18 Cases Of Delta Variant COVID-19 Detected In Aceh

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BANDA ACEH - The Aceh Health Service stated that 18 cases of the Delta variant of COVID-19 were detected in the westernmost province of Indonesia.

This is based on the results of the examination of samples sent by Aceh to the Health Research and Development Center of the Ministry of Health in Jakarta.

"There are 18 cases of the Delta variant of COVID-19 in Aceh, but until now we don't know the details anywhere," said the Head of Disease Prevention and Control (P2P) of the Aceh Health Office, Dr. Iman Murahman in Banda Aceh, quoted by Antara, Monday, August 23.

Iman explained that in recent times, the Aceh Research and Development Center has sent swab samples from districts/cities to Jakarta in batches, for examination of whole-genome sequencing (WGS).

From the samples sent to Jakarta, Balai Litbangkes obtained the results of several cases of the Delta variant of the COVID-19 mutation. However, his party has not yet received details of the distribution of the new variant in the Tanah Rencong area.

However, Iman assessed, indeed in Aceh there were already many residents experiencing symptoms of the Delta variant of COVID-19 infection, especially in the capital area of Banda Aceh. Recently, he said, many of the symptoms experienced by residents tend to be more severe than the symptoms when infected with the original Coronavirus from Wuhan City, China.

Moreover, said Iman, the transmission rate from the Delta variant of COVID-19 was quite high, so residents were asked to continue to improve their discipline in implementing health protocols.

"We actually have to be really vigilant that the Delta variant already exists in Aceh, and the transmission rate is high, so we have to be more vigilant to protect ourselves", he said.

Earlier on Wednesday, August 18, the Head of the Aceh Research and Development Center Fahmi Ichwansyah said the Ministry of Health had detected 11 cases of the Delta variant of COVID-19, based on the results of examinations from swab samples sent by the Aceh Research and Development Center to Jakarta.

He mentioned that the Aceh Research and Development Center sent samples in batches to carry out WGS inspection. Initially, sending 23 samples for WGS to Jakarta, but the virus variant has not been found.

Furthermore, his party sent back 49 samples to Jakarta, but of the total samples, it has only received reports of six samples, the results of which have not yet detected a new variant of COVID-19.

"We just sent again in early July 2021 to Jakarta, there were 123 samples, so maybe what we found (Delta variant) is the result of the early July sequencing, that's a possibility", he said.

"We don't know where the 11 cases have been distributed. We are waiting for a letter from the center, later it will be clear all the sample numbers, NIK (Population Identification Numbers), and where they come from", said Fahmi.