Jokowi: COVID-19 Patients Exposed To Omicron Do Not Need To Be Treated At The Hospital

ILLUSTRATION/I WISMA ATLET KEMAYORAN/ DOK ANTARA

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) said that people who were exposed to the Omicron variant of COVID-19 did not need to be hospitalized. Jokowi said that those who tested positive simply needed to self-isolate in their respective homes.

"I need to say that the Omicron variant can be cured without having to go to the hospital. Patients who are exposed to this can simply self-isolate at home, take medicine and multivitamins and immediately get tested again after five days," said Jokowi in a video description posted on the Secretariat's YouTube. President, Thursday, February 3rd.

Jokowi asked the public not to worry about the addition of the positive number of COVID-19, which today or on Thursday, February 3 reached 27,197 cases. He said this spike had been predicted and anticipated.

"This surge has been predicted and anticipated by the government with our preparations which are much better than last years, both in terms of hospitals, medicines and oxygen, isolation facilities and health workers," said Jokowi.

He added that the condition of the hospital is still under control despite the increase in cases. So, there is no reason for people to panic.

"I ask you, ladies and gentlemen, to stay calm. The Omicron variant has a high transmission rate, but the fatality rate is lower than the Delta variant," said Jokowi.

"This can be seen from COVID cases in several countries where the hospital occupancy rate is lower, including in our country, Indonesia. Although the cases have jumped quite high, hospital occupancy is still under control," he concluded.