The Covid-19 Case of the Corona Virus Variant B1525 Detected in Batam

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – Ministry of Health (Ministry of Health) stated, one Covid-19 case from the variant corona virus B1525 is found at Batam, Riau Islands since February 2021.

Spokesperson for Covid-19 Vaccination from the Ministry of Health, Siti Nadia Tarmizi, said that the Covid-19 case from B1525 was brought by travelers from Malaysia.

“Yes, one postal specimen in February was from PMI Malaysia. This (Covid-19 patient) was in Batam,” said Nadia when confirmed. Kompas.com, Friday (16/4/2021).

Also read: The Corona virus variant B1525 has entered Indonesia, brought from Malaysia

Nadia explained that the B1525 virus was not a mutation of the existing corona virus variants such as B.1.1.7 and E484K, but a separate virus variant.

In addition, it is related whether the variant corona virus B1525 is more contagious than B.1.1.7, Nadia said that should be confirmed further.

“This virus of interest, yes. “In WHO, it means that there is a (more contagious) laboratory prediction, but it needs to be confirmed further,” he said.

Furthermore, the Director for Prevention and Control of Direct Communicable Diseases (P2PML) of the Ministry of Health said that the Covid-19 vaccine currently used is still effective against the corona virus variant.

Also read: Task Force: We Will Win Over Pandemic If All Countries Are Free of Covid-19

He added that Covid-19 patients who were exposed to B1525 had been declared cured.

“It’s (recovered) because the post has gone through quarantine, and no one is being treated at the hospital,” he said.

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