TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Health Ministry recorded 27 new cases of COVID-19 Omicron variant on Sunday, December 26, bringing the total cases of the new coronavirus variant to 46.

The ministry’s spokesperson Siti Nadia Tarmizi said the cases found were mostly from international travelers. “Most of them have been quarantined at Wisma Atlet and some at RSPI Sulianti Saroso Hospital,” said Nadia in a written statement.

The findings were obtained from the results of the whole genome sequencing (WGS) examination by the ministry’s Research and Development Agency which was released on December 25.

A total of 26 cases were imported cases, including 25 Indonesian citizens who had just returned from Malaysia, Kenya, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Malawi, Spain, England, and Turkey, and one foreigner from Nigeria. Meanwhile, the other case was a health worker at the COVID-19 Emergency Hospital or RSDC Wisma Atlet.

The variant infections were detected when international travelers arrived in Indonesia and underwent a mandatory 10-day quarantine. Nadia said some cases were detected after they had spent more than three days in quarantine.

“This shows that a 10-day quarantine is a right period to prevent patients with Omicron from infecting others outside the quarantine facility,” said Nadia.

Nadia further encouraged the public not to or postpone traveling abroad. She also advised the public to remain disciplined in implementing the 5M health protocol and immediately get the COVID-19 vaccination.

Read: 11 Indonesians Infected with Omicron Traveled to Turkey, Japan, Korea

EGI ADYATAMA