Asked To Be Alert, JN.1 Variant Of COVID-19 Found In Jakarta And Batam

Illustration of Covid-19 (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Health confirmed the discovery of cases of transmission of the virus that causes the JN.1 variant of COVID-19 in the DKI Jakarta Province and Batam City, Riau Islands Province.

According to the Director General of Disease Prevention and Control of the Ministry of Health, Maxi Rein Rondonuwu, one case of infection with the SARS-CoV-2 variant of the JN.1 virus was found in South Jakarta on November 11, 2023, East Jakarta on November 23, 2023, and Batam on December 13, 2023.

The JN.1 variant of the corona virus is reported to be closely related to the BA.2.86 variant and it is feared that it could affect the pattern of transmission and severity due to COVID-19.

Maxi also mentioned that according to reports as of December 18, 2023, there were two cases of death due to COVID-19, one case each at Dr Mohammad Hoesin Hospital Palembang and Tarakan Hospital.

"One patient died and has been vaccinated twice and has comorbidities. The other has never been vaccinated and has a lung infection," he said.

However, according to him, the two deaths were not caused by the SARS-CoV-2 variant of the JN.1 corona virus.

He said that one case of patient death due to infection with the SAR-CoV-2 virus which was previously reported to have occurred at RSPI Prof. Dr. Sulianti Saroso Jakarta was also not caused by infection with the JN.1 variant virus.

"Those who died at the RSPI as a result of their whole genome sequencing were not JN.1," he said.

According to reports of the development of COVID-19 transmission broadcast by the government on December 18, 2023, there were 2,243 new cases of COVID-19 transmission with two deaths from the disease in Indonesia.

The Ministry of Health appealed to residents to complete the COVID-19 vaccination to avoid the risk of transmission of the disease ahead of the Christmas and New Year holidays, a period when the movement of people increases.

"The public is advised to immediately complete the dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, immediately visit the nearest health service facility at the puskesmas or Port Health Office. Don't delay it," said Maxi.