State Intelligence Agency Takes Strategic Measures after New Covid-19 Strain Found in Indonesia

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – The State Intelligence Agency (BIN) has taken some strategic approaches following the discovery of the new B.1.1.7 coronavirus in Karawang, West Java.

“BIN continues to take some strategic measures based on its core competencies,” BIN's deputy head of communication and information Wawan Hari Purwanto said on Wednesday, March 3.

Wawan said the government has been monitoring the development of the new strain of the coronavirus. Therefore, the government has banned flights and travelers from the UK, where the new SARS-CoV-2 variant was first detected in December last year. The new variant continues to spread around the world, including Indonesia.

Also read: Indonesian Migrant Workers Returning From Saudi Arabia Suspected of Carrying British Covid-19 Strain to Indonesia

It was reported that the Health Ministry has traced the two carriers of the B.1.1.7 Covid-19 strain. The cases made their way to Indonesia via Indonesian nationals returning from Saudi Arabia. Health authorities in the West Java town of Karawang, the hometown of the two cases, confirmed the ministry’s findings.

He said that BIN and various stakeholders continue to improve their coordination to develop research on the more infectious variant of the coronavirus.

The agency urged the public to strictly follow the health protocols, including the implementation of micro-scale public activity restrictions (PPKM Mikro).

He also stressed the importance of collaboration among the Indonesians to fight against the Covid-19 by increasing the number of research to contain the spread of the virus.

(Writer: Achmad Nasrudin Yahya | Editor: Krisiandi)

Source: https://nasional.kompas.com/read/2021/03/04/09475631/bin-ambil-langkah-strategis-setelah-virus-corona-b-117-masuk-indonesia.