As of early June 2025, Indonesia has reported 7 new COVID-19 cases. Although the number is still relatively low, Indonesian health authorities are urging people to stay alert given the increasing cases in neighboring countries.
According to Indonesia’s Ministry of Health, the dominant variant in the country is MB.1.1, a contagious XEC variant, found in Thailand, has not been detected in Indonesia.
Dr. Erlina Burhan from the Indonesian Society of Pulmonologists (PDPI) emphasized:
“There’s no need to panic,” said Dr. Erlina Burhan from the Indonesian Society of Pulmonologists, “but we do need to stay alert and protect those most at risk.” (CNN Indonesia, 2025)
COVID-19 Cases Rising Across Southeast Asia
Several Asian countries have experienced notable increasing cases in COVID-19:
- Thailand: Reported 69,200 cases to the World Health Organization (WHO) during a recent period, mostly due to the XEC variant.
- Singapore: Weekly cases increased from 11,100 to 14,200 in early May. increase in JN.1 and its sub variants.
- Malaysia: Reported a significant rise in cases, prompting health authorities to reinforce preventive measures. A mix of JN.1 and other Omicron variants.
- Hong Kong, Philippines, India: Observed a surge in cases, with health officials attributing it to the spread of new Omicron sub variants.
Health officials say the recent rise is likely caused by weakened immunity, relaxed public behavior, and the spread of new sub variants..
While Indonesia’s COVID-19 situation remains stable, the regional surge highlights the importance of staying cautious and following health protocols.
What To Do as COVID-19 Cases Increase
If you’re living in or travelling through Indonesia:
- You’re not in a high-risk zone right now, but stay informed
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- The MB.1.1 variant, though transmissible, is causing mostly mild, flu-like symptoms
- Different variants are circulating in neighboring countries, so regional travel might involve more risk.
- Maintain healthy habits and check for vaccine updates, especially if you’re in close contact with elderly people or those with underlying health conditions.
As one of our authors wrote recently, “Indonesia remains free of the XEC variant, but southeast asia is on alert.” The good news is that Indonesia is responding early, and you can do too by staying prepared without panic.
Sources: Detik Health, Detik News, CNN. Featured Image
