Regent: Increase In COVID-19 Cases In Bantul Suspected Of Omicron Variant

Regent of Bantul, Special Region of Yogyakarta, Abdul Halim Muslih/ANTARA

BANTUL - The Regent of Bantul, Special Region of Yogyakarta, Abdul Halim Muslih stated that the increase in confirmed cases of COVID-19 in this district in recent days was allegedly due to the Omicron variant which has now spread in Indonesia.

"First, it is probable Omicron, it is strongly suspected that this is a new variant, since the Minister of Health announced from the start that this new variant of Omicron has different characters from the previous variants," Halim said, quoted by Antara, Thursday, February 3.

According to him, the Omicron variant has a faster transmission rate than the Delta and previous variants, so the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in Bantul with the last 36 new cases on Wednesday, February 2 is suspected because the Omicron variant has entered Bantul.

"This variant is different from the previous variants, namely the rapid spread in the community. However, this new variant also has weaknesses including not being malignant," he said.

Therefore, the Bantul Regent said, as announced by the Minister of Health, so that people do not need to panic if they are exposed to the Omicron variant, because they can recover quickly after self-isolation or hospital treatment.

"If you don't have symptoms, you just need to isolate yourself at home or in the shelter, then we will turn this shelter on. But if you have symptoms, if you have symptoms, you will be at the COVID-19 field hospital in Bambanglipuro, if you have severe symptoms in the hospital," he said.

However, Halim said, so far, almost all of the positive COVID-19 patients in Bantul recently have no symptoms, or even if the symptoms are very mild, so that people do not need to panic, but remain vigilant.

"But if the 'swab' test (swab) is positive, and it is true that this Omicron is not malignant and on average it is asymptomatic. So that's why the government's policy is to keep people calm, health protocols are still applied, and activities are as usual, " he said.

Based on data from the Bantul COVID-19 Task Force, the total positive cases as of Wednesday, February 2 were 57,550 people, 55,870 people have been declared cured, then 1,571 deaths have been recorded, bringing the total to 109 isolated cases.