Indonesia Prepares for COVID-19's Third Wave Pushed by Omicron

TheIndonesia.id - Since the first five Omicron patients were announced on December 16, 2021, until January-end 2022, cases of the new COVID-19 variant in Indonesia have continually risen after briefly dipping post the second wave in June-July 2021.

As of Wednesday, Jan 26, some 1,988 Omicron-infected patients were recorded. The daily count of COVID-19 cases had reached 9,905 as of Friday, January 28.

Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin estimated that the number of cases would continue to increase and even peak from February to early March 2022, with the Omicron variant being the predominant cause.

Jakarta is the largest contributor of additional daily confirmed cases of COVID-19, reaching 4,558 people as of Friday, January 28, at 12 p.m. local time. This was understandable since Jakarta is a hub for business and political activities and where several people travel around, thereby enabling the virus to spread at a quicker pace.

Based on the expert's data, Omicron has a swift transmission at fivefold the rate of its previous counterparts. Not just Indonesia but several countries have also recorded a significant increase in positive cases due to Omicron.

National spokesperson for the COVID-19 Task Force, Wiku Adisasmito, remarked that over 500 thousand cases of the Omicron strain were detected in at least 150 countries.

Six countries were recorded in the top 10 countries with the most number of positive cases, ranging from three thousand to 160 thousand cases. Italy witnessed a 122-fold increase in cases, thereby pushing it to handle 1.3 million cases per week.

Italy is followed by Australia, with the nation scoring a 62-fold increase in cases, with 760 thousand cases handled on a weekly basis. France reported a 43-fold increase to reach two million cases per week, while Canada witnessed an 18-fold rise to reach 320,000 cases per week, the United States reporting a 11-fold increase to reach 5.6 million cases per week; while the United Kingdom's case count doubled to 700 thousand per week.

The public should desist from pressing the alarm button amid this significant increase in cases, as the government has readied various measures and strategies to counter it and learnt from past experiences in dealing with the first and second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Symptoms

Sadikin's statement urging people to not panic is deemed reasonable since, despite an increase in the number of cases, the hospitalized patients only showed mild symptoms.

According to Director of the Jakarta Prof. DR Sulianti Saroso Hospital for Infectious Diseases, Mohammad Syahril, the Omicron variant transmits rapidly and exhibits mild symptoms once it infects the body, though can bypass the antibodies that are formed.

Syahril remarked that symptoms of the Omicron variant, such as fever, cough, and itching in the throat, especially of the mild to moderate degree, resembled those of the earlier variants.

He pointed out that there were no distinct symptoms that differentiated it from the Delta variant or others.

Essentially, this disease compromises the respiratory system. In case of shortness of breath, one would need a very high pressure of High Flow Nasal Cannula (HFNC) and even a ventilator if the condition became critical.

A lung doctor at the Persahabatan Central General Hospital, Erlina Burhan, stated that the most common symptoms found in patients treated at the hospital were coughing and sore throat.

Burhan stated that cough and sore or itchy throat were typical symptoms of the Omicron variant whereas Delta-infected patients experienced fever.

Of the patients who were treated, only 18 to 20 percent had a fever. During the spread of the Delta variant, however, nearly 90 percent experienced symptoms of fever. None of the Omicron-infected patients or those possibly exposed to it experienced shortness of breath or required a ventilator.

It shows that there was no damage to the lungs. Based on data, it is known that Omicron develops in the upper respiratory tract.

Thus, Burhan opined that the symptoms were mild. If people know someone who had been coughing and having a sore or itchy throat, especially during the current situation when Omicron has spread rapidly, then it is only right to assume it as Omicron. There is no need to wait until the person experiences fever. Moreover, if there is a history of contact with infected patients, then it is best to get checked immediately.

Government strategy

The imposition of health protocols remains the governor's main strategy as a measure to prevent the spread and increase of COVID-19 cases,0 with 5M -- wearing masks, washing hands, avoiding crowds, maintaining distance, and reducing travel -- being promoted.

Sadikin also stressed that the most important aspect was for these health protocols to be followed and to not panic in addressing the spike in cases.

In addition, the government continues to push to increase the vaccination rate by also including booster vaccines for the public as of recently, especially in Jakarta.

The minister admitted during an online discussion with the media on Thursday evening, January 27 that he and Governor of Jakarta, Anies Baswedan, were expediting vaccination in Jakarta. They had sought help from several private stakeholders to establish a vaccination site. They would promote booster vaccination, especially in Jakarta, since that area would have the maximum number of cases.

Data from the COVID-19 Task Force on Friday, January 28, indicated that the number of residents that had received the complete dose of vaccine reached 127.16 million, comprising 183,677,032 people administered the first dose of vaccine and 127,164,526 people having receiving the second dose, and 1,382,282 citizens having taken the booster vaccine.

The government is also collaborating with 17 telemedicine platforms to provide free consultation and drug delivery services for COVID-19 patients.

To distribute medicines to the patients' homes, the government is also cooperating with a delivery service company to offer delivery of the items for free.

The public also does not need to panic if cases increase to the point that hospitalization is required since on a national scale, 70 thousand isolation beds had been provided, and it could be increased up to as many as 130 thousand beds.

Currently, 7,688 beds are occupied, and he estimated that currently, hospitals only had about seven to eight percent of the occupied beds. In Jakarta, the maximum capacity of hospitals can be capped up to 11,500 beds, with 3,900 beds currently provided.

Based on the data, most of the patients were elderly people and those with comorbidities. There is great hope that the third wave would not be like what occurred in the past, and it can be handled properly.

He reiterated that the public need not harbor concerns despite the high number of cases. Despite the transmission being rapid, the important aspect was to keep everything under control. All people need to do is to exercise caution and adhere to the health protocols.