Omicron Variant Called Dramatization, PDIP Legislator: It's Real, Don't Make Unwise Comments

Illustration-Unsplash

JAKARTA - Member of Commission IX of the DPR RI Rahmad Handoyo asked all parties to exercise restraint and be wise in responding and expressing opinions regarding the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, especially the Omicron variant.

This is because negative assumptions will confuse the public which will lead to a lack of trust in the government in anticipating the new variant from South Africa.

“There are comments that are too forced, for example, that Omicron is harmless, Omicron is too dramatized, Omicron is too exaggerated to scare people. Comments like this are not wise, because even epidemiologists around the world have not been able to confirm the severity of the Omicron," Rahmad told reporters, Wednesday, December 22.

This PDIP legislator also reminded that currently COVID-19 cases in the United States have jumped again with 75 percent of cases dominated by the Omicron variant. Apart from America, almost all countries in the world are currently focusing on dealing with the Omicron variant.

“We can see globally, the threat of Omicron is real. Then what is being dramatized?” said Rahmad.

Rahmad hopes that all parties, both former officials, political figures, including ordinary people, can exercise restraint and be wise in using social media.

"Call about the long queues at the airport which went viral. The impression seemed to corner the government and the officers at the airport. Even though the officers have served people who have just arrived from abroad 24 hours a day," he said.

The member of the House of Representatives from the Central Java electoral district considered that it is better for all the children of the nation to work together to fight COVID-19. One of them is to express opinions wisely.

"I think we respect all opinions, we respect them but don't impose their will by conveying to the public as if our opinion is the most correct," he said.

"If incomplete information is conveyed to the public, then it is accepted by the community, the impact of public opinion will be divided. Now, if there are pros and cons, the process of controlling COVID-19, especially during the Nataru holiday period, can be counter-productive," he continued.

Rahmad suggested that all parties should follow the rules that have been made by the government. Because he said, the government is actually the leader of the fight against COVID-19.

"Whatever the government says, we follow together, because all government decisions have gone through studies and referrals from WHO, experts, health associations, doctor associations and other competent parties," said Rahmad.

Previously, the former Minister of Health, Siti Fadilah Supari, also commented regarding this new variant of the COVID-19 virus and considered this problem to be exaggerated.

"Omicron is because of a slight mutation in a protein, but the strain remains the old one, the one that changes in nature is the one at the end of the protein. Well, then it was dramatized like that, (to say) you die if you get the omicron variant," said Siti Fadilah when interviewed Wednesday, December 1.

He also emphasized that the Omicron virus is not dangerous, so there is no need to panic too much.