Causes Of India's 'Tsunami' COVID-19: Virus Mutation And Religious Festivals

Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin when vaccinated (Photo: screenshot)

JAKARTA - Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin explained two things that caused the COVID-19 case in India to jump sharply like a tsunami. First, mutations of the COVID-19 virus were found, one of which is B117.

"Particularly for India, there are indeed new mutations there. We have found variances of concern or mutations in India and Europe where the transmission is very fast, whose name is B117," Budi said in a virtual press conference, Friday, April 23.

Second, India had held a religious festival that brought crowds of residents to the point of contracting a large number of COVID-19.

Budi regretted the attitude of the Indian authorities which relaxed health protocols too quickly just because previously the rate of transmission of COVID-19 there had sloped down.

"Large religious festivals are permitted. So, as a result, transmission occurs again with new mutations and increases very high. By rising very high, this is a lesson for all of us to always be careful in observing the rate of transmission of this case," said Budi.

Regarding the mutation of the B117 virus, said Budi, it was also found in Indonesia. This new variant from London has been discovered in Indonesia from January 2021.

At that time, Indonesian citizens traveling from abroad were subjected to another PCR swab test upon arrival in Indonesia. When tested, the results were positive. Then, the government conducted a whole genome sequencing test and produced the virus that infects is B117. Apart from B117, Indonesia has also found other new variants that have entered, namely B1351 and P1.

"Since January, Indonesia has been more aggressive in conducting whole genome sequencing tests for virus samples tested. We have done about 1000 since January. The result is that the portion of this new variant is still small, but the progress is not bad," he said.

The entry of Indian foreigners who tested positive for COVID-19 into Indonesia

As many as 127 foreigners from India entered Indonesia at a time when COVID-19 cases were soaring in their country. In fact, currently, in general, foreign citizens (WNA) are prohibited from entering Indonesia. This is stated in the Covid-19 Kasatgas Circular Letter Number 6 of 2021.

Director General of Immigration, Ministry of Law and Human Rights of the Republic of Indonesia, Jhoni Ginting, said that hundreds of people who departed from India were Temporary Stay Permit Cards (KITAS). Therefore, they are expected to enter Indonesia.

"Indeed they all get travel documents in the form of visas which are exempted and may enter according to Permenkumham 26/2020," said Jhonny.

The 127 people consist of 38 Indian citizen visiting visa holders, 46 Indian WN KITAS holders, 1 US citizen KITAS holder, 32 Indian WN VITAS holders.

These 127 people traveled to Indonesia using an Air Asia QZ-988 charter plane which landed at Soekarno Hatta Airport on Wednesday, April 21. As a result, to date there have been 12 foreigners who have tested positive for COVID-19. Currently, they are undergoing quarantine at the hotel for 5x24 hours. Then, a PCR swab will be performed again.