With the increasing rate of Omicron in Indonesia, currently 161 regencies/cities are aggressively conducting weekly suspect testing percentages above the national average. Data as of Thursday, September 15, 2022, shows the national average testing rate at 10.32 percent. This suspect testing data is calculated based on the number of suspected individuals and close contacts compared to the number of people tested in each region, which is then reported to the Ministry of Health.
The top five, starting from the highest, are Simalungun, Tidore Islands City, Pangandaran, Mandailing Natal, and Banggai Islands, with ratios of 91.78 percent, 84.72 percent, 80.56 percent, 79.39 percent, and 77.27 percent respectively.
Simalungun is ranked first. With a population of 877,710, the weekly suspect testing percentage here is recorded at 91.78 percent. The latest positive rate is 8.47 percent. The positive rate in this region has decreased compared to the previous week's percentage.
Next is Tidore Islands City. The population in this region is recorded at 101,620. In an effort to combat the Covid-19 pandemic, the weekly suspect testing percentage is 84.72 percent. The positive rate in this region is recorded at 23.08 percent, or higher than the previous week's ratio.
Then, Pangandaran, with a population of 407,350, recorded a weekly suspect testing percentage of 80.56 percent; Mandailing Natal recorded 79.39 percent; and Banggai Islands recorded 77.27 percent for weekly suspect testing percentage.
Anticipating the impact of Omicron in various regions, based on the national Covid data recapitulation, there are 60 regencies/cities in Indonesia that actively report a higher daily weekly suspect testing percentage than before. Meanwhile, 51 other regencies/cities recorded a lower weekly suspect testing percentage compared to the previous week's testing.
Some of the regions outside Java with the highest weekly suspect testing percentage ratios include Simalungun, Tidore Islands City, and Mandailing Natal, with weekly suspect testing percentages of 91.78 percent, 84.72 percent, and 79.39 percent respectively.
Although Covid-19 transmission in some areas has decreased, the government urges everyone to continue to participate in reducing Covid-19 transmission by always wearing masks, maintaining distance, and frequently washing hands with soap and running water. Avoiding crowds and reducing mobility also contribute to suppressing the rate of coronavirus transmission.