Health Ministry Responds to New COVID-19 Variant Cases in Sumatra

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Health Ministry’s Director for Direct Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Siti Nadia Tarmizi, confirmed that Sumatra reported many cases of new COVID-19 variants. She suspected this was due to high people’s mobility.

“It is also a transit region so that the mobility and exchange flow of people are high. This causes the possibility of faster spread,” Nadia told Tempo on Monday, May 10, 2021.

Previously, Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said one of the cities in Sumatra that reported cases of new coronavirus mutations was Palembang. “We have identified many new virus mutations in Sumatra. One of which is in Palembang,” said Budi on Sunday on May 9, 2021.

Nadia thus urged the public to keep suppressing the rate of virus transmission. Other than calling on people to reduce mobility, she asserted that the predetermined health protocols must strictly be implemented. The efforts will also be carried out in public spaces such as airports and stations.

“It is clear in the guidelines that officers must monitor and remind people about the health protocols and ensure that there will be no crowds and [the attendance number must be limited] according to room capacity,” Nadia underlined.

Read: Health Ministry Expands Immunization Program to Offer 14 Vaccines

EGI ADYATAMA