jpnn.com, JAKARTA - Besides announcing the first case of Omicron in Indonesia, Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin also revealed that there were five other people who were suspected of contracting the new variant of Covid-19.
Budi said the five suspected cases of Omicron involved Indonesian citizens and foreign nationals who had recently traveled abroad.
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"We carried out PCR tests with specifications, the term is S-gene target failure, and detected five probable cases of Omicron," said Budi during a press conference via Zoom in Jakarta, Thursday (16/12).
He explained that two of the five Omicron suspects were Indonesian citizens who had just returned from the United States and the United Kingdom. Both are currently undergoing isolation at the Wisma Atlet emergency hospital.
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Meanwhile, the other three probable cases are foreigners from China who visited Manado. They are now quarantined in Manado, North Sulawesi.
"These five people are still probable because they have just been tested with special PCR markers. Positive PCR samples from these five probable cases have been sent to Balitbangkes and genome sequencing tests are currently rolling out," Budi explained.
ALSO SEE: Indonesian Citizens, Foreigners Undergo Omicron Test in West Java
The results of the genomic sequencing study will be reported within the next three days to confirm whether they are positive for Omicron or not.
Budi appealed to the public not to get panicked and continue to carry out activities as usual under health protocols.
In addition, the public is asked to avoid non-essential travel abroad since Omicron cases are increasing rapidly in a number of countries.
"In England, the number of cases increased from ten a day originally to 100 a day. Now, it is 70,000 a day, higher than the peak in Indonesia in July," said Budi.
Previously, Budi announced that a patient with the initial N was the first case of Omicron in Indonesia.
Patient N is a cleaning worker at the Wisma Atlet emergency hospital in Kemayoran. (ant/fat/mcr20/jpnn)
This news has been broadcast on JPNN.com with the title: Ada 5 Suspek Omicron, 3 di Antaranya WNA Asal China yang Dikarantina di Manado