Task Force: 36 Riau Islands Residents Infected With COVID-19 Variant Omicron

PIXABAY ILLUSTRATION

TANJUNGPINANG - The Riau Islands COVID-19 Handling Task Force noted that 36 of the 69 residents exposed to COVID-19 in the region were infected with the Omicron variant.

Spokesman for the Riau Islands COVID-19 Handling Task Force, Tjetjep Yudiana, said the 36 Omicron cases in the region consisted of 34 residents of Batam City, one resident of Karimun Regency and one resident of Bintan Regency.

"There are five Indonesian migrant workers (PMI) from Malaysia who were detected as infected with Omicron after being examined in Batam. They have been handled optimally," said the former Head of the Riau Islands Health Service.

Tjetjep explained that Omicron is much more contagious than other variants of COVID-19, but a number of patients infected with Omicron are asymptomatic.

"There are some who have coughs and flu, but are not hospitalized," he said.

The total number of COVID-19 patients in Riau Islands since the pandemic until now has reached 53,988 people, spread over 25,997 people in Batam, 10,244 in Tanjungpinang, 5,592 in Bintan, 5,499 in Karimun, 1,846 in Anambas, 2,310 in Lingga, and 2,500 in Natuna.

The total number of patients who have recovered from COVID-19 since the pandemic has reached 52,160 people, spread in Batam 25,113 people, Tanjungpinang 9,831 people, Bintan 5,405 people, Karimun 5,334 people, Anambas 1,799 people, Lingga 2,225 people and Natuna 2,453 people.

The total number of patients who have died since the COVID-19 pandemic is 1,759 people, spread in Batam 842 people, Tanjungpinang 402 people, Bintan 180 people, Karimun 161 people, Anambas 47 people, Lingga 85 people and Natuna 42 people.

"We urge all residents to consistently apply health protocols and avoid crowds," he said.