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Delta variant behind Indonesia’s recent COVID-19 surge, officials say
Health Ministry spokeswoman Siti Nadia Tarmizi said on Tuesday that authorities had found 145 samples containing any one of three variants of concern.
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A worker sprays disinfectant on the drivers of a bus carrying COVID-19 patients at the repurposed Donohudan haj dormitory in Boyolali, Central Java, on June 7. (Antara/Aloysius Jarot Nugroho)
The recent surge of COVID-19 cases in the country has most likely been caused by the Delta variant of the coronavirus, which was first detected in India, government health authorities have said.
The widespread presence of the variant was noted by Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin on Monday. He said it had been detected in samples taken in Jakarta; Kudus, Central Java; and Bangkalan, East Java.
Health Ministry spokeswoman Siti Nadia Tarmizi said on Tuesday that authorities had found, through a whole-genome sequencing effort conducted in 12 provinces, 145 samples containing any one of three variants of concern.
Of the 145 samples, 104 contained the Delta variant, 36 contained the Alpha variant, and 5 contained the Beta variant.
These strains represent three of the four variants of concern flagged by the World Health Organization (WHO). The Alpha variant was first discovered in the United Kingdom, and the Beta variant was first discovered in South Africa.
Several studies have found that the Delta variant’s mutations may increase its transmissibility and make it resistant to antibodies generated by some vaccinations, although several vaccines are known to be effective against the variant.
