Task Force Explains 3 Strategies To Prevent Omicron Variant Of COVID During Christmas And New Year, Don't Be Careless!

Head of Behavior Change for the COVID-19 Task Force Sonny Harry Harmadi (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The COVID-19 Task Force said that there are three main strategies that can be taken to prevent the transmission of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 during the Christmas and New Year periods.

Head of the Behavior Change Division of the COVID-19 Task Force, Sonny Harry Harmadi, said that in dealing with the Omicron variant, the prevention method was not much different from the previous variant.

"The first is to encourage the acceleration of vaccination, because vaccines are still proven to be effective, yes, to reduce morbidity and mortality. The majority of cases treated in several countries were found in those who had not been vaccinated," said Sonny in an online discussion that was followed from Jakarta, Antara, Thursday. , December 16.

Then the second strategy is to encourage community compliance with health protocols. Because it is feared that there will be a decrease in public awareness of implementing 3M (washing hands, maintaining distance, wearing masks) in December.

"If compliance decreases, mobility increases, there is a threat of a new variant that is more contagious. Then we have a potential risk of a spike in cases," said Sonny.

Furthermore, the third strategy is to detect interaction strategies by encouraging testing and tracing in the community.

Sonny said that strengthening testing and tracing capacity for positive confirmed cases of COVID-19 was needed to detect the Omicron variant faster.

"As previously explained by the Minister of Health, for those who are confirmed positive, the number will be increased for whole genome sequencing to detect the person suffering from this variant," he said.

According to Sonny, the three strategies to prevent the spread of Omicron will also be useful to reduce the spike in cases if it is accompanied by limiting mobility.