Jakarta (ANTARA) – The head of the professional development division of the Indonesian Association of Epidemiologists (PAEI) Masdalina Pane recalled the need to improve whole genome sequencing (WGS) to detect XBB subvariants in order to control the spread of COVID-19.
“The WGS examination is important to see the spread or expansion of the disease and to estimate the condition of the area,” said Masdalina Pane when she was contacted Thursday in Jakarta.
The researcher from the Center for Public Health Research at the National Agency for Research and Innovation (BRIN) explained that an intensive examination of the WGS should be performed immediately before the case spreads.
“If circulation of XBB is high and distribution is widespread, there is concern that WGS will no longer be very effective,” he said.
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In the meantime, he also said that controlling the XBB COVID-19 sub-variant is equivalent to controlling any variant of COVID-19.
“The treatment is done through isolation and quarantine, although it is currently not as rigorous as at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. It should be remembered that the most important thing is if you have mild symptoms, rest at home, monitor your your condition regularly, check for saturation and worsening, don’t let it get worse before going to the hospital, “he said.
For those who have close contact with someone who has been confirmed to have COVID-19, he said, strict health protocols such as wearing face masks, washing hands frequently, and keeping distance are required.
“Testing for suspicious and probable needs to be stepped up, followed by close contact tracing until the isolation and quarantine process is complete,” he said.
Masdalina Pane also recalled the importance of maintaining the hospital’s capacity and continuing to collect data on a regular basis.
“From the data it can be seen that if the increase in capacity occurs, then the addition of various infrastructures and logistics is certainly necessary. The main goal of all these interventions is to reduce the mortality rate as low as possible to zero cases. of death, “He said.
Pane also reminded the public to continue to strengthen health protocols to prevent the risk of transmitting the XBB variant of COVID-19.
He explained that the XBB or BA.2.10 variant recalls the need for discipline to use masks, wash hands and avoid crowds. *
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Reporter: Wuryanti Puspitasari
Publisher: Erafzon Saptiyulda AS
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