The COVID-19 Task Force Reveals D614G Virus Mutations Not As Severe As Complementary Diseases

COVID-19 Handling Spokesperson Wiku Adisasmito

JAKARTA - The COVID-19 Handling Task Force is monitoring reports of finding mutations of the SARS-CoV-2 virus with type D614G. This virus is said to be able to transmit 10 times higher than the usual corona virus.

However, Wiku Adisasmito, spokesman for the COVID-19 Task Force, said the mutation of the corona virus was not as severe as the existing risk factors for COVID-19.

"Current evidence shows that the viral load or severity in D614G is not that important compared to other risk factors, such as age (elderly) and comorbidities," Wiku said in a live broadcast on Youtube of the Presidential Secretariat, Tuesday, September 1.

The government, according to him, is examining existing clinical data from various literature related to the D614G corona virus mutation, one of which is from the UK.

Reported from the 999 cases of COVID-19, patients infected with the virus containing D614G had higher levels of viral RNA (gene expression), but they found no difference in hospitalization outcomes.

"This clinical observation is also supported by two independent studies of 175 COVID-19 patients in Seattle, America and also 88 patients in Chicago, Illinois, USA," explained Wiku.

What is clear, he continued, is that D614G does infect, but it cannot be concluded that this is a reflection of the potential for transmission or not.

Currently, further research is needed to be carried out by detecting viruses circulating in Indonesia, as well as seeing the type of virus.

"Of course, research institutions including the Eijkman Institute of Molecular Biology, universities, and hospitals are working together in order to detect if there is a change or mutation of this virus which has an impact related to its transmission ability," he said.