President Jokowi Calls COVID-19 Patients Without Symptoms Enough Self-Isolation For Five Days

President Jokowi/Photo: Setkab

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo asked the public not to worry if they contracted COVID-19, including the Omicron variant, when the current spike in cases started.

He said, if exposed to COVID-19 in the asymptomatic category, the public did not need to ask for a referral to be isolated in a centralized isolation facility. They are self-isolating at home for five days.

"When the results of your PCR test are positive without any symptoms, please self-isolate at home for five days", Jokowi said on the Presidential Secretariat's Youtube video, Friday, January 28.

Meanwhile, if they have mild symptoms, people who are exposed to COVID-19 can get assistance from telemedicine services that have been provided by the Ministry of Health for free.

Given, he continued, the government had improved various health facilities and infrastructure, such as telemedicine services.

This service is adapted to the character of the Omicron variant, the majority of which are in the category of people without symptoms (OTG) and mild symptoms.

"If there are symptoms of cough, runny nose, or symptoms of fever, please use telemedicine services or go to the Puskesmas (public health center) or the nearest doctor. Thus, the burden on health facilities from the Puskesmas to the hospital can be reduced", Jokowi explained.

"This is important so that our health facilities can focus more on treating patients with severe symptoms as well as patients with other diseases who require intensive services", he continued.

Most importantly, said Jokowi, people exposed to COVID-19, including the Omicron variant, must minimize direct contact with other people.

"Not all cases of Omicron COVID-19 require immediate care because the symptoms are not dangerous. The most important thing is to minimize contact. This will prevent a wider spread", he added.