The Tangerang City Government Health Service will conduct active surveillance at public places, including bus terminals and stations, as a precautionary measure against the transmission of COVID-19, especially the Omicron variant.

Tangerang Mayor Arief R. Wismansyah said that the surveillance activity was an early precautionary measure by the city government in accordance with President Joko Widodo’s direction.

“Later, surveillance will also be conducted at several bus stations and terminals, and antigen tests will be conducted as well,” Wismansyah remarked on Friday.

In addition, the city government will actively intensify COVID-19 vaccination, especially for children aged 6-11 years.

The city government will also pursue to achieve the vaccination target in general.

On the other hand, the mayor has also instructed all agencies to take precautionary measures against a spike in COVID-19 cases, including of Omicron, which has entered Indonesia.

The finding of Omicron cases in Indonesia should be anticipated by conducting early mitigation to suppress the transmission. In addition, community discipline in implementing health protocols must be improved, he emphasized.

“Building public awareness in implementing health protocols is one of the important aspects that must be disseminated to the community. This especially applies now that activities at public facilities have been relaxed,” he remarked.

Head of the Tangerang City Health Service, Dr. Dini Anggraeni, noted that all health centers had prepared for active surveillance along with the transportation service and other agencies.

“Currently, active surveillance is targeting employees at the Tangerang City Government office, starting from the regional organization (OPD) to the sub-district and urban villages. From the results of the antigen test, no positive cases were found,” she remarked.

Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin had earlier announced the finding of the first Omicron variant in Indonesia. A janitor at the Wisma Atlet Emergency Hospital contracted the virus and showed no symptoms.

The Health Ministry also detected five likely Omicron cases in the country involving international travelers, Indonesian citizens, and foreigners. All the suspected patients are currently undergoing quarantine in Manado and Wisma Atlet.

Source: Antara News