Quarantine is Key to Prevent Omicron: COVID-19 Task Force

TheIndonesia.co - The quarantine policy is key for preventing the entry of the Omicron variant into Indonesia, the COVID-19 Handling Task Force has said.

"This policy must be strictly obeyed by all levels of society," spokesperson for the COVID-19 Handling Task Force, Prof. Wiku Adisasmito, stressed at an online press conference reported by Antara news agency on Tuesday, December 14, 2021.

According to Adisasmito, as an archipelagic state, Indonesia can implement international travel policies, especially quarantine policies, more easily compared to European countries.

"This is because countries in Europe are experiencing an increase in confirmed cases of Omicron due to the closeness of borders between countries within one land area, the level of interdependence between countries, and the high mobility of people across countries," he explained.

He added that the implementation of quarantine and testing are essential to maintain the current COVID-19 pandemic situation in Indonesia.
The trend of infections is showing signs of being under control, with the addition of cases low and the Omicron variant yet to be detected in the country, he informed.

Indeed, every Indonesian citizen is responsible for the COVID-19 situation in Indonesia, he affirmed. "Be a good example for fellow Indonesians so that the policies that have been prepared to prevent the importation of cases, especially the Omicron variant, can be implemented properly," he appealed.

The spokesperson informed that the exact characteristics of the Omicron variant are still being researched. However, based on initial evidence, the variant is suspected of having a higher transmission rate even though so far, those who have contracted it have shown mild symptoms, he noted.

"The efforts to prevent the entry of the Omicron variant to an area amid massive global mobility are not easy. One of the strategies that various countries are implementing is the quarantine policy besides restrictions on international travelers," he remarked.