TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Two cases of the new COVID-19 variant, Omicron XBB.1.16 subvariant, also known as Arcturus were found in Jakarta. This was confirmed by the Health Ministry, which stated that two cases were found on March 23 and 27. One of the patients had a history of traveling abroad. 

The two patients experienced different symptoms. The Jakarta Health Agency’s head of the epidemiology and immunization surveillance unit, Ngabila Salama, said explained that the first patient infected with the new coronavirus subvariant was a 56-year-old man with mild symptoms, such as a runny nose and muscle aches.

The second patient is a 30-year-old woman with symptoms of fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, headache, sore throat, and dry cough. She also felt anosmia when being treated at the hospital.

Iwan Ariawan, an epidemiologist from the University of Indonesia’s Faculty of Public Health, explained that virus transmission is possible through close contact and by air or droplets. Since this type of variant is in the same family as Omicron, the transmission is fast but the symptoms are not too severe.

However, the Arcturus variant must be anticipated because it has caused a spike in new cases in India and has been detected in Singapore and the United States.

This new variant mutation can be controlled as long as the community adheres to health protocols, such as by wearing a mask that effectively wards off the spread of viruses through the air and having vaccinations.

People presenting symptoms of COVID-19 should immediately check with the nearest health service. The general symptoms include cough, runny nose, sore throat, nasal congestion and difficulty smelling, fever, nausea, and vomiting.

NAOMY AYU NUGRAHENI

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