New Variant Of COVID-19 Enters Central Java, Ganjar Pranowo: I Ask The State To Evaluate

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JAKARTA - Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo urged regional heads to be vigilant and anticipate the emergence of new variants of COVID-19 B.1617.2 originating from India.

"I ask for caution because a new variant in Cilacap has appeared, not to spread. I ask all regional heads to be vigilant," he said in Semarang, reported by Antara, Monday, May 24.

Ganjar claimed to continue to monitor health workers at Cilacap Hospital who also confirmed positive new variants of COVID-19 and all have been examined, as well as conducted a whole genome sequencing (WGS) test at Gadjah Mada University (UGM) Yogyakarta.

"We do not yet know the result, hopefully not, but if so, this is evidence of the ferocity of this virus. The virus is spreading so quickly, from the side of patients and health workers are related, it can be deafness," he said.

According to Ganjar, it proves that this new variant of COVID-19 is not playful and the level of violence cannot be underestimated.

"Therefore, I again ask the state to conduct an evaluation. Business relationships with many countries that have new variants, my advice is to pause," he said.

Meanwhile, The Head of Health Office of Central Java Province Yulianto Prabowo added that 13 Indonesian nationals confirmed to have a new variant of COVID-19 from India, B.1617.2, while 32 health workers at Cilacap Hospital who were also confirmed positive, are in the process of being examined.

"They have all been isolated, for the nakes are being conducted WGS examination and this is waiting for the results. Maybe in a day or two it's out," he said.

In addition, it also conducts contact tracking of the families of health workers, while for cilacap hospital services are temporarily closed.

"For outpatient services temporarily closed until May 26, 2021. We sterilize the places that are there," he said.