VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Chief of the East Java provincial health office, Herlin Ferliana. (ANTARA/Willy Irawan) - 

With the addition of five cases, the number of SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant infections in Indonesia’s East Java province has reached eight as of Saturday.

Of the eight patients infected with the Delta variant, four are undergoing treatment at the Lapangan Indrapura Hospital (RSLI) in Surabaya, three at private hospitals, and one at a regional general hospital (RSUD) in Bojonegoro, chief of the East Java provincial health office, Herlin Ferliana, informed on Saturday.

“They are among those netted during a raid at Suramadu bridge, while the others have earlier been treated at hospital,” she said.

She clarified that a subsequent test to detect the transmission of the new coronavirus variant will be conducted on patients with a Ct value of less than 25, who are currently receiving treatment at hospitals.

"If the Ct value is less than 25, we will conduct a genome sequencing (analysis) as a precautionary measure," she said.

She urged the public to be on the alert as the Delta variant is highly transmissible and thus, can spread quickly.

"We must all take extra caution to face the variant (of coronavirus) from India," she said.

On Monday (June 14, 2021), East Java Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa had confirmed three people had been infected with the Delta variant in East Java.

While two of the patients experienced mild symptoms, the third was asymptomatic, she said adding, their condition was stable.

Forty-seven of the total 145 cases of the new SARS-CoV-2 variant detected in Indonesia have come from abroad, spokesperson for COVID-19 Vaccinations for the Health Ministry, Siti Nadia Tarmizi, disclosed on Wednesday.

"There are 47 imported cases and 98 local cases," the spokesperson said in a text message to ANTARA in Jakarta.

Of the total 1,989 sequences examined as of Sunday (June 13, 2021), 145 variants of concern (VoC) sequences have been detected that are believed to be more virulent and spread more rapidly, leading to deterioration of patients’ health post infection, Tarmizi said.

Indonesia has so far detected 36 cases of the B117 (Alfa) variant, five cases of the B1351 (Beta) variant, and 104 cases of the B1617.2 Delta variant, she added.

Currently, infections are spreading in several parts of Indonesia. The highest number of cases — 75 cases of the Delta variant and one case of the Alpha variant — have been recorded in Brebes, Cilacap, and Kudus in Central Java province, she said.

DKI Jakarta comes next, with 24 cases of the Alfa variant, four cases of the Beta, and 20 cases of the Delta variant, she added//ANT