VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

There have been no signs of BF.7 cases increasing in Indonesia following the detection of the Omicron sub-variant in several patients, according to the Health Ministry.

"We are not too worried because the variant that has dominated since October 2022 is XBB. There have been no signs of BF.7 cases increasing," chief of the communication and public service bureau of the Health Ministry Siti Nadia Tarmizi said in Jakarta on Thursday.

The BF.7 sub-variant, which triggered a COVID-19 spike in several countries, including China, causes relatively mild symptoms, she added.

All BF.7 patients in Indonesia have recovered after conducting self-isolation. The sub-variant was first detected in the country in October 2022.

"All the patients have recovered,” Tarmizi said.

The number of BF.7 cases detected in Indonesia based on genomic surveillance is relatively small at 15, Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin informed at the Harapan Kita Women and Children Hospital in Jakarta on Thursday.

"The cycle of BA.5 sub-variant in Indonesia is over, and so is BA.275 sub-variant. Only BF.7 sub-variant is left. We have seen it in Indonesia. The increase is very small and (the number of BF.7 cases) is 15,” he said.

Two BF.7 patients from Jakarta, aged 30–40 years, showed mild symptoms and conducted self-isolation at home. The two patients, who had no overseas travel history, have recovered.

The minister called upon the public to continue to comply with the health protocols and take COVID-19 vaccination at a nearby health service center as part of efforts to prevent severe disease upon coronavirus infection.

"Up till now, the vaccine is still free. Hurry up to get the booster (dose)," he said. (antaranews)