Indonesia Strengthens Early Detection to Face the Threat of XFG COVID-19
By: Rivka Mayangsari
The Indonesian government, through the Ministry of Health (Kemenkes), continues to strengthen its early detection system as a preventative measure against the emergence of a new COVID-19 variant, now known as XFG or Stratus. This variant was identified through the respiratory disease surveillance system implemented in various regions of Indonesia. This effort demonstrates the government’s commitment to responding to the changing dynamics of the pandemic with a scientific, strategic, and transparent approach.
Irma Suryani Chaniago, a member of Commission IX of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), urged the government to be vigilant against the new COVID-19 variant, called XFG or Stratus. This new variant is currently of concern to the World Health Organization (WHO). This variant is spreading rapidly in various countries. By the end of June 2025, it had been detected in more than 38 countries.
According to a Ministry of Health report, by May 2025, the XFG variant accounted for 75 percent of all monitored COVID-19 cases. This situation experienced a significant increase in June 2025, when XFG became the only variant detected in Indonesia, replacing previous variants such as XEN, which had contributed 25 percent of cases in May. XFG’s dominance is not limited to Indonesia. As of June 13, 2025, this variant had been detected in 130 countries, with the largest spread in Europe and Asia.
Despite its rapid spread, the Ministry of Health stated that the XFG variant is still categorized as low risk. The government urges the public to remain calm and not panic. However, vigilance must remain, especially for vulnerable groups such as toddlers and the elderly. Health protocols such as wearing masks in closed spaces, maintaining hand hygiene, and avoiding crowds remain recommended, especially in areas with high transmission rates.
In addition to XFG, attention is also focused on the global subvariant LF.7.9, which has now been identified in 41 countries, primarily in the Americas and Asia. The LF.7.9.1 and LP.7 subvariants are known to be similar to the JN.1 variant, which the World Health Organization (WHO) designated a Variant of Interest (VoI) in December 2023. Although not yet categorized as a variant of global concern, Indonesia continues to monitor developments closely.
The government’s commitment to handling this situation is reflected in consistent laboratory testing. Throughout 2025, the Ministry of Health recorded more than 12,000 specimens examined, with 291 positive cases. This figure represents a positivity rate of 2.26 percent. The largest proportion of cases were reported from Jakarta, East Java, Banten, West Java, South Sumatra, and the Special Region of Yogyakarta. Despite the increase in the XFG variant, data indicates that the severity of cases remains relatively mild.
As a preventative measure, the government is also utilizing the sentinel hospital system as a frontline measure to detect potential spikes in cases. Recent monitoring results show a positive trend: the proportion of COVID-19 cases treated in sentinel hospitals is decreasing. In fact, over the past two weeks, there have been no reported COVID-19 cases requiring treatment at these healthcare facilities.
However, attention remains focused on vulnerable age groups. In week 27 of 2025, toddlers (0–4 years old) and the productive age group (18–59 years old) accounted for the largest number of detected cases. Therefore, protecting these groups is a priority in mitigation measures.
Conversely, the trend in intensive care unit (ICU) hospitalizations indicates a relatively controlled situation. No COVID-19 cases have required ICU care in the past two months. This indicates that, although the XFG variant is dominant, its symptoms are relatively mild and have not caused a surge in severe cases as at the beginning of the pandemic.
The government’s efforts to maintain control of the situation also involve inter-agency collaboration and strengthened public communication. Accurate and transparent information continues to be disseminated through various official channels. The government wants to ensure that the public is not merely an object of protection, but also an aware subject who plays an active role in maintaining public health.
Enhancing early detection and epidemiological surveillance is one of the main strategies being pursued by the government. By expanding testing coverage and increasing laboratory capacity across Indonesia, the government hopes to detect new variants more quickly and respond to them before they spread widely in the community.
These measures are not merely reactive responses, but part of the post-pandemic transformation of the national health system. The government is promoting the digitalization of health data, human resource capacity building, and cross-sector collaboration to strengthen national health resilience.
