COVID-19 Variant JN.1 Causes Two Batam Residents To Die

Head of the Batam City Health Office Didi Kusmarjadi (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The Batam City Health Office, Riau Islands Province said a resident of Batuaji District died after being infected with the JN.1 variant of COVID-91. Until now cumulatively there are eight people who have been exposed to COVID-19, two people have died, and four people have been declared cured and two people are still undergoing treatment.

"Based on data on Friday, December 22, one patient infected with COVID-19 died, there was one patient under treatment at the Embung Fatimah Hospital," said Head of the Batam City Health Office Didi Kusmarjadi when quoted from ANTARA, Saturday, December 23.

He said that until now cumulatively there were eight people who were exposed to COVID-19, two people died, and four people were declared cured and two people were still undergoing treatment.

He also appealed to the people of Batam City to re-implement health protocols in their daily activities, such as wearing masks, maintaining distance, and also washing hands, and inviting the public to complete the COVID-19 vaccination.

Previously reported, the Governor of the Riau Islands (Kepri) Ansar Ahmad appealed to the public to implement health protocols (prokes) following the discovery of two cases of COVID-19 variant JN. 1 in Batam City.

"If you want to do activities in crowded places or bodies feel unwell, you should wear a mask to prevent the transmission of COVID-19," said Governor Ansar in Tanjungpinang, Wednesday.

In addition, Ansar also asked people who have not been vaccinated to be vaccinated immediately to stimulate the immune system, so as to avoid transmission of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Nevertheless, said Ansar, people do not need to panic about the emergence of new variants of COVID-19 in Indonesia recently, including in Batam.