Omicron May Be More Infectious, Says Epidemiologist Dicky Budiman

Tuesday, 30 November 2021 – 22:39 GMT+7
Illustration of a Covid-19 test / Credit: Ricardo, JPNN

jpnn.com, JAKARTA - Epidemiologist from Griffith University in Australia, Dicky Budiman, said the Omicron Covid-19 variant may be more infectious than the Delta variant.

"Delta variant takes about three months for it to dominate 50 percent of one place or region, but Omicron only takes three weeks," Dicky told JPNN.com, Tuesday (30/11).

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This meant, he continued, Omicron was more effective in transmitting itself.

"Mitigation efforts must be comprehensive," said Dicky.

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According to Dicky, developments on the Omicron variant also need to be watched out.

"If it is proven to be more infectious or spreads faster, it can burden health facilities because the number of people infected will be higher," said Dicky.

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He said the emergence of Omicron made a higher possibility of a third wave of Covid-19.

The Omicron variant has been found in a number of countries, including Australia, Belgium, Botswana, England, Denmark, Germany, Hong Kong, Israel, Italy, the Netherlands, France, Canada, and South Africa. (mcr9/mcr20/jpnn)

This news has been broadcast on JPNN.com with the title: Ahli Epidemiologi Beberkan Fakta Gawat soal Omicron, Waduh!