Top 10 Regencies/Cities with the Highest Percentage of Suspect Examinations per Week (Thursday, February 16, 2023)

Anticipating the impact of the continuously rising Omicron variant, 143 regencies/cities aggressively conducted suspect testing, with a weekly percentage exceeding the national average. Data as of Thursday, February 16, 2023, shows the national average testing rate at 7.67 percent. This suspect testing data is calculated based on the number of suspected cases and close contacts compared to the total number of people tested in each region, then reported to the Ministry of Health.

The top five, starting from the highest, are Mandailing Natal, Bima City, Simalungun, Kubu Raya, and Padang Lawas, with ratios of 89.44 percent, 83.33 percent, 70.32 percent, 58.98 percent, and 56.76 percent, respectively.

Mandailing Natal ranks first. With a population of 463,910, the weekly suspect testing percentage is 89.44 percent. The latest positive rate is 0 percent. The positive rate in this region has decreased compared to the previous week.

Next is Bima City. The region's population is 191,790. In an effort to prevent the Covid-19 pandemic, the weekly suspect testing percentage is 83.33 percent. The positive rate in this region is 0 percent, also down from the previous week.

Following this is Simalungun, with a population of 880,300, recording a weekly suspect testing percentage of 70.32 percent; Kubu Raya with 58.98 percent; and Padang Lawas with 56.76 percent.

In anticipating the impact of Omicron in various regions, based on the national Covid data recapitulation, there are 23 regencies/cities in Indonesia actively reporting a higher weekly percentage of suspect testing than before. Meanwhile, 20 other regencies/cities recorded a lower weekly suspect testing percentage compared to the previous week.

Some of the regions outside Java with the highest weekly suspect testing percentage ratios include Mandailing Natal, Bima City, and Simalungun, with weekly suspect testing percentages of 89.44 percent, 83.33 percent, and 70.32 percent, respectively.

Although Covid-19 transmission has decreased in some areas, the government urges everyone to continue 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 spread of the coronavirus.