VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Spokesperson for COVID-19 Vaccinations for the Ministry of Health Siti Nadia Tarmizi has said that a report on the detection of the Omicron (B.1.1.529) coronavirus variant in Bekasi District, West Java, is untrue.

"It is not true (the report on Omicron variant). Up until now, there is no case of Omicron (in Indonesia)," she stressed here on Wednesday.

Tarmizi informed that her office had checked the information with laboratory officers in the region after a report emerged of four residents getting infected with the new COVID-19 variant.

"The Ministry of Health continues to increase the coverage of genome sequencing from the patients that are infected by COVID-19 in a bid to anticipate early the (spread of) Omicron and new variants of SARS-CoV-2 in the country," she said.

As of now, there are 11 units of the genome sequencing engine in Indonesia, which are expected to help accelerate the detection of new variants of COVID-19, including the Omicron variant, she added.

To bolster efforts to prevent the entry of new COVID-19 variants, the government is also tightening supervisions on international travelers, Tarmizi said.

Earlier, head of the Bekasi District Health Office, Sri Enny Mainiarti, had shared a report on online mass media stating that the Omicron variant had been detected in four Jakarta residents based on a sample examination at Farmalab Laboratory, West Cikarang, Bekasi District.

The first case of COVID-19 was confirmed in Indonesia in March 2020. According to data provided by the COVID-19 Handling Task Force, as of December 7, 2021, at least 4,258,076 people have tested positive for COVID-19 in the country, while 4,108,717 people have recovered, and 143,893 people have succumbed to the deadly virus. (Antaranews)

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) inspected the construction of a flood mitigation embankment constructed by using sand-filled geotextile tubes in Ladang Sub-district, Sintang District, West Kalimantan Province, on Wednesday.

Geotextile tubes are large tubular bags made of a porous and weather-resistant geotextile filled with sediment, such as sand, to form artificial dunes or embankments.

"We expect that the attempt can reduce flooding for the short term,” the president remarked.

He attributed the disaster to several factors, including extreme rainfall and damaged watersheds as well as water catchment areas.

Hence, he urged to conduct reforestation in the areas around Kapuas River and Melawi River.

"I am optimistic that it would improve the condition in the water catchment areas and watersheds, especially in the upstream regions," Jokowi stated.

Furthermore, he urged the Environment and Forestry Ministry and large private companies in West Kalimantan Province to establish tree seedling nurseries.

"Thus, reforestation can run well," he stated.

Meanwhile, in terms of the medium-term flood handling attempts, the Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) Ministry will dredge the surrounding lakes, structure the drainage system in the Kapuas River, and create a major flood control plan.

For the long-term endeavors, the government will build the Pinoh River Dam and conduct periodic revitalization of rivers and lakes in the Kapuas River watersheds.

After inspecting the embankment, Jokowi headed to the Sintang Health Detachment and witnessed the handing of social assistance, public kitchen car, and rubber boat.

The disaster struck on October 21, 2021, and lasted for about a month after heavy rains caused the Kapuas River and Melawi River to overflow, thereby affecting over 124 thousand people.

During the visit, the head of state was accompanied by PUPR Minister Basuki Hadimuljono, State Secretary Minister Pratikno, Social Affairs Minister Tri Rismaharini, and Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi, as well as several related officials. (Antaranews)

 The Omicron variant has been reported in 57 nations and the number of patients needing hospitalisation is likely to rise as it spreads, the World Health Organization said on Wednesday.

The WHO, in its weekly epidemiological report, said more data was needed to assess the severity of disease caused by the Omicron variant and whether its mutations might reduce protection from vaccine-derived immunity.

"Even if the severity is equal or potentially even lower than for Delta variant, it is expected that hospitalisations will increase if more people become infected and that there will be a time lag between an increase in the incidence of cases and an increase in the incidence of deaths," it said.

On Nov. 26, the WHO declared the Omicron variant, which was first detected in southern Africa, a variant of concern. It is the fifth SARS-CoV-2 strain to carry such a designation.

The number of reported COVID-19 cases in South Africa doubled in the week to Dec. 5 to more than 62,000 and "very large" increases in incidence have been seen in Eswatini, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia and Lesotho, it said.

The spread of Omicron, coupled with enhanced testing and low vaccination rates may have played a role, it added.

Referring to the risk of reinfection, the WHO said: "Preliminary analysis suggests that the mutations present in the Omicron variant may reduce neutralising activity of antibodies resulting in reduced protection from natural immunity."

"There is a need for more data to assess whether the mutations present on the Omicron variant may result in reduced protection from vaccine-derived immunity and data on vaccine effectiveness, including the use of additional vaccination doses," it said.

The Omicron variant can partially evade the protection from two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine produced by Pfizer Inc (PFE.N) and BioNTech (22UAy.DE), the research head of a laboratory at the Africa Health Research Institute in South Africa said on Tuesday, reporting the results of a small study.  (Reuters)

 Denmark will issue its first green bond early next year to help finance its transition towards carbon neutrality and a sustainable economy, the Danish central bank said on Wednesday.

Triple-A rated Denmark, which has been at the forefront of the development of wind power, has been looking at ways to fund its green transition, which includes reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 70% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels.

Denmark's central bank said the 10-year green bond will be issued on Jan. 19, 2022, with a coupon of 0.00% and a maturity on Nov. 15, 2031, contingent on stable market conditions.

"With a green bond, the Danish government offers a product that is in high demand among investors and that can support a broad and well-diversified investor base," deputy central bank governor Signe Krogstrup said in a statement.

The debt, which is earmarked for green investments, would align itself closely to the European Union's sustainable finance taxonomy, a list of economic activities and criteria they must meet to be labelled as sustainable investments.

"That is what investors are looking for. They want green investments, which are within the taxonomy, and they get that here," Danske Bank chief analyst Arne Rasmussen told Reuters.

The exact volume of the so-called 'twin bond', issued with the same characteristics as the country's conventional 10-year benchmark bond, will be announced later in December.

However, the country's finance ministry said it would cover government expenses of 10-12 billion Danish crowns ($1.52 billion-$1.82 billion) in 2022.

"It's a relatively modest amount, but large enough to be something that interests investors," Rasmussen said.

"There is a limited selection of government bonds with a triple-A-rating, I am confident it will become popular."

Denmark's largest commercial pension fund, PFA, which manages more than 600 billion Danish crowns, called Denmark's move "attractive". "It is definitely an investment opportunity we want to take advantage of," PFA's head of sustainable investments, Christian Schubart, told Reuters.

The twin bond concept, which Germany also launched last year, means an investor can switch the green bond for the more liquid conventional bond at any time, but not vice-versa. (Reuters)