Don't panic, says East Java Governor after first Omicron case found

Surabaya, East Java (ANTARA) - East Java Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa has reminded local residents to not panic and to remain vigilant by applying strict health protocols after the first Omicron case was found in the province.

"Now what we have to do is work together as hard as we can so that Omicron does not spread, and the local transmission stops," she said here on Sunday.

The governor said she has coordinated with Commander of the Military Command V/Brawijaya Major General Nurchahyanto, East Java Police Chief Inspector General Nico Afinta, Head of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) Lt. Gen. Suharyanto and Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin in dealing with the Omicron variant case.

East Java's residents must comply with health protocols by wearing masks, washing hands, maintaining distance, reducing mobility, staying away from crowds and accelerating vaccinations, she said.

The Omicron variant case was detected in East Java based on a report from the Institute of Tropical Diseases (ITD) of the University of Airlangga in Surabaya.

"This is unavoidable, because one of the characteristics of the variant is very infectious," the governor remarked.

Khofifah asked every East Java resident who has not received two doses of COVID-19 vaccine, to immediately go to health facilities to get vaccine shot.

"Vigilance is important, but don't panic. So far, the omicron variant has not shown any character that endangers the lives of patients, especially those who have been vaccinated," she said.

As of January 1, 2022, East Java has 98 active COVID-19 cases in East Java.

The province's COVID-19 task force has so far recorded a total of 400,081 confirmed cases, 370,237 recoveries, and 29,746 deaths.

Some 78.59 percent of East Java's residents received the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine, and 56.98 percent completed the second dose. Vaccination for elderly people reached 63.31 percent.