Be Careful, Ok! A Number Of COVID-19 Patients Treated In Solo Leads To Omicron

Head of City Health Department (DKK) Surakarta Siti Wahyuningsih. ANTARA/Aris Wasita

SOLO - A probable or believed case of Omicron infection was found in the city of Solo following the release of the whole genome sequence (WGS) sample that was sent by a number of hospitals to the Semarang Health Laboratory, Central Java.

"What we have examined are 91 samples, indeed eleven are probable, leading to Omicron, but one is from a hospital outside Solo," said Head of the Surakarta City Health Service (DKK) Siti Wahyuningsih in Solo, as reported by Antara, Monday, January 31.

He said the results of the sent WGS samples were out on the evening of Sunday, January 30.

Although it has not been confirmed positive for Omicron, he said, the treatment is carried out as with COVID-19 patients in general.

"I consider Omicron, so you have to be careful. (Of the total eleven, ed.) there are three Solo residents," he said.

He said the patients who are still positive are currently undergoing treatment at the hospital.

Asked about the spread of COVID-19, he said, currently local transmission has occurred.

"At the national level, it's already local. The point is that in the past (in Indonesia, ed.) there weren't any, those were abroad. Those who came from abroad were not quarantined, in the end this has spread," he said. He said the 91 samples sent were from Kasih Ibu Hospital, Dr Oen Kandang Sapi Hospital, Bung Karno Hospital, and Dr Moewardi Hospital.

"Results come out a week, they are sent several times. There you have to be 'screened' (checked) again, those who meet the requirements are checked (samples, ed.)," he said.

Regarding the anticipation of the spread, according to him, the efforts are the same as for COVID-19 in general.

"You don't have to look at Omicron, the main point is that COVID-19 must be isolated immediately so that it doesn't spread. This is a patient who is hospitalized, meaning that there are probably many outside but there are no symptoms. Omicron has milder symptoms, it's better if you have a cold cough (cough) at home, ra sah metu-metu (don't have to leave the house) and infect others," he said.