VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut B. Pandjaitan stated in a press statement that the Indonesian government has currently prepared anticipatory steps in responding to the outbreak of the Omicron variant in a number of countries (1-12-2021).

A number of anticipatory steps prepared by the government are primarily intended for Indonesian citizens who will travel abroad.

"State officials, in particular, are prohibited from traveling abroad," he stressed. He also added that the prohibition against state officials applies to all levels of office, except for those carrying out important state duties.

Regarding the ban on overseas travel, Coordinating Minister Luhut added:
“For the general public, it is still an appeal. So Indonesian citizens are advised not to travel abroad first, this is to prevent and keep the pandemic under control in this country," he explained.

The government, according to Coordinating Minister Luhut, will now also prepare a third vaccine booster aimed at the elderly and vulnerable groups.

"The booster will be scheduled soon and will start in January next year," he explained.

Based on the President's direction, the quarantine period for foreigners and Indonesian citizens traveling from countries outside the 11 countries that were banned from entering yesterday was increased to 10 days from the previous 7 days.

This step was taken by considering the increasing number of countries detecting the omicron variant. This quarantine extension will take effect from December 3.

"Obviously, the policy taken will continue to be evaluated periodically while we continue to understand and explore information about this new variant," concluded Coordinating Minister Luhut. (VOI)

The government is considering rolling out booster vaccinations amid concerns over the Omicron variant of the coronavirus, COVID-19 Task Force spokesperson and expert team chief, Wiku Bakti Bawono Adisasmito, said here on Tuesday evening.

However, the present focus is on getting people to complete the first and second dose of vaccination, he informed.

"First and second (vaccination) should be done. Once it is complete, if there are immunity levels remaining, then the third would not be needed," he explained.

"If the immunity rate is decreasing, then we use the third dose. Make sure that the first and second doses are completed," he stressed.

Moreover, vaccination is not the only solution to prevent contracting the new variant in Indonesia, Adisasmito emphasized.

"I would like to remind the people that there are three methods to collectively prevent COVID-19 infection, namely stringent health protocol; 3T which stands for testing, tracing, and treatment; and vaccinations," he said.

"Vaccination is not the only (effort), and we should ensure that vaccination is done correctly," he highlighted.

The central government is continuously monitoring vaccination achievement in every region, he said.

The government wants to ensure that the capability of each region can be bolstered so it can achieve the vaccination target as quickly as possible, he added.

"We are also collaborating with the military and the police to ensure that the vaccination targets in regions can be achieved," Adisasmito said.

"Including the ones in remote points because there are several problems, such as the logistics of getting there, the vaccinators, and the people," he added.

However, with proper management as well as the help of the military, the police, and civilians, this should not be a problem, he affirmed.  (Antaranews)

Australian authorities on Wednesday flagged another probable case of the Omicron variant in Sydney as they braced for more infections after at least two international travelers visited several locations in the city while likely infectious.

Officials in New South Wales (NSW), home to Sydney, said initial testing "strongly indicates" a man in his 40s, who arrived from southern Africa on Nov. 25, had been infected with the Omicron variant and had spent time in the community.

"We believe it is likely it will be confirmed later this afternoon as a definite Omicron case," NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard told reporters, but he ruled out lockdowns to contain the newly identified variant.

"I feel like it's time for a change in approach. We don't know how many more variants of this virus are going to come," Hazzard said.

Sydney, Australia's largest city, came out of nearly four months of lockdown in early October to contain a Delta outbreak and has been gradually easing curbs after higher vaccinations.

Omicron has prompted Australia to delay by two weeks its plans to reopen its borders from Wednesday to skilled migrants and foreign students. Mandatory two-week quarantine has been enforced for citizens returning from southern African countries.

Vaccinated Australians reaching Sydney and Melbourne from all other countries must now quarantine for 72 hours. Other states have not opened their international borders yet.

"It's very confusing, it was very emotional ... I did lots of praying. I just thought I'm going to land here and see what happens," Lorelle Molde, who returned to Australia from the United States, told Reuters at the Sydney airport.

When confirmed, the latest probable case would bring the total number of confirmed infections in Australia to seven, with six detected in NSW.

The other person who contracted the Omicron variant is in isolation in the quarantine facility in the remote Northern Territory. Police said three people were taken into custody after escaping from the facility early Wednesday morning.

Authorities on Tuesday confirmed the country's first community case of the new variant but the national cabinet decided against more restrictions and to wait for more data on its severity and transmissibility.

Australia has recorded around 212,000 cases and 2,012 deaths from COVID-19. (Reuters)

Japan's flag airlines halted new reservations on Wednesday and the government widened a travel ban amid escalating alarm over Omicron after a second case of the coronavirus variant was detected in the country.

Japan Airlines Co (9201.T) and ANA Holdings Inc (9202.T) said they were suspending new reservations for international flights to Japan until the end of December. The move came at the request of the transport ministry, which has also requested foreign airlines to halt all such reservations.

Japan took some of the strictest steps globally on Monday by closing its borders to new foreign entrants for about a month in light of the emergence of Omicron. A day later, Japan's first Omicron case was discovered - a Namibian diplomat who arrived in the country on Sunday.

A second case was found in a male traveler in his 20s coming from Peru who landed at Narita International Airport on Saturday, the health ministry confirmed.

The government said it will prevent the reentry of those with residency status traveling from 10 southern African states from midnight on Wednesday for at least a month.

The restrictions apply to Japan residents coming from South Africa, Eswatini, Namibia, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Lesotho, Angola, Botswana and Zimbabwe.

"From the view of prevention, we won't just restrict new entry by foreigners but also returning foreigners with resident status, unless there are special extenuating circumstances," Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno told a news conference.

"We will maintain a sense of urgency and keep track of the situation in various countries to be able to respond quickly and flexibly."

Regarding other passengers on the plane with the Namibian diplomat, he said none of the 70 people designated as close contacts and currently observing quarantine had shown signs of falling ill.

Health Minister Shigeyuki Goto later said his ministry was in contact with local governments to keep an eye on the fellow passengers.

Japanese border measures were loosened slightly a few weeks ago, but all of those changes have been rolled back in a move generally applauded by the public and accepted by business leaders, although some sectors of the economy dependent on foreign trainees could be hit if the closing is extended. (Reuters)