Gov’t Encourages Asymptomatic Patients to Self-Isolate at Home

source: isoman.kemkes.go.id

Indonesia’s COVID-19 positive cases continue to increase. As of Saturday (02/05), Ministry of Health recorded there were 33,729 new positive cases in the country.

According to the Ministry’s COVID-19 Vaccination Spokesperson, despite the fact that Omicron variant has a faster transmission rate compared to Alpha, Beta, and Delta variants, the variant has milder symptoms and a very high recovery rate.

“85 percent of hospitalized patients now have recovered and there is only 8 percent of cases of severe, critical, and oxygen-treated patients,” Nadia said as quoted from the Ministry’s official website, Sunday (02/06).

Therefore, Nadia urges the patients infected with Omicron variant without symptoms or mild symptoms to carry out self-isolation at home and remain calm as long as their oxygen saturation above 95 percent, since the hospital is prioritized for the moderate, severe, critical symptoms, and oxygen-treated patients.

If there are symptoms such as cough, flu, fever, patients can use telemedicine service or contact nearest local health centers for consultation, she added.

In Decree of Minister of Health Number HK.01.07/MENKES/4641/2021 on Guidelines for Implementation of Testing, Tracking, Quarantine, and Isolation in the Context of Accelerating Prevention and Control of COVID-19, there are five degrees of symptoms of COVID-19:

First, asymptomatic patients, namely patients with no clinical symptoms.

Second, patients with mild symptoms, namely patients with symptoms without any evidence of viral pneumonia or without hypoxia with respiratory rate 12-20 times per minute and oxygen saturation above 95 percent.

Common symptoms that appear in the patients include fever, cough, fatigue, loss of appetite, shortness of breath, myalgia, and bone pain. Other non-specific symptoms include sore throat, nasal congestion, headache, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, loss of smell (anosmia) or loss of taste (ageusia).

Third, patients with moderate symptoms, namely patients with clinical signs of pneumonia such as fever, cough, shortness of breath, rapid breathing without signs of severe pneumonia, with oxygen saturation of 93 percent.

Fourth, patients with severe symptoms, namely patients with clinical signs of pneumonia such as fever, cough, shortness of breath, rapid breathing, and plus one of: respiratory rate above 30 times per minute, severe respiratory distress, or oxygen saturation below 93 percent.

Fifth, critical patients, namely patients with symptoms of respiratory failure, infectious complications, or multiorgan failure.

“I also urge the public to stay vigilant since Omicron cases continue to rise. Please remain disciplined in observing health protocols. Wear a mask, wash hands with soap, maintain a safe distance, avoid crowds, and reduce mobility,” Nadia stated. (PR of Ministry of Health/UN) (GWH/MMB)