Covid-19 tally rises in various Indonesian cities thanks to the Delta sub-variant

[ASEAN NOW Content Team]

 

In the last three weeks, a mutation of the fatal Delta strain of the coronavirus has prompted an uptick in Covid-19 cases in eight Indonesian cities, but Health Minister Budi Sadikin does not foresee a serious outbreak like the one in July.

According to the minister, the new AY.23 mutation originated in Indonesia and is comparable to the Delta Plus variant that has been discovered in the United Kingdom.

"We're fortunate that we're over the top of the Delta wave, so people's immunity remains intact," Mr Budi said.

 

Mr Budi said AY.23 accounted for nearly 70%, or 3,288 genomes, of the total 4,732 genomes of the positive samples collected from the nation's 12 genome sequencing test labs, according to his presentation slides seen by The Straits Times on Monday (Nov 15).

Lebak in Banten province, Sumedang in West Java, Purbalingga and Kendal in Central Java, Tuban in East Java, Teluk Wondama and Fak Fak in West Papua, and Kendari in South-east Sulawesi are the eight cities that have had an increase in new Covid-19 cases.

 

In the last two weeks, new cases have increased in West Jakarta, West Java's Karawang, which is home to the automotive industry, and East Java's Gresik, which is one of the cement production centers.

Many parts of Indonesia, on the other hand, have gradually returned to normalcy since the country was able to control the latest wave of the disease, which began after Hari Raya in May and was primarily caused by the Delta variant.

 

In mid-July, the seven-day average for infections peaked at 50,000 cases per day.
The figure dropped from 1,700 in early October to 400 today.
Similarly, death rates have fallen from a seven-day average high of 1,700 in early August to roughly 100 in early October, and 16 today.

Indonesia is stepping up its attempts to contain the coronavirus in order to avoid a comeback, which would result in tighter movement restrictions and a negative impact on the economy.
It will preside over the Group of 20 in 2022 and host the summit in Bali in the fourth quarter of the following year.

 

The Delta variety was discovered in India first, then spread to Indonesia in March.
According to the administration, it accounted for more than 90% of Covid-19 instances discovered by June.

"We increased airport restrictions at the time, but the Delta variant arrived via a seaport.
As a result of this, we've increased checks at five airports, nine seaports, and four land entry locations "Mr. Budi expressed his thoughts.

 

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