Omicron Case Peak Is Predicted In February, House Commission IX Reminds Not To Ignore Prokes

PIXABAYI Illustration

JAKARTA - The peak of the COVID-19 wave due to Omicron is expected to occur in early February. Member of Commission IX of the House of Representatives (DPR) Rahmad Handoyo reminded all parties not to ignore strict health protocols in anticipation of the transmission of the variant.

"I think that what was conveyed regarding the potential for February to have an Omicron peak, we should not ignore it, we must be serious and prepare well so that this case does not happen," said Rahmad to VOI, Wednesday, January 12.

However, continued Rahmad, Indonesia must also look in the mirror from other countries wherein two weeks the global transmission of the Omicron variant was very fast.

"Meanwhile in Indonesia there has also been a local transmission, which is even more difficult for us to detect and control if we ignore the health procedures and don't take Omicron something serious," he said.

In order to avoid an explosion of cases like the Delta variant in the middle of last year, the PDIP Party politician believes that the government must intensify communication, education and information to the public that Omicron is real globally.

"We also look to the Omicron-majority countries such as the US, India, etc. so that we can be more careful. We must not compromise on the process to make it effective," said Rahmad.

Even though Omicron infects people who have been vaccinated, Rahmad added, the vaccination program must be successful. Especially those who have not vaccinated stage one.

"We must also push for a second vaccine, including booster injections to be accelerated, especially for the elderly," he said.

According to Rahmad, Commission IX of the DPR has encouraged the government to prepare for something bad if the Omicron case explodes. One of them is to prepare drugs and oxygen. Although this has been done, it must be remembered that any country will not be able to provide health facilities when its citizens are sick.

"In the eyes of other countries, when Omicron exploded, the hospital was also full, it doesn't mean that People Without Symptoms (OTG) is physically strong, but when it infects our elderly relatives and then infects us who are comorbid, we have to be vigilant. That's why we keep this in mind.

"For this reason, the fixed price cannot be negotiated because Omicron is already dominant, let alone a lot of OTG, that is, don't just rely on data. We should be wary of the possibility that Omicron has spread a lot and has a lot of OTG. But don't panic, we are still vigilant," said Rahmad.

"For this reason, the fixed price cannot be negotiated because Omicron is already dominating, let alone a lot of OTG, that is, don't just rely on data. We should be wary of the possibility that Omicron has spread a lot and has a lot of OTG. But don't panic, we are still vigilant," said Rahmad.

Previously, Minister of Health (Menkes) Budi Gunadi Sadikin stated that all parties were asked to remain vigilant, but there was no need to panic. This is because the spike in cases due to Omicron being hospitalized will be much lower than for Delta.

"We remain vigilant and careful, we have to be alert. But there is no need to panic because cases entering the hospital will be much lower than the previous cases during the Delta wave," said Budi Gunadi Sadikin in an online press conference, Tuesday, January 11.