Highly transmissible Delta Plus overshadows Indonesia reopening plan

International flight passengers queue for check-in at Terminal 3 of Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, Banten, on Sept. 12. Airport authorities have been screening passengers to prevent the spread of Covid-19. - Jakarta Post/ANN

JAKARTA, Nov 14 (Jakarta Post/ANN): The recent discovery in neighbouring Malaysia and Singapore of a new subtype of the highly transmissible Delta variant of the coronavirus has rung alarm bells in Indonesia, which is on track to further reopen itself to the world.

Fears of a new wave of infection driven by AY.4.2, also known as Delta Plus, which is believed to be slightly more transmissible compared with the original Delta variant, came as Indonesia began to gradually ease Covid-19 curbs and reopen its borders for international arrivals.