95 percent of Omicron Cases in Jakarta are Asymptomatic

Omicron Variant (Photo: ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Cases of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 continue to increase in the country. Specifically in DKI Jakarta, the Head of the DKI Jakarta Health Service (Dinkes) Widyastuti said the majority of the patients were asymptomatic. In fact, there have been no reported cases of death from this variant in Indonesia.

"Alhamdulillah, almost 95 percent of them are asymptomatic, others have mild symptoms. So far, no one has reported severe symptoms and died for the Omicron case," she said in a virtual discussion, Saturday, January 15.

Widyastuti said as of Saturday morning there were 725 positive cases of COVID-19 due to transmission of the Omicron variant in DKI Jakarta. A total of 75 percent of the total cases were detected from foreign travel agents (PPLN).

"Currently we are carrying out joint detection with the central government. The data we have received until this morning has reported 725 positive cases of Omicron, of which 75 percent are PPLN, 545 and 180 local transmissions or 24.8 percent," she said.

Regarding the bed capacity in hospitals (RS) opened for handling COVID-19 patients in DKI, she said, there were 5,000. Widyastuti said that the bed occupancy rate (BOR) was around 12 percent.

"The capacity is 5,000 to 6,000 (beds). We have only just opened the capacity, so the capacity is 12-13 percent," she explained.

Currently, said Widyastuti, the DKI Provincial Government is also continuing to carry out 3Ts, namely tracing, testing, and treatment. Then, also intensify vaccinations to prevent a spike in COVID-19 cases. She said, her party could carry out 90,000 COVID-19 tests in one week.

Previously, Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said local transmission had occurred and DKI Jakarta became the cluster of transmission. Therefore, Budi suggested that there be coordination with the local government to discuss definite steps regarding this matter. Like, tightening community mobility.

"For this reason, we need to coordinate with local governments related to tightening mobility and also be accompanied by strengthening health protocols, booster vaccines, and health service facilities," said Budi.