Day: January 23, 2022

Field epidemiologist from Jenderal Soedirman University (Unsoed) dr. Yudhi Wibowo reminded local governments to continue strengthening efforts to prevent the spread of Omicron, following reports of two confirmed COVID-19 patients who died from the variant.

“Regional governments need to strengthen efforts to prevent the spread of Omicron, one of which is by tightening the application of health protocols,” he said here on Sunday.

The lecturer at the Unsoed Medical Faculty also reminded the local governments to enhance socialization on the importance of using masks in a good and correct way in order to increase public awareness and understanding.

“The public can even use masks with high filtration, ” he said, adding that the testing, tracing and treating capacity must be improved.

“If there are residents who are confirmed to be infected with Omicron, they should be isolated in a centralized facility, because self-isolation at home may not meet the standard requirements and can transmit the virus to other family members,” he said.

The local governments also need to increase efforts to accelerate the vaccination program, including the booster shot.

“Especially for the elderly and vulnerable groups, maximum efforts are needed to accelerate vaccination programs and booster vaccinations, especially in areas where vaccination coverage is still not optimal,” he said.

Meanwhile, he also reminded the importance of examining whole genome sequencing (WGS) in order to detect potential new variants of COVID-19 early.

“WGS examination should be improved to track and detect viral mutations,” he said.

Then, local governments need to ensure the readiness of health care facilities to prevent a possible spike in COVID-19 cases due to the spread of the Omicron variant.

“Local governments should ensure the readiness of health facilities, from health centers (Puskesmas) to hospitals. Preparedness needs to be done to provide a quick response. The readiness of health facilities is very much needed, starting from primary health services such as Puskesmas to hospitals, including the readiness of health workers and the necessary equipment,” he said.

Information system infrastructure and referral systems must also be strengthened, especially in handling COVID-19 patients so that the treatment process is expected to run optimally, he said.

 

Source: Antara News

Two Indonesian migrant workers tested positive for COVID-19 based on the result of PCR swab test conducted upon arrival at Juanda Surabaya Airport in Sidoarjo, East Java, on Saturday.

The two are among 129 Indonesian migrant workers who arrived at the airport by Malaysian Airlines.

“I along with Chief of the (East Java) Provincial Police directly monitored the COVID-19 screening process, starting from the airport to quarantine place at Sukolilo Hajj Dormitory in Surabaya,” Chief of the Brawijaya Regional Military Command V Major General Nurcahyanto said in a written statement received in Surabaya on Sunday.

The two migrant workers who tested positive for COVID-19 were later taken to dr Soetomo General Hospital in Surabaya, he said.

A team of doctors at the hospital was still studying profoundly the variant of COVID-19 infecting the two migrant workers, he said.

“Until yesterday the COVID-19 (infecting them) is ordinary variant. However, the team of doctors are still conducting an in-depth study to see if it is new variant, Omicron,” he said.

Meanwhile, the other Indonesian migrant workers who tested negative for COVID-19 are currently undergoing seven-day quarantine at Sukolilo Hajj Dormitory

Nurcahyanto said the health authority will conduct PCR swab test on the migrant workers at the hajj dormitory on the sixth day of quarantine.

The migrant workers who test negative for COVID-19 based on the PCR test will be allowed to return home on the seventh day. Meanwhile, the migrant workers who test positive for COVID-19 will be referred to dr Soetomo General Hospital for further examination., he said.

For the first time in the past four months, the Juanda Airport operates international arrival terminal. Over the period of four months only Soekarno-Hatta Airport in Banten and Sam Ratulangi Airport in North Sulawesi operated international arrival terminal in order to curb COVID-19 transmission.

Juanda Airport’s international arrival airport has gradually been operated since early this year merely to serve returning migrant workers who have been so far served at Soekarno-Hatta Airport and Sam Ratulangi Airport.

 

Source: Antara News

Epidemiologist from Andalas University, Padang, West Sumatra, Defriman Djafri has called on the government to intensify screening, testing, tracing and analysis of whole genome sequences (WGS) to suppress the spread of COVID-19 Omicron variant in the country.

“This strategy is to ensure that we can identify quickly, and the identified cases must be strictly quarantined, on account that the Omicron variant can spread faster than other variants,” Djafri said when contacted by ANTARA here on Sunday.

Omicron, which is included as a variant of concern (VOC), he continued, requires serious handling to eradicate it.

Djafri also asked the public to continue strict implementation of health protocols in their daily lives, by always wearing masks, maintaining distance, and washing hands, as well as limiting non-essential travel.

“Strict implementation of health protocols is currently the cheapest and most effective solution to contain transmission,” he said.

Djafri added that the public should not be negligent in implementing health protocols even though they have been vaccinated against COVID-19.

“Even though people have been vaccinated, people should not be ignorant and feel they are immune to the virus by not wearing masks or implementing health protocols that they have implemented so far to reduce the risk of transmission,” he said.

The Health Ministry previously reported that two of Omicron’s confirmed COVID-19 patients had died.

These two cases are the first fatalities in Indonesia due to Omicron, a new variant with a fairly high transmission rate.

