West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil on Tuesday appealed to the public not to panic and remain alert amid the emergence of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 in the province.

The Omicron variant is indeed much more contagious than the Delta variant, he noted. However, Omicron has lower severity, he added.

Kamil reminded the people to always implement the health protocols, including wearing masks, to avoid virus transmission.

“So we need to stay alert, but do not worry too much. Hopefully, with our vigilance, we can control the spread of Omicron,” he said.

The West Java provincial government has continued to intensify testing, tracing, and follow-up (3T), he informed. This is an effort to detect early transmission in people exposed to the Omicron variant, he explained.

“We are still carrying out 3T activities, especially testing and tracing, among residents who have just returned from abroad. People returning from abroad are our main priority in 3T,” he said.

Until now, at least 14 residents with West Java Identity Cards (KTP) have been exposed to the Omicron variant, Kamil informed.

Of the 14 patients, 10 are undergoing isolation at Wisma Atlet, Jakarta, and the remaining four have been quarantined in Bandung district, he said.

“There are 10 people who were detected at the airport, and are currently, undergoing quarantine in Wisma Atlet Jakarta, and four suspected people are in Bandung district. That is based on our tracking. We can assure you, these Omicron cases come from an overseas trip,” he added.

He said his administration is now investigating the origins of the infection in four suspected patients in Bandung district.

On December 16, 2021, Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin had informed that the first case of the Omicron variant had been detected in Indonesia at the COVID-19 Emergency Hospital (RSDC) Wisma Atlet in Jakarta, which is among the quarantine facilities for people returning from abroad.

Source: Antara News