As we were all relieved at the declining number of infections and getting ready to pick up on the various plans that had been postponed, Omicron came to obstruct every opportunity.
By
KOMPAS EDITOR
·3 minutes read
Kompas/Priyombodo (PRI)
An ambulance carrying Covid-19 patients arrived at the Wisma Atlet Emergency Hospital, Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, Monday (17/1/2022).
Covid-19 cases have been surging again these days. Indonesia has recorded a total of 4,353,370 confirmed cases. The highly contagious Omicron variant is the biggest factor.
To date, Covid-19 has spread to 227 countries, with a cumulative total of 383,509,779 confirmed cases as of 3 Feb. 2022. Since Omicron was first reported on 24 Nov. 2021 in South Africa, the new variant has become a wave sweeping across the world, overtaking the Delta variant. This situation has not been easy for the world.
Indonesia has also been affected. On 16 Dec. 2021, Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin announced the first Omicron case, detecting in a cleaner at the Athletes Village Emergency Hospital, a place for quarantining and treating Covid-19 patients.
As we were all relieved at the declining number of infections and getting ready to pick up on the various plans that had been postponed, Omicron came to obstruct every opportunity. However, as intelligent creatures, or "rational animal" as Greek philosopher Aristotle put it, human beings must strive to end the pandemic as soon as possible.
In fact, Omicron is still dangerous for the vulnerable. The three people who died of an Omicron infection in Indonesia were either unvaccinated or were elderly.
Given Omicron’s characteristics, that it generally does not cause severe disease although it spreads more quickly, we might sit back complacently and feel that there is no need to worry so much. In fact, Omicron is still dangerous for the vulnerable. The three people who died of an Omicron infection in Indonesia were either unvaccinated or were elderly.
This has also been the case in Russia, Mexico, Poland, and Ukraine, where daily fatalities now number above 100. Although most people who have been infected appear to be unvaccinated, Omicron has also been able to breach the shield provided by vaccination. Therefore, we should not take it lightly, even more so because the Omicron subvariants BA.1, BA.2, and BA.3 have emerged, with BA.2 being the most contagious.
Two years of experience in handling the pandemic shows that complying with the health protocols is the key to slowing transmission. Likewise, vaccination, which has been going on for a year, has proven to be an antidote to at least minimize the severity of disease.
Kompas/Heru Sri Kumoro
The office employees perpetuate the process of the third dose of Covid-19 vaccination (booster) at the Kompas Tower, Jakarta, Tuesday (25/1/2022).
However, we need to press the brake harder to prevent the caseload from growing rapidly. Implementing the public activity restrictions (PPKM) can serve as an effective brake, if a specific level of vigilance is urgently applied in accordance with the localized conditions in each region.
The PPKM implemented in Java and Bali from 1 to 7 Feb. 2022 must be closely monitored and observed to determine the next steps, as to whether the PPKM needs to be tightened or eased.
The PPKM is key because it regulates how to behave in crowds, such as at celebrations, schools, offices, and at public places like shopping malls and restaurants. Enforcing the PPKM in a transparent manner based on data analysis will be better accepted by the people.
The government also needs to accelerate vaccination, from the first and second doses to the booster dose, so it is more evenly and widely distributed.
It evidently is not a “not bad” situation at the moment. People must be willing to make sacrifices when braking hard.
