Indonesia Vigilant Over Omicron

With the spread of Covid-19’s Omicron variant becoming inevitable, measures to anticipate a spike in cases need to be taken through strengthened health facilities, strict supervision over health protocols and vaccination

KOMPAS/RIZA FATHONI

Health workers give Sinovac vaccine injections to bus passengers crossing Jalan Raya Rengas Bandung, East Cikarang, Bekasi Regency, West Java while undergoing on-site vaccine and vaccine certificate checks and random antigen tests, Monday (27/12/2021).

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — Transmission of the Omicron variant of Covid-19 at community level has been found in Indonesia. Although symptoms tend to be less severe with this variant than with Delta, a possible spike in cases is feared to overwhelm health facilities, which may subsequently increase death risk.

Given the latest development in virus transmission, the government sees the need to strengthen health facilities, remind the public to maintain mobility restrictions and abide by the health protocols. Vaccination coverage also continues to be expanded.

Local transmission of the Omicron variant has been discovered, as announced by Siti Nadia Tarmizi, the Health Ministry’s spokesperson for vaccination on Tuesday (28/12/2021).

She said the variant appeared to have been transmitted among residents with no history of overseas travel or contact with international travelers in recent months.

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> Omicron Caseload Increases

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The first case of local Omicron transmission was found in a 37-year-old man from Medan, North Sumatra, who was in Jakarta by the time he was detected to have contracted the virus.

"The patient and his wife live in Medan and once a month traveled to Jakarta," Nadia said.

Based on his travel history, the patient arrived in Jakarta on 6 Dec. and stayed in an apartment in North Jakarta. He visited a restaurant in Sudirman Central Business District (SCBD) on 17 Dec.

With the discovery of local transmission, the number of Omicron cases in Indonesia has risen to 47. As many as 44 cases came from international travelers, both Indonesians and foreigners.

The other two cases were found in a cleaning service worker and health worker at the athletes village Covid-19 emergency hospital. They are suspected of having been infected by patients in quarantine there.

KOMPAS/AGUS SUSANTO

Foreign travelers from Hungary wait for their vehicles after undergoing a 10-day health quarantine at the Pasar Rumput Flats, South Jakarta, Tuesday (12/21/2021). The Covid-19 Task Force requires international travelers to carry out a PCR swab test upon arrival, quarantine for 10 days and quarantine for 14 days especially for foreigners who arrive from 11 countries where the Omicron variant community transmission is located.

Anticipatory measures

YARSI University postgraduate director Tjandra Yoga Aditama said the severity of the Omicron variant might be low, but an uncontrolled spike in cases could incapacitate health facilities and potentially increase death risk.

He said health facilities ranging from community health centers (Puskesmas) to hospitals would have to be strengthened, including the health workers, treatment rooms, drugs, oxygen supply, medical devices, as well as information and care referral system.

Mobility restrictions were also seen as necessary to be tightened to help curb the spread of the variant.

"Testing and tracing must be carried out optimally, perhaps as done in June and July 2021. The use of the PeduliLindungi application for tracing, such as done by other countries abroad, must also be optimized," Tjandra said.

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The public was reminded to remain disciplined in implementing the health protocols, especially during the approaching year-end holidays. "If there is a suspicion of contact, get checked immediately. Don't be deterred by the prospect of being found positive," he said.

Iwan Ariawan, an epidemiologist from the public health school, University of Indonesia, said local transmission of Omicron was difficult to avoid despite efforts to restrict it through quarantine.

However, he doubted a possible massive spike in cases, saying that not only the high number of infections experienced by the community during the previous Covid-19 spike but also the 40 percent vaccination coverage for the second injection could help reduce the risk of transmission.

"Many people have received boosters, once from infection and twice from [regular] vaccination," he said.

KOMPAS/RIZA FATHONI

One of the bus passengers who crossed the Jalan Raya Rengas Bandung section, East Cikarang, Bekasi Regency, West Java underwent a random antigen test, Monday (12/27/2021). Officers apply vaccines on the spot for passengers who have not received the Covid-19 vaccine or who have not completed the second dose as well as random antigen tests to anticipate the spread of the Covid-19 outbreak.

Regional preparedness

During a coordination meeting with Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin and the regional government heads on Monday (27/12), Home Affairs Minister Tito Karnavian asked the regional heads under the regional heads communication forums to actively monitor public compliance with health protocols during the Christmas and New Year holidays as part of Omicron variant mitigation vigilance.

A number of local governments have started to prepare for a possible spike in Covid-19 cases by strengthening health facilities.

In Bogor, West Java, authorities at the Financial and Development Supervisory Agency in Ciawi and IPB University said they had prepared the health facilities with a capacity of up to 1,300 beds.

Everyone remains vigilant and alert. Health protocol education for the public continues. Health protocol compliance remains a priority because it is the shield.

Bogor health office head Sri Nowo Retno said that although positive cases in their region had showed a decline, they maintained vigilance over a potential increase in Covid-19 cases.

"Everyone remains vigilant and alert. Health protocol education for the public continues. Health protocol compliance remains a priority because it is the shield," she said.

In Surabaya, East Java, the military-operated makeshift Indrapura outdoor hospital also remains in place to anticipate another wave of Covid-19 cases.

"If the East Java governor has decided to extend the operation of this hospital, of course, we are prepared to be one of the locations to take Covid-19 patients with the Omicron variant," said Jadid, who is in charge of the family assistance program for Covid-19 patients.

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> The Emergence of Omicron Exposes World Vaccination Gap

> Health Ethics during the Pandemic

In Central Java, the reported finding of local Omicron transmission has prompted the Pekalongan municipal administration to register and impose swab tests on homecoming travelers.

"For visitors, we will immediately test and tell them to self-quarantine. We are tightening health protocols in public places by ensuring face mask compliance and dispersing crowds. Public places, shopping centers and shops close at 9 p.m. at the latest," Pekalongan Mayor Achmad Afzan Arslan Djunaid said.

The same measures are also being enforced in Tegal, Central Java, with positive patients to have their sample further examined at the health laboratory in Semarang. (AIK/ERK/GIO/XTI)

This article was translated by Musthofid.