Hospitalized Covid-19 Patient from India in Stable Condition in Jakarta

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - An Indian citizen, who has tested positive for a new variant of Covid-19 that was first detected in India, is in stable condition and receiving treatment in a Jakarta hospital, an Indonesian official said on Tuesday, May 4. 

"Specimens were collected on April 22," said Siti Nadia Tarmizi, a spokesperson for the Covid-19 Mass Vaccination Program of the Ministry of Health, during a virtual press conference.  

Meanwhile, an Indonesian patient who has also contracted the new variant of Covid-19 has recovered after the specimens were collected on April 3. 

Also read: South African Covid-19 Strain Found in Bali, Indonesia

Nadia said that Indonesia has recorded two new mutations of the highly infectious Covid-19 variant from India and South Africa. The Indian variant (B.1.617) was found in two patients in Jakarta, while the South Africa variant (B.1.351) was found in a patient in Bali, she said. 

The patient who contracted the South Africa Covid-19 variant had died. 

"The case of B.1.351 variant  was found in Bali. The case was discovered after a specimen was collected on January 25, 2021. The patient died on February 16, 2021," said Nadia. 

The mutation of the virus is suspected to affect the neutralization of some antibodies, but it has not been detected that it increases the risk of disease severity.

Based on the latest cases, Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin urged the public to further tighten the implementation of health protocols. According to him, it is a collective obligation for all parties to prevent the transmission of Covid-19 by wearing masks, maintaining a safe distance, and washing hands.

(Writers: Haryanti Puspa Sari, Dian Erika Nugraheny| Editor: Diamanty Meiliana)

Sources: https://nasional.kompas.com/read/2021/05/04/12462301/dua-orang-tertular-varian-b1617-kemenkes-yang-wni-sudah-sembuh-wna-masih.

https://nasional.kompas.com/read/2021/05/04/12374441/kemenkes-wni-yang-tertular-corona-varian-b1351-sudah-meninggal.