COVID-19 – Indonesia detects first local Omicron transmission

Jakarta (Indonesia Window) – The Indonesian Ministry of Health has detected the first local transmission of coronavirus Omicron variant in the country on a domestic traveler who was flying from Medan city (North Sumatra province) to capital Jakarta.

“The Omicron local transmission case was found in a man who had no history of  travel abroad, nor had any contact with foreign travelers,” Director for Prevention and Control of Vector and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Siti Nadia Tarmizi, said at a press conference here on Tuesday (Dec. 28).

She pointed out that the 37-year-old man traveled from Medan and arrived in Jakarta on December 6, 2021. Two weeks later, when he was about to return to Medan, his antigen test showed that he was positive for coronavirus.

The same result was attained through a PCR test a day later.

“On December 26, 2021, based on a laboratory result, it was confirmed that the patient was infected by Omicron variant,” said Nadia, who is also the ministry’s spokesperson for the COVID-19 vaccination program.

Although no symptoms observed, the patient was immediately evacuated and isolated at Sulianto Saroso Hospital in Jakarta, Nadia added.

A tracing was then conducted in the environment around the patient while he was being in Jakarta, including at a restaurant in the capital’s Sudirman Central Business District (SCBD) area where the patient visited on December 17, 2021.

“Restaurant employees, as well as health workers who serve the patient will also have to be tested with PCR method, in addition to those who have close contact with the patient while he was in Jakarta,” according to Nadia.

Meanwhile, the PCR test for the wife who traveled with the patient has confirmed she was negative for the virus.

Reporting by Indonesia Window