TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Jakarta Health Agency recorded a rising case number of COVID-19 Omicron XBB.1.16 subvariant, known as Arcturus. The agency’s Head of Surveillance and Immunization Section, Ngabila Salama, said the number of Arcturus cases amounted to five to date.

“Be aware that there have been 5 cases of Arcturus in Jakarta with new symptoms: red eyes and eye discharge,” said Ngabila in a statement, Tuesday, April 18.

Five patients infected with the new coronavirus variant consisted of one male and four females. Three of them are aged 20-40 years and the other two are aged 56 years and 74 years.

“The majority complained of new symptoms (in the form of) red eyes, sore eyes, or eye discharge. Four people have mild symptoms and one person with moderate symptoms (pneumonia) is hospitalized for 6 days and is currently recovering (good condition),” she explained.

Ngabila mentioned that one of the five patients had a history of traveling abroad to India. “The other four cases are local transmissions in Jakarta,” she added.

At present, four patients have recovered and one other patient is still undergoing self-isolation.

On Friday, April 14, Ngabila said that the agency did not rule out the possibility that this Arcturus variant was the cause of the surge in cases in the capital. “Because it has been proven that there have been local transmissions in Jakarta since March 27.”

However, she asserted that the COVID-19 situation in Jakarta in the past week was still under control even though there was a hike in new infections and positivity rate.

Jakarta Health Agency thus encouraged people experiencing COVID-19 symptoms such as cough, runny nose, sore throat, stuffy nose, anosmia, fever, nausea, and vomiting to immediately visit the nearest health center. “Don't panic, strengthen immunity by exercising a healthy lifedata-style and getting vaccines,” Ngabila underlined.

AMY HEPPY

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