5,227 Omicron Cases In Indonesia Dominated By Local Transmission

ILLUSTRA TION BY VOI

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Health reports the number of Omicron cases in Indonesia based on random detection results to date is 5,227 cases dominated by local transmission.

"The total number of Omicron cases that we have detected is 5,227 cases, of which 1,879 are cases brought by foreign travelers and the other 3,200 are local transmissions that occur in the community," said Health Ministry Spokesperson Siti Nadia Tarmizi quoted by Antara, Tuesday. , February 22.

Nadia said that not all positive cases of COVID-19 in Indonesia were examined for Omicron cases through the whole genome sequencing (WGS) method.

"The government's finding of Omicron variants was carried out by random samples taken from positive cases to then determine from the random sample how many or what types of variants were circulating," he said.

According to Nadia, up to now 90 percent of the random samples sent for WGS inspection are Omicron variants.

For this reason, the public is advised to always comply with health protocols and to hasten to access COVID-19 vaccination services according to the target group.

"Acceleration of both primary and booster vaccinations needs to be done considering that most of the COVID-19 patients who died were people who had not been vaccinated, the elderly and people with comorbidities," he said.

For this reason, his party encourages areas whose vaccination coverage is not in accordance with the group immunity target, which is at least 70 percent of the population, to continue to be intensified.

Nadia also invites people who have not been vaccinated or who have not completed primary doses as well as boosters, especially for the elderly, to immediately vaccinate at health care facilities or at the nearest vaccination center.

"Given the high risk factor, we urge people who have not been vaccinated or whose vaccinations are incomplete, to be completed as soon as possible. Don't delay and don't be picky about vaccines, because the best vaccination is vaccination that is done now," he said.