As omicron spreads, the third COVID wave looms in Indonesia

According to health officials and researchers, Indonesia is bracing for a third wave of COVID-19 infections as the highly transmissible omicron strain drives a jump in new cases.

In the previous 24 hours, the government reported 11,588 new confirmed illnesses and 17 deaths.
It was the most cases per day since August, when Indonesia was battling a delta-driven wave.

By December, Indonesia had recovered from a rise that was among the worst in the region last year, with daily infections falling to around 200.
However, only weeks after the country recorded its first local omicron transmission, infections are on the rise once more.

"The acceleration will be tremendous...."
"In the near future, we will see a strong increase," Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said at a press conference on Friday, adding that the current wave would likely peak at the end of February or early March.

He said that the government had set aside extra beds for COVID-19 patients, increased tracing and testing, and increased immunizations across the board.
However, given the lack of enforcement, several health experts wonder that the measures will be sufficient.

According to Jakarta Deputy Governor Ahmad Riza Patria, bed occupancy rates in Jakarta, the epicentre of the omicron outbreak, increased from 5% in early January to 45 percent on Saturday.
In the metropolis, where more than 80% of the 10 million citizens have been vaccinated, he claimed "omicron is moving too swiftly."

Pandu Riono, an Indonesian epidemiologist and government academic adviser, said Indonesians are still frightened by the delta variant, which caused many people to die in isolation at home or while waiting for emergency care in overcrowded hospitals.

During last year's spike, hospitals constructed makeshift intensive care units out of canvas tents, and patients waited for days to be admitted.
Those who were lucky enough to acquire oxygen tanks were wheeled out on the sidewalk, while others were told they would have to find their own.

A third wave, according to Riono, is unlikely to bring Indonesia's health-care system to its knees because omicron generates fewer severe symptoms than delta.

On Friday, President Joko Widodo urged asymptomatic patients to self-isolate at home for five days and use telemedicine services, which provide free access to doctors, medicines, and vitamins, or attend a community health centre.

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Edited February 1, 20224 yr by ASEAN NOW Content Team