Detected in Indonesia, Beware of Omicron XBB Subvariant

Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) Covid-19 Spokesperson Mohammad Syahril explained, Omicron XBB Subvariant has been identified in Indonesia. Therefore, residents are told to be on standby and strengthen health procedures (Prokes), especially using masks.

The XBB variation, according to him, resulted in a sharp increase in Covid-19 cases in Singapore. Accompanied by an increase in the trend of hospitalization.

"The increase in cases of the XBB wave in Singapore is running fast and has reached 0.79 times the BA.5 wave and 0.46 times the BA.2 wave," said Mohammad Syahril in Jakarta, Sunday (23/10/2022).

Since it was first discovered, around 24 countries have provided reports of the discovery of Omicron variations of the XBB calculated by Indonesia. The first case of XBB in Indonesia as a local transmission, identified in a 29-year-old female person who had just come from Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara.

"There are signs such as cough, runny nose and fever. He subsequently checked and was confirmed positive on Sept. 26. After undergoing isolation, the patient has been confirmed to have recovered on October 3," he explained.

Following the discovery, he mentioned, the Ministry of Health immediately made anticipatory efforts by conducting testing and tracing on 10 direct contacts. As a result, all direct contact was confirmed to be negative for Covid-19 variation XBB.

Furthermore, he said, the new variation of XBB quickly spread, but its fatality is no less chronic than that of the Omicron variation. Even so, the country cannot be declared safe from the Covid-19 outbreak.

"Various changes in new variations still have the potential to continue to occur. In the last 7 days, it is said that there has been an increase in cases in 24 provinces," he explained.

He asked residents to prioritize health procedures such as wearing masks, avoiding crowds and cleaning hands using masks, and testing if they experience symptoms and signs of Covid-19.

"As soon as possible, work on boosters for those who have not, to reduce pain and death due to Covid-19," he said.

"The increase in cases of the XBB wave in Singapore is fast and has reached 0.79 times the BA.5 wave and 0.46 times the BA.2 wave. Since it was first discovered, around 24 countries have provided reports of the discovery of Omicron variations of the XBB calculated by Indonesia," said Syahril.

The first case of XBB in Indonesia as a local transmission, identified in a 29-year-old female person who had just come from Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara.

"There are signs such as cough, runny nose and fever. He subsequently checked and confirmed positive on September 26. After undergoing isolation, the patient has been confirmed to have recovered on October 3," explained Syahril.

Following this discovery, the Ministry of Health immediately made anticipatory efforts by conducting testing and tracing on 10 direct contacts. As a result, all direct contact was confirmed to be negative for COVID-19 variation XBB.

Syahril explained that although the new variation of XBB quickly spread, the fatality was no less chronic than the Omicron variation. Even so, the country cannot be declared safe from the COVID-19 outbreak.

Because various changes in new variations still have the potential to continue to occur. In the last seven days, it was said that there was an increase in cases in 24 provinces in Indonesia.

Syahril asked residents to prioritize health protocols such as wearing masks, avoiding crowds and cleaning hands using masks, and testing if they experience symptoms and signs of COVID-19.

"As soon as possible, work on boosters for those who have not, to reduce the pain and death due to COVID-19. We are also increasing monitoring the presence of Indonesian citizens and foreigners at the entrances of the country," said Syahril.