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Breaking the chain of COVID-19 transmission could prevent mutation of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that could produce new variants, researcher at the National Research and Innovation Agency's (BRIN's) Eijkman Institute for Molecular Biology Amin Soebandrio stated.

"Mutation could generally be prevented by breaking the chain of transmission, so that the virus does not find a new host (human) and this stops the mutation," he told ANTARA here on Sunday.

Mutation, which led to the emergence of new variants, occurs when the virus replicates itself within a person's body cells, Soebandrio noted.

Replication occurs when the virus infects someone or when it finds a new host and enters a new cell, he remarked.

If the virus does not find a new host, then replication would not occur and mutation would not take place, according to Soebandrio.

The chain of transmission can be broken by consistently implementing the 5M health protocols and by getting vaccinated, he affirmed.

The 5M health protocols comprise wearing masks, washing hands, maintaining social distance, reducing mobility, and avoiding crowds, he explained.

Implementation of health protocols and vaccination should also be conducted along with intensifying the 3T strategy of tracing, testing, and treatment.

"If we could break the chain of transmission, then we could minimize replication and mutation," Soebandrio affirmed.

The Health Ministry recorded a surge in the number of confirmed Omicron cases, with the tally reaching 414, as of Saturday, out of which 34 are locally transmitted.

The Ministry's COVID-19 Vaccination spokesperson, Siti Nadia Tarmidzi, urged the public to not travel abroad if it is not too urgent.

"Most cases of Omicron came from international travelers. Hence, the people are expected to delay their plans to travel abroad," Tarmidzi noted in a written statement here on Sunday. (Antaranews)