Omicron Variant Enters Batam, 16 Cases Experienced By Migrant Workers

Riau Islands BPBD officers spray disinfectant at the Hajj Dormitory, a vaccination center in Tanjungpinang (ANTARA)

BATAM - The Riau Islands Province COVID-19 Handling Task Force recorded 19 cases of omicron found in Batam based on the results of laboratory tests on samples of COVID-19 patients.

"Out of 109 probable cases of Omicron, 19 people were found positive for Omicron," said the Spokesperson for the Riau Islands COVID-19 Handling Task Force Tjetjep Yudiana in Tanjungpinang, Antara, Sunday, February 6.

He explained that 19 patients who were infected with omicron were treated at Batam Hospital as many as three people, 15 Indonesian Migrant Workers and the Galang Batam Special Infection Hospital (RSKI) one person.

While 109 probable omicrons were previously found at Batam Hospital, 88 people, PMI 15 people, Bintan Regency three people and Karimun Regency three people.

The probable omicron case is a confirmation of COVID-19 whose laboratory examination results show a positive S-Gene Target Failure (SGTF) or Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) detection test based on Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) leading to omicron, while the confirmed omicron case is a positive patient COVID-19 with positive sequencing results for omicron SAR-COV-2.

"We are still waiting for the results of the examination," he said.

Tjetjep Yudiana said the number of active COVID-19 cases today increased by 37 people and spread to 27 people in Batam, seven in Tanjungpinang and three in Natuna. The total number of active cases in Riau Islands is 179 people, a drastic increase compared to the period August 2021 - until now.

The total number of COVID-19 patients in Riau Islands since the COVID-19 pandemic has reached 54,123 people, spread across Batam 26,082 people, Tanjungpinang 10,286 people, Bintan 5,594 people, Karimun 5,500 people, Anambas 1,846 people, Lingga 2,310 people, and Natuna 2,503 people.

The total number of patients who have recovered from COVID-19 since the pandemic has reached 52,184 people, spread over 25,124 people in Batam, 9,836 in Tanjungpinang, 5,405 in Bintan, 5,334 in Karimun, 1,799 in Anambas, 2,225 in Lingga, and 2,457 in Natuna.

"Eight patients have been declared cured," he said.

The total number of patients who have died since the COVID-19 pandemic is 1,760 people, spread across Batam 842 people, Tanjungpinang 403 people, Bintan 180 people, Karimun 161 people, Anambas 47 people, Lingga 85 people, and Natuna 42 people.