Tracking Other Potential of Omicron Cases, DKI Provincial Government Increases Testing

Jakarta Deputy Governor Ahmad Riza Patria/DOK VOI-Diah Ayu

JAKARTA - The Deputy Governor of DKI Jakarta said that the DKI Provincial Government would increase the capacity for COVID-19 testing in the capital city. This increase was carried out as an effort to track potential cases of COVID-19 variant B.1.1.529 or other Omicron in Jakarta.

"We will continue to increase testing, as has been conveyed by the Ministry of Health, the Health Service, and all," said Riza at DKI City Hall, Central Jakarta, Friday, December 17.

In addition, Riza said that his party was also prepared to increase the capacity of treatment beds and isolation of COVID-19 patients, as well as enforce supervision of the implementation of health protocols.

"The governor has also instructed to continue to improve services and increase supervision," he said.

Previously, it was known that the Omicron COVID-19 case had been found in Indonesia. This was announced by the Minister of Health, Budi Gunadi Sadikin, Thursday, December 16.

Budi explained that three cleaners at the Wisma Atlet COVID-19 Emergency Hospital (RSDC) showed positive results for COVID-19. They were exposed to COVID-19 as of December 8, 2021. Then, the Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) sample was sent to the Health Research and Development Agency (Balitbangkes) of the Ministry of Health on December 10, 2021, to perform a whole genome sequencing examination.

As a result, one in three cases was exposed to the Omicron variant as of December 15. They have now returned to PCR and showed negative results. "There are 3 cleaning workers at the Wisma Atlet RSDC who were positive for PCR but one person who was confirmed positive for Omicron was on December 15," Budi said on Thursday, December 16.

Budi said the three positive people, including one case of Omicron, had been quarantined at the Wisma Atlet and had no symptoms, had no fever or cough. "They have taken a second PCR, and the PCR results are all negative," said Budi.

Minister of Health Budi said there were also 5 probable cases of Omicron, two cases were Indonesian citizens who had just returned from the United States and England, both of whom were being isolated at Wisma Atlet. Then, 3 foreigners from China who landed in Manado.