The Latest News On Omicron Variant In The World, Detected In 110 Countries

Spokesperson for Vaccination of the Ministry of Health Siti Nadia Tirmizi/Antara

JAKARTA - Spokesperson for the COVID-19 Vaccination of the Indonesian Ministry of Health, Siti Nadia Tarmizi, said that as many as 110 countries in the world reported having detected findings of Omicron cases in their territories as of December 23, 2021.

"WHO reports that as of December 23, 2021, there have been 110 countries that have reported detecting cases of Omicron," Nadia said in an online press conference on Community Activity Restrictions (PPKM) followed in Jakarta, Friday, December 24.

Nadia said the Omicron cases were obtained from both travellers and transmissions that occurred in a community. This means that contagion has begun to develop in the community.

The existence of this transmission is believed to be due to the Omicron variant, which has a transmission rate that is three times faster and has milder symptoms of transmission compared to the Delta variant.

As a result, the World Health Organization (WHO) emphasizes that the risk for all countries contracting Omicron is still very high. Although until now the Delta variant still dominates 96 percent of transmission cases in the world.

“We are looking at data from Gauteng, South Africa. It shows that Omicron is contagious, so the number of cases that will be infected will increase in large numbers and in a fast time," said Nadia.

Some literature from the UK also shows that Omicron can reduce the immune system that has been formed as well as increase cases of reinfection with COVID-19.

According to Nadia, countries such as Britain, the Netherlands and the United States have also started showing a pattern of increasing cases due to the Omicron variant.

This increase in cases shows that if the trend of cases approaches the peak, it will be followed by a trend of hospitalization and death.

Therefore, she appeals to all to remain vigilant and continue to carry out health protocols to prevent and control the Omicron variant so that it is not more contagious in the community.

The implementation of the health protocols includes injecting vaccines to get the full dose, wearing masks, washing hands with soap, maintaining distance, reducing mobility, and conducting health checks such as through swab tests.

“A third, fourth, fifth wave is happening in many countries. we have anticipated so that the Omicron that has been identified in Indonesia does not spread and spread in the community. Therefore, all must take part in efforts to control the transmission of this variant," said Nadia. This was reported by Antara.