Antara, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo asked state officials to refrain from traveling abroad as COVID-19 Omicron has been detected in Indonesia today, Dec. 16.
"I ask all citizens and state officials to refrain from traveling abroad," said the President on Thursday, Dec. 16.
Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin today announced the first case of the new coronavirus variant. An Indonesian identified as N, who is a janitor at Jakarta quarantine center Wisma Atlet, was tested positive for the disease and contracted the Omicron variant.
The head of state said any state activities abroad were postponed at least until the situation is improving. He emphasized that what's important now is to prevent local transmission of the Omicron variant.
"We must attempt to maintain a good situation in Indonesia, keep the active cases low, and monitor the transmission rate to stay below one. Don't let it spike again," Jokowi underlined.
In addition to one confirmed case of the Omicron variant, Minister Budi said there are 5 five probable cases of Omicron. Two of them are now under quarantine at the Jakarta Wisma Atlet. They are Indonesian citizens who had just returned from the United States and the United Kingdom.
Meanwhile, the three others are foreigners from China who visited Manado and are now quarantined in Manado, North Sulawesi.