Jakarta. Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin on Tuesday confirmed a recent rise in COVID-19 cases in Indonesia but said the public should not panic, as the current variants are not considered deadly.

According to the Health Ministry, a range of new subvariants are driving surges across Asia: XEC and JN.1 in Thailand, LF.7 and NB.1.8 in Singapore, JN.1 in Hong Kong, and XEC in Malaysia. In Indonesia, the MB.1.1 subvariant is currently dominant, though weekly case numbers have dropped from 28 to just three.

“These are relatively non-lethal variants,” Budi said. “So there’s no need for excessive concern. We want to avoid unnecessary panic.”

The government has issued an advisory letter instructing all regional health agencies to heighten monitoring and reinforce preventive measures, as several neighboring countries experience spikes in COVID-19 cases.

“The Health Ministry has issued guidance to all local health offices across Indonesia,” said Hasan Nasbi, head of the Presidential Communication Office (PCO). “We are aware that countries like Thailand, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Singapore are seeing rising infections again, and we want to stay alert.”

Hasan said Indonesia is also recording new domestic cases. The country reported a 3.68 percent positivity rate, meaning that nearly four out of every 100 people tested were confirmed positive.

“This positivity rate reflects the need to stay cautious,” he said.

To curb further spread, the government is encouraging the public to resume basic health protocols, including regular handwashing, mask-wearing in crowded or enclosed spaces, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and recognizing early symptoms such as headaches, sore throats, and flu-like conditions. Immediate medical attention is advised for suspected cases.

“Indonesia is in a better position compared to other countries, and current case levels are manageable,” Hasan said. “But vigilance is mandatory. We’ve been through this before, and we know how quickly the situation can escalate.”

Indonesia remains one of the countries most affected by the pandemic, having recorded over 160,000 deaths. A devastating wave driven by the Delta variant in 2021 led to overwhelmed hospitals and daily death tolls exceeding 2,000. Since then, robust vaccination campaigns and adherence to health protocols have significantly curbed the virus’s spread.