Experts fret over what follows Omicron

50-fold rise

The highest daily figure in the country appeared on Aug 20 with 25,992, about two weeks after the Tokyo Olympics ended amid the country's worst period in the fifth wave of infections.

In the past two weeks the daily count has risen 50-fold.

Indonesia reported 1,054 new cases on Saturday, the highest daily increase in three months, overwhelming medical facilities.

However, Bambang Wibowo, chairman of the Indonesian Hospital Association, said the country can cope with the third wave of the virus as long as the number of patients who must be treated does not exceed the capacity of hospital beds and medical workers.

In the hardest-hit United States, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has updated its guidance on masks for the public, recommending the use of N95 and KN95 masks because they offer the best protection against COVID-19.

Also, US citizens will be able to request free rapid coronavirus tests from the federal government beginning on Wednesday, but the tests will take seven to 12 days to arrive, officials have said.

"The delay in accepting orders and the lag in shipping mean that people are unlikely to receive the free tests until the end of January at the earliest," The New York Times said.

Omicron is posing a dire situation for migrants inside the US, the number of infections among immigrants detained at US Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention centers rising 520 percent since the start of the year.

Agencies - Xinhua