Top 10 Regencies/Cities with the Highest Percentage of Suspect Examinations per Week (Monday, February 20, 2023)

Anticipating the impact of the continuously rising Omicron variant transmission, 152 regencies/cities aggressively conducted suspect testing, with a weekly percentage exceeding the national average. Data from Monday, February 20, 2023, shows the national average testing rate at 7.36 percent. This suspect testing data is calculated based on the number of suspected individuals and close contacts compared to the total number of people tested in each region, which is then reported to the Ministry of Health.

The top five, starting with the highest weekly percentage of suspect testing, are Mandailing Natal (84.55%), Simalungun (76.34%), Bima City (74.19%), Fakfak (63.33%), and Simeulue (50%).

Mandailing Natal ranks first. With a population of 463,910, the weekly percentage of suspect testing is recorded at 84.55 percent. The latest positive rate is 0 percent. The positive rate in this region has decreased compared to the previous week's percentage.

Next is Simalungun. The population of this region is recorded at 880,300. In an effort to prevent the COVID-19 pandemic, the weekly percentage of suspect testing is 76.34 percent. The positive rate in this region is recorded at 0 percent, having also decreased compared to the previous week's ratio.

Furthermore, the weekly percentage of suspect testing in Bima City is 74.19 percent, in Fakfak it is 63.33 percent, and in Simeulue it is 50 percent.

In anticipating the impact of Omicron in various regions, based on the national COVID-19 data recapitulation, there are 120 regencies/cities in Indonesia actively reporting a higher weekly percentage of suspect testing than before. Meanwhile, 118 other regencies/cities recorded a lower weekly percentage of suspect testing compared to the previous week.

Some of the regions outside Java with the highest weekly percentage of suspect testing include Mandailing Natal, Simalungun, and Bima City, with weekly percentages of 84.55 percent, 76.34 percent, and 74.19 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.