We Must Be Alert New Variants Of COVID-19 B117, B1351, B1617, Transmission Is Faster

Illustration / UNSPLASH

JAKARTA - Spokesperson for COVID-19 of the Ministry of Health, Siti Nadia Tarmizi, urged the public to be aware of the three new variants of SARS-CoV-2 that cause COVID-19 because they are more quickly transmitted.

"A new type of corona virus has entered Indonesia. The new variants include B117, B1351 and B1617," he told reporters at a virtual event "Alert New Clusters", Tuesday, May 4.

Siti Nadia said that in several countries there is currently a surge in COVID-19 cases. Several factors that contributed to the increase in cases were the mobility of the community.

The new variant of the COVID-19 virus is B117 from England, then B1351 from South Africa and the double mutation variant from India B1617.

"The variant which is classified with the Variant of Concern is known to have a higher transmission rate of around 36 to 75 percent compared to the type of virus previously circulating," he continued as quoted by Antara, Tuesday, May 4.

He explained that the B117 variant is currently the most widely reported variant from various countries. WHO noted an increase in cases of up to 49 percent of the B117 variant circulating in Southeast Asia.

Regarding mutations or new variants in Indonesia, said Nadia, it is still being researched and testing in 786 laboratories. These laboratories also check for COVID-19.

Siti Nadia reported that there were 13 cases of variant B117. Each of them was detected in North Sumatra as many as two cases, South Sumatra one case, Banten one case, West Java five cases, East Java one case, East Kalimantan one case and Bali two cases.

A total of five cases of B117 were reported from imported cases or brought by Indonesian Migrant Workers (PMI) from Saudi Arabia and were detected in Karawang (West Java), Balikpapan City (East Kalimantan) and Bogor City (West Java).

Meanwhile, the other eight cases were reported to have originated from local transmission or transmission between residents in Tapin (South Kalimantan), Palembang (South Sumatra), Medan City (North Sumatra), Karawang Regency (West Java) and Tanjung Balai City (North Sumatra). .

Meanwhile, for the new variant B1617, said Siti Nadia, one case was detected in the Riau Islands and two cases in DKI Jakarta. Meanwhile, B1531 was detected in Bali as many as one case.

"So with surveillance we are aware of the addition of cases B117 and B1351, and B1617 that have entered Indonesia. We have obtained the final results from the examination results as of April 30, "said Nadia.

To prevent more widespread transmission, Nadia appealed to the public to reduce mobility. The situation in Indonesia requires people to comply with both recommendations and prohibitions from the government.

"No one guarantees that by bringing negative laboratory test results during the trip or during our process to our hometown, for example, we will not be exposed to COVID-19," said Nadia.