COVID-19 Third Wave Potentially Occurs in Indonesia: Epidemiologist

TheIndonesia.id - Griffith University Australia epidemiologist Dicky Budiman warned that the third wave of COVID-19 cases could potentially occur in Indonesia.

"The potential for the third wave is very clear. Talking about the potential, then talk about community groups or populations that do not yet have immunity or even though they already have immunity, their immunity decreases," said Dicky Budiman when contacted by ANTARA in Jakarta, Sunday, January 23, 2022.

Based on a study, the immunity obtained from the COVID-19 vaccination decreased after five months of the final vaccination. "Nothing lasts long, that's a fact. That's why the potential for a spike in cases caused by Omicron is very clear. Moreover, the speed of infection is faster than Delta," he said.

Therefore, Dicky said, in responding to the Omicron variant, the government should not neglect the aspects of testing and tracking. "This should not be ignored, because without strong early detection we will not be able to cut off the transmission. Cut off the transmission by finding the cases and their contact cases, so that they can undergo effective isolation or quarantine," he explained.

Efforts must be made, namely increasing the implementation of 5M (wearing masks, maintaining distance, washing hands, staying away from crowds, and reducing mobility). Dicky said that Omicron variant cannot be underestimated, because it is included in the variant of concern (VOC).

"So, any understatement narrative is dangerous, Omicron looks light because of vaccination and immunity," he said.

Separately, an epidemiologist from Andalas University, Indonesia, Defriman Djafri asked the government to increase screening, testing, tracking, and whole-genome sequence (WGS) analysis to suppress the spread of Omicron variants in the country.

"This strategy ensures quick identification and the identified cases have to be strictly quarantined, considering the fast transmission of Omicron than other variants," he said.

Omicron which is included in the VOC, he continued, requires high vigilance in handling it. "Everything is unpredictable, don't go ahead with policies as if they are urgent because we are not quick to detect and be alert early on," he said.