“One patient who was affected by local transmission died at the Sari Asih Ciputat Hospital and another one who was a foreign traveler, he died at the Sulianti Saroso Hospital,” said the Health Ministry spokeswoman Siti Nadia Tarmizi.

Since December 15, 1,161 cases of Omicron infection have been reported in Indonesia.

 

Source: Antara News

The Deputy Governor of Bali Tjokorda Oka Artha Ardhana Sukawati has reminded teachers to always apply strict health protocols during the implementation of face-to-face learning.

“Even though students have received the COVID-19 vaccination, they must always implement health protocols as one of the main keys to protect themselves,” Sukawati said here, Sunday.

Therefore, he had asked teachers and school staffs to pay attention regarding the social distancing between students during offline learning inside and outside the classroom.

“Besides social distancing, students attendance in schools would be arranged in schedule. They also must wearing masks and washing hands,” he added.

According to Sukawati, the implementation of health protocols since the beginning of COVID-19 pandemic until now must not be forgotten by people.

He also lauded the implementation of vaccination for children aged 6-11 years in Bali Province, which began on December 15, 2021. The vaccination went quickly and smoothly.

“It has not even been a month and we have reached 100 percent for the first dose vaccination for children aged six to 11,” he said.

Vaccination of children aged 6-11 years in Bali Province is targeted to cover 369,044 children spread across nine districts/cities.

The COVID-19 vaccination coverage in the province as of January 22 had reached 3,505,622 people (102,95 percent from target) for the first dose and the second dose had reached 3,139,680 people (92,20 percent from target).

“The COVID-19 vaccination in Bali has shown results. We have seen for ourselves that Bali had zero death rate every day. This cannot be separated from the people’s participation in taking COVID-19 vaccine,” he remarked.

 

Source: Antara News

An epidemiologist from the University of Indonesia Tri Yunis Miko Wahyono asked the government to evaluate the implementation of community activity restriction (PPKM) amid the increasing number of Omicron cases.

“Government must re-evaluate the PPKM leveling. The social restrictions must be changed or raised,” Wahyono said here on Sunday.

He later explained that the death case due to the Omicron variant is an alarm for the government to take mitigation steps to reduce community activities.

In addition, he also suggested the government to tighten entrances in the border and re-implement the quarantine rules for 14 days.

Wahyono considered that the 10-day quarantine period for international travelers was inefficient, considering that the Omicron variant lasts 14 days in an individual’s body.

Furthermore, education and socialization regarding health protocols must also be revived in the community.

“People have started to ignore the implementation of health protocols. The campaign must be reactivated,” he reminded.

Wahyono also asked the government to increase surveillance through testing and tracking in every area.

Therefore, the availability of test equipment that effectively detects the Omicron variant must be available in every province, he continued.

Contacted separately, an epidemiologist from Andalas University in Padang, West Sumatra Defriman Djafri said that the implementation of PPKM currently requires monitoring and evaluation.

“PPKM is still effective until today, even though we must carry out supervision and evaluation in the field,” he said.

Previously, the Ministry of Health reported that two COVID-19 patients confirmed by Omicron had died.

These two cases are the first reported fatalities in Indonesia due to a new variant that has a high transmission rate.

“One case was a local transmission who died at the Sari Asih Hospital in Ciputat and the other was a foreign traveler, who died at the Sulianti Saroso Hospital,” Director of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control of the Ministry of Health Siti Nadia Tarmizi informed.

From the first case of the Omicron variant on December 15 in Indonesia, a cumulative 1,161 confirmed cases of Omicron have been found in Indonesia.

 

Source: Antara News

Griffith University Australia epidemiologist Dicky Budiman has cautioned on the potential third wave of COVID-19 cases in Indonesia.

“The potential of the third wave is very clear. This potential is related to the population that doesn’t yet have immunity to the virus and those whose immunity has decreased,” said Dicky Budiman when contacted by ANTARA here on Sunday.

Based on studies, a person’s immunity against COVID-19 transmission will decrease five months after receiving a complete vaccination.

“Nothing lasts long, that’s a fact. So the potential spike in cases caused by Omicron is very clear. Meanwhile, the infection rate of this variant is also faster than the Delta (variant),” he said.

Hence, the government needs to increase testing and tracing to address the Omicron variant.

“This should not be ignored, because we will not be able to cut off the transmission if we do not carry out massive early detection. Stopping transmission needs to be done by finding cases of infection and their contact cases, so that people can undergo isolation or quarantine effectively,” he explained.

In addition, the government must also strictly enforce health protocols, including supervising the public in wearing masks, maintaining social distance, washing hands, staying away from crowds, and reducing mobility.

Budiman said the Omicron cannot be underestimated, because this variant is included as a variant of concern (VOC). “So don’t underestimate it because this variant is dangerous. Omicron looks like a viral variant that is easy to deal with because most people have followed vaccinations,” he said.

Separately, an epidemiologist from Andalas University, Defriman Djafri asked the government to streamline screening, testing, tracing, and whole genome sequence (WGS) analysis to suppress the spread of Omicron variants in the country.

“This strategy is to ensure that we can identify cases quickly, and the identified cases have to be strictly quarantined, on consideration that the Omicron is transmitted faster than other variants,” he said.

 

Source: Antara News