Jakarta (ANTARA) – Investigation is still underway by relevant authorities into the emergence of a Delta variant (B 1617.2) of COVID-19 in Kudus, Central Java, and Bangkalan, East Java, COVID-19 Task Force spokesman Prof. Wiku Adisasmito stated.
“So far, investigations regarding the origin of the virus variant are still being conducted, so that we can find where it came from,” Adisasmito noted in a written statement received here on Wednesday.
The spokesman remarked that to map the spread of the virus, research was still being conducted by applying the Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) or surveillance method, although all parts of Indonesia had yet to be covered.
“Such studies require WGS or larger samples. One day, we will be able to trace where the virus came from, where it came from, and where it has spread,” the professor affirmed.
Adisasmito noted that new variants of a virus emerged as an attempt by the virus to survive. The mutation process will continue if the potential for transmission is available.
Hence, the virus can still mutate if transmission continues in the midst of society.
Adisasmito ensured that the vaccines administered to the public, so far, have high effectiveness, as their efficacy was above 50 percent to protect citizens from virus transmission.
However, further research pertaining to this efficacy is still being conducted to ensure that the vaccine used is effective.
“The vaccination conducted must really be able to provide collective protection or herd immunity to the people given the vaccine,” Adisasmito remarked.
Source: Antara News