The Minister of Health’s Prediction Becomes Real, What Is It?

The Minister of Health, Budi Gunadi Sadikin. (photo: pikiran-rakyat.com)
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Last August, the Minister of Health, Budi Gunadi Sadikin, predicted that a new variant of Covid-19 would appear. This prediction is proven now with the emergence of the XBB variant in Indonesia. Then, how is the sustainability of this new variant?

Previously, he observed Covid-19 cases in Europe and the United States (US) reaching more than 100,000 and Japan also reaching similar numbers.

“This high daily confirmation case will definitely cause mutations and the emergence of new variants,” BGS said his prediction during a virtual press conference on PPKM Evaluation Ratings, some time ago.

However, BGS said the possibility of a new variant that was present would not be more dangerous than the Delta or Omicron variant. Both had appeared and spread in Indonesia, causing an increasing trend of Covid-19 cases in the country.

“Naturally, the virus doesn’t want its host to die quickly. If the host dies quickly, it also dies quickly. So mutations in the virus will make it harder for the host to die. That’s why the new virus must be weaker than the old virus because it doesn’t I also want to die quickly,” he explained his prediction.

He also added that the emergence of a new variant in the coming months will likely not affect the condition of Indonesian citizens. Because vaccination will be intensified for vulnerable groups of people.

XBB cases have led to a rise in cases in Singapore, once reaching 6,000 positive cases per day in the country. Indonesia has also announced the findings of the variant case.

Last week, the Ministry of Health reported that the total cases of Covid-19 subvariants Omicron XBB and XBB.1 in Indonesia had reached 12 people.

“Of these 12 cases, two were from overseas travel, namely from Singapore, and 10 cases were local transmission,” said Ministry of Health spokesman Mohammad Syahril in an online press conference, Friday (11/4/2022).

Although the new subvariant was contagious, he said there was no increase in severity and mortality. This suggests the new subvariance is no more severe than previous Covid-19 infections.

“The characteristics of the XBB variant are not as severe as the previous variant. The mortality and hospitality rates are not high,” said Syahril.

Last August, the Minister of Health stated that the spike in Covid-19 cases would usually spike after the holiday season. The public needs to be vigilant, especially when facing the year 2023 after the Christmas and New Year holidays.

“We will see the exam at the beginning of next year,” said the Minister of Health as reported by the official website of the Ministry of Health