JAKARTA – Indonesia has 748 confirmed cases of the Omicron variant as of Jan 15, according to the latest figures from the country’s Health Ministry.
The cases involve 569 imported, 155 local transmissions and 24 cases under investigation, Antara news agency quoted senior health ministry official, Siti Nadia Tarmidzi as saying.
Most cases were detected in travellers returning from Saudi Arabia, followed by Turkey, the United States, Malaysia, and the United Arab Emirates.
There were also another 1,800 probable Omicron cases in the country.
Siti Nadia said the government would continue to review restrictions and regulations on quarantine to curb the spread of the virus.
The government removed the travel ban on 14 countries effective Jan 14 after realising the rule deemed pointless because the Omicron variant has spread to 150 countries.
The countries are South Africa, Botswana, Norway, France, Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Eswatini, Lesotho, Britain and Denmark.
International travellers flying into Indonesia will have to undergo a seven-day quarantine upon arrival.
Omicron-positive patient must undergo isolation at the Emergency Covid-19 Hospital in Wisma Atlet Kemayoran, Jakarta or at the referral hospital, Siti Nadia said.
The world’s fourth most populous country expects the Covid-19 wave driven by Omicron variant to peak in mid-February, with daily cases estimated between 40,000 to 55,000 in the second or third week.
Yesterday, the health ministry reported 1,054 new COVID-19 cases, the highest daily increase in three months.
