Delta Variant From India Emerges In Jakarta, Health Office: It's Easily Contagious, Severe Symptoms Or It Can Be Deadlier

Illustrated (Irfan Meidianto / VOI)

JAKARTA - Head of the DKI Jakarta Health Office, Widyastuti, said that currently there have been cases of COVID-19 mutations with the Delta variant or B1617.2. This variant previously also emerged in Kudus, Central Java.

The Delta variant is a COVID-19 mutation from India. This variant is a sub-derivative of the B1617 variant. According to studies, the Delta variant is more contagious and can cause greater morbidity than other variants.

Widyastuti said that the emergence of the Delta variant was a matter of concern. Not to mention, DKI has previously appeared variants of COVID-19 Alpha (B117) and Beta (B1351).

"These new variants are quite troublesome because they have their own ability to infect us, for example, the Delta B1617.2 variant which is very easy to spread, and the Beta B1351 variant which is very easy to make symptoms severe or deadlier", said Widyastuti in a statement, Tuesday, June 15.

The findings of the Delta variant in Jakarta came from the results of the whole genome sequencing (WGS) examination and were found from Indonesian migrant workers (PMI) who had just returned from abroad.

"Although according to the latest research, all variants can still be anticipated with vaccines, we really have to be aware of this together", said Widyastuti.

On the other hand, the pandemic condition in the capital city shows an alarming trend due to a significant spike in cases, especially after the Eid holidays.

On May 31, 2021, or to be precise, during the extension of the previous Micro-scale Community Activity Restrictions (PPKM), active cases in Jakarta already showed 10.658 with a positivity rate of 7.6 percent from the PCR test results.

"During these two weeks, the increase has been constant and tends to increase until as of June 14, 2021, active cases in Jakarta reached 19.096 or an increase of 9.000 cases. In fact, in recent days the number of cases has increased to 2.000, 2.300, 2.400, and 2.700 with a significant increase in the positivity rate at 17.9 percent", explained Widyastuti.

Then, there is also an increase in the occupancy of COVID-19 patients. As of May 14, 2021, the bed occupancy ratio (BOR) specifically for COVID-19 increased significantly.

The isolation bed capacity of 7.341 is filled by 5.752 or has touched 78 percent and the ICU of 1.086 is filled 773 or 71 percent. In fact, as of May 31, 2021, the capacity of isolation beds in Jakarta is still at 33 percent and ICU at 36 percent.