a vacation during the Christmas and New Year period.

Because, he said, the current condition of the spread of COVID-19 in Indonesia is still much safer than a number of other countries.

"This holiday, spend time at home. No need to go abroad. Indonesia is much safer than many foreign countries. We take care of our families, our neighbors, all Indonesian people by reducing travel abroad if we don't have to. "Just go inside the country because we are much safer," said Budi in a virtual press conference, Thursday, December 16.

Budi gave an example, one of the countries whose pandemic conditions are worse than Indonesia is England. Due to the very fast transmission of Omicron, the UK is currently recording an increase in COVID-19 cases of up to 70,000 per day.

"In the UK, where previously there were only 10 (cases) per day, an increase of 100 per day, now it is 70 thousand per day. This is higher than the peak of cases that occurred in Indonesia in July which was 50 thousand per day," said Budi.

Budi admitted that the level of care for Omicron COVID-19 patients in hospitals was lower than for people exposed to the Delta variant. However, the high transmission rate in the community will also result in an increase in the level of hospital care.

"The transmission is still high, in the end it will be able to put pressure on the hospital. Therefore, there is no need to worry, no need to panic, we continue to live as usual, the most important thing is to maintain vigilance from health protocols," he explained.