Two patients found infected with the Omicron BF.7 variant in Jakarta on October 24, 2022, and November 1 have recovered after undergoing self-isolation at home, the Jakarta Health Office reported on Thursday.

“The two experienced mild symptoms and conducted self-isolation at home. They have been declared recovered,” Head of Surveillance, Epidemiology, and Immunization at the office, Ngabila Salama, informed here on Thursday.

According to her, the new variant, which is a derivative of Omicron BA.5, infected two men aged around 30–40 years, without complications or comorbidities and with no recent history of international travel.

Currently, the Health Office is updating data for the next month to make sure whether or not there has been an addition from the two cases by increasing tests to determine the genetic characteristics of the virus (genome sequencing), which will especially cover patients who die following hospitalization.

In Jakarta, the tests are being carried out at the Ministry of Health, the National Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM), and the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Indonesia.

Genome sequencing is aimed at monitoring the domination of virus variants and predicting the peak and end of COVID-19 waves, including those caused by new variants.

“Whatever the variant, there’s no need to panic; everything will be under control. Prevent illness by wearing masks everywhere,” she said.

She also appealed to the community to get the booster vaccine and asked those experiencing COVID-19 symptoms to avail the free testing services provided at community health centers (puskesmas).

Early detection also needs to be carried out by older adults aged over 40 if they experience symptoms and have comorbidities.

The Jakarta Health Office has reported that so far, only 58 percent of older adults in Jakarta have received the third vaccine dose or first booster and 20 percent have taken the fourth dose or second booster.

According to the Health Office’s data, the number of older adults targeted for vaccination is 761,279.

Source: Antara News