INDONESIA’S Health Ministry has detected the country’s first case of locally transmitted Omicron in a man from Medan.

The 37-year-old man and his wife arrived in Jakarta on December 6. The couple had visited Ashta District 8 Mall in Sudirman Central Business District, South Jakarta, on December 17.

The Health Ministry is currently conducting thorough contact tracing in the area to stop the variant from spreading, said ministry spokesman Dr Siti Nadia Tarmidzi.

She said the man, who is asymptomatic, has no overseas travel history, adding that he is now isolated at a hospital.

She said he tested positive on December 19, while his wife tested negative. The sample was sent to a lab and found to be positive for Omicron on December 26.

Indonesia has recorded 47 Omicron cases now, of which 46 are imported. – Bernama, December 28, 2021.