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Deputy II at the Presidential Staff Office (KSP) Abetnego Tarigan. (ANTARA/HO-KSP.) - 

Presidential Staff Office's (KSP's) Deputy  Abetnego Tarigan  assessed that the government's plan to apply a micro lockdown policy to slow down the potential spread of the Omicron variant in the country is an effective strategy.

Tarigan made the statement in response to the news of a COVID-19 patient, who had escaped quarantine at Wisma Atlet Jakarta.

"If there is a case, then a micro lockdown is considered as being an effective policy," he noted in a KSP press release, here on Monday.

Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan had earlier confirmed that one patient had escaped quarantine at the Jakarta Wisma Atlet emergency hospital for COVID-19. The news sparked concerns over the likely spread of the Omicron variant to other regions.

Tarigan pointed out that so far, cases of the Omicron variant had come from overseas travelers. Hence, rules had been tightened at entry points to the country, quarantine centers, and places of isolation.

"The government continues to increase testing and tracing," Tarigan emphasized.

Strict application of health protocols and acceleration of vaccination are also effective strategies in preventing local transmission of the Omicron variant.

Tarigan stated that the Presidential Staff Office, as the agency tasked with overseeing the priority programs of the president and vice president, will continue to monitor the handling of COVID-19, especially at several crucial locations, such as airports, ports, quarantine centers, and isolation areas.

"Monitoring has been conducted since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Of course, this monitoring has been communicated by the Chief of the Presidential Staff to the President," Tarigan noted//ANT