Omicron Cases Increase Again, The Number Now Reaches 318 People

Illustration (Pixabay)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) revealed that the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19, the Omicron variant, had increased again. It was recorded that 57 people tested positive for this variant as of Friday, January 7 yesterday.

"So the total number of Omicron confirmations is 318," said the Ministry of Health's written statement on their official website, Saturday, January 8.

He explained that the addition of 57 people consisted of 7 local transmissions and 50 other people who were foreign travelers. So, if the total number of Omicron transmissions through local transmission has reached 23 people, while overseas travelers totaled 295 people.

"Cumulatively, most of the cases came from Turkey and Saudi Arabia," the statement said.

Furthermore, the Ministry of Health revealed that most of those infected with the Omicron variant of COVID-19 were those who had been completely vaccinated and had no symptoms to mild symptoms. "As many as 99 percent of isolated Omicron cases have mild or asymptomatic symptoms," the statement said.

With this condition, the Ministry of Health said that vaccination could reduce the severity of this variant. However, the public must remember that vaccination efforts are not sufficient to prevent transmission or infect other people.

Strict health protocols must be carried out to ensure a person is safe from the spread of the virus.

The Ministry of Health also revealed that 97 percent of cases were dominated by foreign travelers and came from DKI Jakarta Province. Furthermore, as many as 4.3 percent of cases have comorbidities such as diabetes mellitus and hypertension, and 1 percent of cases require oxygen therapy.

Complementing this information, Spokesperson for the COVID-19 Vaccination of the Ministry of Health, Siti Nadia Tarmizi, said that her party recommended treatment in the form of changes in management for asymptomatic patients and mild symptoms, for example adding the drugs molnupiravir and paxlovid for mild symptoms.

"In addition, it is necessary to prepare centralized isolation in DKI Jakarta and activate telemedicine programs for self-isolation in DKI Jakarta. Patients with comorbidities of any severity are hospitalized," he said.

Not only that, the Ministry of Health also recommends an assessment of the need for oxygen concentrators or isotans in areas with increased cases of treatment, such as Jakarta, West Java and North Sulawesi.

"The Ministry of Health encourages regions to strengthen 3T (Testing, Tracing, Treatment) activities, actively monitor if new clusters of COVID-19 are found and immediately report and coordinate with the center if confirmed cases of Omicron are found in their area," said Nadia.

"Individual vigilance must also continue to be increased to avoid the potential for Omicron transmission. The 5M health protocol and vaccination must go hand in hand as the key to protecting themselves and those around them from Omicron transmission," he concluded.