TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A spokesperson for the Health Ministry Muhammad Syahril said Indonesia could not be said to have been safe from the COVID-19 pandemic given the emergence of a new virus variant dubbed XBB.

The ministry has to date recorded 12 cases of the XBB variant cases in the country. In the past week, 30 provinces reported a surge in positive cases. The government logged about 4,700-4,900 additional cases in the past four days.

“The XBB variant spreads faster, we must be vigilant and always protect ourselves,” said Syahril in a written statement quoted by Tempo, Tuesday, November 8, 2022.

The ministry urged the public to immediately get booster vaccinations to improve protection against the disease and prioritize health protocols, such as using face masks indoors and outdoors, avoiding crowds, washing hands with soap, and taking a test when having symptoms of COVID-19.

People are also advised to use the ministry’s telemedicine service dubbed Isolasi Mandiri (Isoman) to get free health consultations and free medicine. “Of course, as long as they conduct a test in laboratories affiliated with the Health Ministry,” Syahril added.

The Health Ministry has thus prepared health service facilities and hospitals, as well as increased tracing and testing to anticipate a further spike in COVID-19 cases.

GADIS OKTAVIANI

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