VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The government is increasing surveillance to detect the transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 type coronavirus and its variants by mapping their distribution.

"We can find out which variants dominate in a region based on continuous monitoring through testing and tracing accompanied by WGS (Whole Genome Sequencing)," the government's spokesperson for COVID-19 handling Reisa Broto Asmoro informed at a press conference in Jakarta on Wednesday.

She said that mapping the spread of the coronavirus variants is a part of efforts to control the transmission of COVID-19.

According to government data, as of November 21, 2022, most of the COVID-19 cases detected in Indonesia have been caused by the Omicron BA.5 sub-variant.

However, transmissions of other sub-variants such as Omicron BA.2.10 or XBB, BA.2.75, and BQ.1 have also been recorded in a number of areas.

"We must immediately, anticipate, control, and prevent," she stressed.

On November 22, the national daily COVID-19 case count reached 7,644 and the number of COVID-19 patients undergoing treatment and/or quarantine was recorded at 62,196.

The number of daily cases on November 22 showed a dramatic increase compared to the previous day, when the number was recorded at 4,306.

"Unfortunately, this increase in cases is also accompanied by a high death rate," Asmoro said.

She informed that in the past week, the mortality rate among the people infected with COVID-19 was 2.41 percent.

The increase in the number of COVID-19 cases was also followed by an increase in the bed occupancy rate at hospitals.

"There has been an increase in the last week, in line with the increase in additional cases, which increased by 7.02 percent," she informed regarding the bed occupancy at hospitals.

Asmoro said that as of Tuesday, the national positivity rate, which reflects the ratio of the number of positive cases of COVID-19 to the number of tests carried out, has increased to 23.74 percent.

The community must also support the government in detecting the transmission of COVID-19 and the variant causing it, she stressed.

"If anyone has symptoms and there are indications of COVID-19, then it is better to carry out an examination immediately," she added.

People have also been urged to continue implementing the health protocols while carrying out their daily activities, especially when participating in events attended by many people such as concerts, performances, and sports matches, to prevent COVID-19 transmission.

"Please continue to maintain our discipline using the PeduliLindungi application, too. This is very important to prevent higher transmission in society. Let us try to reduce the number of cases. We do not want another spike in Indonesia," she said. (Antaranews)