Virus takes toll on diabetics

AUTHORITIES have revealed that a recent surge of Covid-19 infections tied to the highly contagious Omicron variant had an especially devastating impact on millions of Indonesians with diabetes, with the chronic illness being the most common comorbidity associated with coronavirus deaths in the past two months.

Despite Omicron’s perceived milder symptoms, some 4,200 people nationwide have died since the Omicron-fuelled wave struck Indonesia in early January, with some 46% having underlying medical conditions, according to Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Minister Luhut Panjaitan.