Covid-19 Arcturus Subvariant Likely More Infectious than Kraken
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VIVA – Health Ministry urges the public should be aware of the transmission coronavirus that causes COVID-19 subvariant Omicron XBB.1.16 or Arcturus. This virus likely more infectious than the subvariant Omicron XBB.1.5 or Kraken.
"Ahead Eid al-Fitr 2023, the number of COVID-19 cases has increased to reach 900 cases per day. Among the COVID-19 transmission cases detected, there are two cases caused by Arcturus," Director General of Disease Prevention and Control of the Ministry of Health, Maxi Rein Rondonuwu said at Jakarta, on Monday.
Luckily, two patients infected with Arcturus in Jakarta, in March 2023 have since recovered.
Ilustrasi COVID-19/virus corona
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He stated that although the number of daily cases of COVID-19 has increased from an average of 200 cases to 900, the transmission of the disease is considered still under control.
"If you look at the World Health Organization (WHO) indicators for transmission rates at the community level, it is still far from 20 per 100,000 population," he remarked.
Nevertheless, Rondonuwu urged the public to continue implementing health protocols and undergo vaccinations up to the booster dose to avoid the virus attack.
"Masks are expected to be worn in public places. That's encouraged, especially in buildings, in vehicles, buses, planes, it is expected to wear masks," he stated.
To control the spread of coronavirus, the Ministry of Health is conducting surveillance at the entrances to Indonesian territory as well as entrances to Lebaran homecoming destinations.
"Especially testing, tracing, if there is a positive, it is still done. Then, of course, we strengthen surveillance for genomics," Rondonuwu remarked.
He informed that currently there are 49 genomic examination laboratories to confirm the variant of the coronavirus that is spreading, "We hope that we will take samples of all cases that enter the hospital and examine those that are positive."
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