In the midst of our daily lives that are getting used to the "new normal", staying vigilant is a must during the Covid-19 pandemic. This is because the pandemic is still not over. Even though the Covid-19 case had been sloping, it turned out that we had to face the Omicron variant, which spread faster in early 2022.
First discovered in South Africa, the Omicron variant, which spreads three times faster than the Delta variant, began to enter Indonesia in December 2021. Now the number of cases of the Omicron variant is increasing day by day. As of January 30, 2022, in Jakarta there were 1,581 cases from Foreign Travel Actors (PPLN) and 1,311 cases from non-PPLN or local transmissions.
Although the symptoms it causes are reported to be milder than the Delta variant, the high spread rate of the Omicron variant requires extra attention and vigilance. Generally, a person infected with this variant has flu-like symptoms. So how do we detect and distinguish them?
How to Detect Omicron Symptoms
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States revealed that the general symptoms of Covid-19 that can be found in various variants are fever, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, body aches, headache, anosmia, sore throat, runny nose, vomiting, and diarrhea. These symptoms may arise with different variations in each person. In the Delta variant, the common symptoms found are anosmia or loss of the ability to smell and taste, while in the Omicron variant, flu-like symptoms are more common, such as runny nose, headache, and sore throat.
So, the way to detect whether we are infected with the Omicron variant of Covid-19 is to check whether we have these symptoms or not. If we feel these symptoms, take a safe step by checking ourselves through a PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test, to determine whether we are really infected with Covid-19 or not. If we don't feel any symptoms, but we are in close contact with a positive person for Covid-19, also do a PCR test. By knowing whether we are really infected or not, we can take appropriate action so that this variant does not spread to those closest to us.
If We Are Infected With Omicron Variants
If you feel flu-like symptoms or other Covid-19 symptoms, immediately take a PCR test and self-isolate until the test results come out. If it turns out that we have been detected as positive for Covid-19, immediately report to the nearest Puskesmas and call 112 for further directions.
If the symptoms are mild, we can self-isolate and self-medicate at home, with the direction of health workers from the Puskesmas. Generally, there are no specific drugs to treat the Omicron variant of Covid-19. The drugs prescribed are medicines for the flu, so that the symptoms felt are reduced. We must make sure to eat nutritious food during the self-isolation period, so that our bodies get better quickly. In addition, make sure we and our families at home implement strict health protocols, so that the virus is not transmitted and our bodies recover soon.
Prevention is Better
Although the symptoms caused by the Omicron variant are relatively mild, its infectious nature and easily spread can increase the number of people who have to self-isolate, even those who have to be hospitalized. This of course will greatly affect the limited capacity of hospitals, in addition to causing a domino effect of economic and social. Therefore, prevention so that this variant does not spread quickly must continue to be pursued.
One of the most important prevention methods is vaccination. Vaccination is proven to be able to create immunity to the body against Covid-19 or make the symptoms very minimal. Especially with the provision of a booster vaccine that began earlier this year, to increase the body's better protection. Studies show that booster vaccines can provide 88% protection, so that a person is not hospitalized. Jakarta residents who have received a booster vaccine e-ticket can register easily through JAKI.
We should never slack off to apply the 6M (wearing masks, washing hands, maintaining distance, staying away from crowds, traveling less, and avoiding eating together). In addition, let's report violations of PPKM (Implementation of Community Activity Restrictions), such as crowds not wearing masks around us, through Smartcitizen's super app, JAKI.
Our struggle against the Covid-19 pandemic is not over. That's why it's important for us to take care of each other, so that Covid-19 doesn't spread and infect those closest to us.
112