DKI Jakarta Becomes The First Battlefield To Face Omicron

Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin/DOC Ministry of Health

JAKARTA - Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said DKI Jakarta became the first battlefield to deal with the increase in cases of COVID-19, the Omicron variant.

"About 90 percent of local transmissions (Omicron) occur in Jakarta, so we have to prepare specifically for DKI Jakarta as the first battlefield against Omicron and we have to make sure we win against Omicron," said Budi Gunadi, Sunday, January 16.

Budi Gunadi conveyed this after attending a limited meeting on the topic of Evaluation of the Implementation of Community Activity Restrictions (PPKM) led by President Joko Widodo.

"On the average, we updated about Omicron, the peak of cases was reached quickly and high in 35-65 days, so it depends on where we come from, (Omicron cases) in Indonesia were first identified at the end of December but our cases started to rise in early January. In 35-65 days our cases are fast and high," said Budi Gunadi.

According to Budi Gunadi, in a number of countries that have been hit by the Omicron "attack", the level of hospitalization is 30-40 percent compared to the level of care for COVID-19 with the Delta variant.

"So even though the increase is fast and the transmission rate is faster, hospitalization is lower than Delta, so if there is a rapid increase in the number of cases and there are many, don't panic, stay alert because we are closely monitoring those who enter the hospital," Budi added.

So far, according to Budi Gunadi, more than 500 people have been treated in hospitals due to exposure to the Omicron variant of COVID-19.

"There were 300 who came home, 3 people needed oxygen and it was light, they didn't even need to put on a ventilator, so they didn't need to be put in their mouths. Of the 3 people, 2 people have recovered and gone home," said Budi.

The first Omicron case in Indonesia was first identified on December 15, 2021, against 1 worker at Wisma Atlet. The worker with the Omicron virus had no symptoms of COVID-19.

Based on data from the Ministry of Health on January 16, 2022, there was an increase in the number of positive COVID-19 cases as many as 855 cases, bringing the total confirmed cases of COVID-19 to 4,271,649 cases with 8,605 active cases.

The number of recovered patients increased by 710 people bringing a total of 4,118,878 cases and an additional 3 people died, bringing the total number of people who died from COVID-19 to 144,170 people.