At least 19 countries have reported the Omicron variant, which has multiple mutations in the spike protein. Meanwhile, genomic surveillance shows that the new Covid-19 variant has not been detected in Indonesia.
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KOMPAS TEAM
·2 minutes read
JAKARTA, KOMPAS — Despite the tighter restrictions imposed in a number of countries, the newly detected SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant, is spreading wider. At least 19 countries have reported the variant, which has multiple mutations in the spike protein. Meanwhile, genomic surveillance shows that the new Covid-19 variant has not been detected in Indonesia.
According to GISAID (Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data), an open-access genomic sequence database, South Africa has submitted 124 DNA sequences of the Omicron variant, whereas Botswana has submitted 29 sequences, the Netherlands 12 sequences, Australia 6, Hong Kong 5, Britain 4, and Canada 2 sequences, while several other countries have submitted 1 sequence of the new variant.
Senior researcher Safarina G. Malik at the Eijkman Institute for Molecular Biology in Jakarta, which falls under the National Research and Innovation Agency (RISTEK), said on Tuesday (30/11/2021) that the Omicron variant had not been detected in the 9,000 SARS-CoV-2 genomic samples analyzed in Indonesia. The Delta variant and its derivatives remained dominant, while the number of genomic sequences Indonesia submitted to GISAID had decreased in line with the declining number of Covid-19 cases.
Genomic samples taken from all travelers of countries that had confirmed cases of the new variant had been analyzed.
“Officially, the order to analyze the viral genomes of overseas travelers was issued only on Monday (28/11), but this test has been done previously. So far, no Omicron [case] has been found,” she said.
Third wave could be imminent unless people diligently adhered to the health protocols
Several countries have reported cases of the Omicron variant. Omicron cases outside Africa were generally linked to travelers who had recently arrived from South Africa. However, Portugal is investigating potential local transmission of the Omicron variant.
The Covid-19 Control Task Force recorded 297 confirmed Covid-19 cases and 11 deaths on Tuesday (30/11). Covid-19 cases were confirmed in 26 students at a number of schools in the city of Yogyakarta. According to Yogyakarta Deputy Mayor Heroe Poerwadi, the new cases were detected after randomly testing 2,079 students at 17 schools. “All of them showed no symptoms,” he said.
Amin Abdullah, the chairman of the Indonesian Academy of Sciences’ Culture Commission, said that a third wave could be imminent unless people diligently adhered to the health protocols. (AIK/HRS/NCA/TAN)