TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said the handling of patients confirmed to be exposed to the Omicron variant of COVID-19 would be focused on telemedicine.

“The hike in Omicron transmission will be much higher than Delta, but there will be fewer number of patients to be treated. So the ministry’s service strategy is now focused on homes. Because many will be infected but will not need to go to the hospital,” he said in a written statement, Monday night, Jan. 10.

He said that the majority of Omicron patients showed mild symptoms and were even asymptomatic, so they only needed to self-isolate at home. They will be given vitamin supplements and additional therapeutic drugs permitted by the government.

For this reason, the ministry is collaborating with 17 telemedicine platforms to provide free consultation and drug delivery services. The platforms are Alodokter, Getwell, Good Doctor, Grabhealth, Halodoc, KlikDokter, KlinikGo, Link Sehat, Milvik Dokter, ProSehat, SehatQ, YesDok, Aido Health, Homecare24, Lekasehat, mDoc, Trustmedis, and Vascular.

The minister detailed that from a total of 414 confirmed cases of Omicron, 99 percent had mild symptoms and were asymptomatic. While the rest or two people, 58 and 47, presented moderate symptoms and needed oxygen treatment due to comorbidities. Fortunately, they have now been declared recovered.

Read: Omicron Spread Exceeds Delta; Govt Advises against International Travel

ANTARA