Mitigating the Spread of Omicron

KOMPAS/RIZA FATHONI

Joint officers directed residents who were picked up from door to door to take a mass swab test in a village in the Krukut area, Tamansari District, West Jakarta, Monday (1/10/2022). Some residents who were positively exposed to Covid-19 have been taken to the Wisma Atlet RSDC, Kemayoran, Central Jakarta for treatment. The police implemented micro-locks in locations around the residence suspected of being the direct place of transmission.

Despite various prevention measures, the Omicron variant has been detected in the country. The number of cases has increased significantly, not only because this variant is highly transmissible, but also because our mitigation efforts have been minimal.

There have been many gaps in the implementation of mitigation measures. From the ease of entering and leaving Indonesia, lax quarantine policies and supervision, to the neglect of screening on the front lines.

As of Saturday (8/1/2022), the Health Ministry had recorded a total of 414 Omicron cases. Of that number, 383 had recently traveled abroad, whereas 31 cases were a result of local transmission. Most cases of Omicron transmission came from Turkey and Saudi Arabia. The government also urged the public to postpone overseas travel.

Also read:

> Health Services Prepare for Omicron

> Local Lockdown Still Slack in Krukut

The Omicron variant is much more transmissible than Delta. It has not even been a month since the first Omicron case was detected in Indonesia on 16 December 2021 that the cases have increased significantly. If the Delta variant spreads seven times faster than the original virus from Wuhan, Omicron spreads five times faster than Delta.

Omicron can infect those who have been fully vaccinated, although the effects are not severe. Transmission also occurs in those who have previously tested positive for Covid-19 or have comorbidities, diseases that make people susceptible to Covid-19. Thus, this rapid transmission must be addressed immediately.

In Indonesia, the spread of Omicron has been rapid since the first case was detected on 16 December 2021. Without meaningful efforts, healthcare centers will be filled with Covid-19 patients again, health workers overwhelmed and with the risk of severity, there may be deaths among the vulnerable too.

KOMPAS/RIZA FATHONI

Health workers conduct a swab test on residents in a village in the Krukut area, Tamansari District, West Jakarta, Monday (1/10/2022). The DKI Jakarta Health Service and Kelurahan apparatus assisted by the Police, TNI, Satpol PP PMI are still tracing residents suspected of being exposed to the Omicron variant of Covid-19 to anticipate greater transmission.

How much more of the state budget must be reallocated? How many more human resources should be mobilized? What’s more, how much longer will this pandemic persist?

In the last two years of the pandemic, we have learned that the government must be firm and clear in communicating with the community. The government has banned arrivals from 14 countries – mostly from Africa and Europe – but excluded arrivals from Turkey and Saudi Arabia. In addition, there have been many exceptions to allow foreign nationals to enter the country, the conditions of which can be further tightened.

The same should be done for Indonesian citizens. We know the government’s urge for the public to postpone overseas travel has no legal basis. In fact, even public officials, who should be setting examples, couldn’t stop themselves from traveling overseas for a comparative study. Upon returning home, these travelers from abroad still manage to dodge quarantine policies.

Also read:

> Mitigating of Threat Omicron Tsunami

> Booster Rollout to Start on 12 January

Thus, Indonesia has many things to address to keep a third wave of infections from happening. We know exactly how severe the situation was during the Delta-fueled second wave. Do not hesitate, ban overseas travel, unless it is an emergency with strict requirements.

Continue carrying out testing, tracing and treatment (3Ts) to break the chain of transmission. Improve the implementation of health protocols and accelerate the vaccination rollout. It has been proven that these methods are effective in dealing with Covid-19.

This article was translated by Kesya Adhalia.