Top 10 Regencies/Cities with the Highest Percentage of Suspect Examinations per Week (Week of October 9, 2022)

Anticipating the impact of the continuously rising Omicron variant, 159 regencies/cities aggressively conducted suspect testing, with a weekly percentage exceeding the national average. Data from Sunday, October 9, 2022, shows the national average testing rate at 11.07 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, then reported to the Ministry of Health.

The top five, starting with the highest weekly suspect testing percentage, are Simalungun (93.82%), Mandailing Natal (81.53%), Banggai Laut (81.25%), Tasikmalaya (81.07%), and Pangandaran (78.62%).

Simalungun ranks first. With a population of 877,710, its weekly suspect testing percentage is recorded at 93.82 percent. The latest positive rate is 1.09 percent. The positive rate in this region has decreased compared to the previous week's ratio.

Next is Mandailing Natal. The population of this region is 460,360. In an effort to prevent the COVID-19 pandemic, the weekly suspect testing percentage is 81.53 percent. The positive rate in this region is recorded at 0 percent, having decreased compared to the previous week's percentage.

Furthermore, Banggai Laut recorded 81.25 percent, Tasikmalaya 81.07 percent, and Pangandaran 78.62 percent in weekly suspect testing percentages.

Anticipating the impact of Omicron in various regions, based on a recapitulation of national COVID data, 168 regencies/cities in Indonesia actively reported a higher daily weekly suspect testing percentage than before. Meanwhile, 158 other regencies/cities recorded a lower weekly suspect testing percentage compared to the previous week.

Regions outside Java with the highest weekly suspect testing percentage ratios include Simalungun, Mandailing Natal, and Banggai Laut, with weekly suspect testing percentages of 93.82 percent, 81.53 percent, and 81.25 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.