ENTRE News – The Ministry of Health or Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia (RI) confirmed that the corona virus (Covid-19) subvariants KP.1 and KP.2 which caused the spike in cases in Singapore have not been found in Indonesia. Spokesperson for the Ministry of Health, Mohammad Syahril, said that according to him, the Covid-19 KP variant was also detected in Malaysia, Thailand and Cambodia. Meanwhile in Indonesia, he reiterated that the KP variant had not been found. Syahril said that KP.1 and KP.2 are subvariants derived from Omicron JN.1. Globally, the JN.1 subvariant dominates in most countries or 54.3 percent.
“Until May 2024, Covid-19 cases circulating in Indonesia are dominated by the Omicron subvariants JN.1.1, JN.1, and JN.1.39. As for the KP subvariant, it has not been found,” said Syahril, quoted from the official website of the Ministry of Health, Thursday (23/ 5).
Syahril continued that as of May 3 2024, the World Health Organization (WHO) has classified KP.2 as a variant under monitoring. However, so far Syahril said there was no indication that the KP.1 and KP.2 variants were more easily transmitted or caused severity than other Covid-19 variants.
“There is no indication, either globally or locally in Singapore, that these two subvariants are more contagious or more capable of causing serious illness, compared to other variants,” he explained.
Even so, according to him, the Indonesian government remains vigilant about the spread of this subvariant considering that Singapore has recorded quite high numbers of Covid-19 cases. It was reported that in the period 28 April-4 May 2024, Covid-19 cases in Singapore amounted to 13,700 cases. However, cases jumped to 25,900 cases in the period 5-11 May 2024. In addition, the average number of cases admitted to hospital in Singapore increased from 181 cases (18th week) to 250 cases (19th week).
However, the average number of cases admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) daily remains low, namely 3 cases (19th week) and 2 cases (18th week). Therefore, as a neighboring country, according to him, the government has prepared a number of mitigations to deal with the transmission of the Covid-19 subvariant FOR4D.
“Efforts that have been prepared are that hospitals have early warning in bed conversion, have backup staff, ready health supplies such as oxygen, medicines and vaccinations, especially for at-risk groups,” said Syahril.