Expert: Omicron Is Easily Infected But Has Mild Symptoms

COVID-19 Illustration/Photo: PIXBAY

JAKARTA - University of Indonesia epidemiologist Pandu Riono said that cases of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 can indeed spread quickly but the symptoms are mild so people don't need to go to the hospital if they are tested positive, whether they are asymptomatic or have mild symptoms. The previous Delta variant of COVID-19. It should be noted that the Omicron variant spreads quickly, but the cases of illness and death from this variant are low," Pandu said in a press release on Saturday, February 5. The characteristics of the spike in cases, he said, were strongly influenced by the characteristics of the virus variant In addition, the characteristics of the spike in cases are also influenced by the number of residents' immunity. "That's why people often misperceive current conditions such as the conditions in July-August 2021, even though they are already much different," he said. Most of the Indonesian population as of Thursday, February 3. , already received fairly evenly vaccinated. Vaccination records Nationally, more than 185 million Indonesians have received the first dose of vaccination. Meanwhile, more than 129 million people have received the second dose, and more than 4.7 million people have received the third dose.

Vaccination still has a big role to play in preventing illness and death from infection with any variant of the COVID-19 virus, including Omicron. This infection of the Omicron variant is much different from the Delta variant. Pandu. Another country's experience which, according to him, is similar to the case study in Indonesia, is in India. He hoped that the spike in cases in Indonesia would follow the pattern in India where it fell quickly and would not have much impact on hospital services or deaths. The government in handling the spike in cases this time is more prepared. The Ministry of Health has provided free remote health consultation services (telemedicine) for self-isolated patients at home. Likewise, the medicines needed by Isoman's patients have also been prepared free of charge. "Excessive anxiety makes people ask to be hospitalized even though they do not meet the requirements to be hospitalized. This seems to make the hospital bed high even though The majority of patients in the hospital have mild symptoms," said Pandu. He emphasized that patients with moderate, severe or comorbid status could be hospitalized. "If you are asymptomatic or have mild symptoms, please self-isolate," said Dr. Pandu. In addition to vaccination, one way to prepare to reduce the impact of the transmission of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 is to tighten the 3M health protocol (Wearing masks, maintaining distance, washing hands) Both of these methods are effective in reducing the adverse effects of contracting COVID-19, namely illness and death.