Top 10 Regencies/Cities with the Highest Percentage of Suspect Examinations per Week (Saturday, May 21, 2022)

To curb the spread of Covid-19 in regions, 131 regencies/cities are currently aggressively conducting weekly suspect testing exceeding the national average. Data as of Saturday, May 21, 2022, shows the national average testing rate at 4.61 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 from the highest, are Simalungun, Pangandaran, Mandailing Natal, Padang Lawas Utara, and Balangan, with ratios of 81.77 percent, 81.52 percent, 64.06 percent, 51.3 percent, and 41.92 percent, respectively.

Simalungun ranks first. With a population of 877,710, its weekly suspect testing percentage is recorded at 81.77 percent. The latest positive rate is 0.11 percent. The positive rate in this region has decreased compared to the previous week's ratio.

Next is Pangandaran. The population of this region is 407,350. In an effort to counter the Covid-19 pandemic, the weekly suspect testing percentage is 81.52 percent. The positive rate in this region is recorded at 0 percent, having decreased compared to the previous week's ratio.

Furthermore, the weekly suspect testing percentage in Mandailing Natal is recorded at 64.06 percent, 51.3 percent in Padang Lawas Utara, and 41.92 percent in Balangan.

Anticipating the impact of Omicron in various regions, based on a recapitulation of national Covid data, there are 236 regencies/cities in Indonesia actively reporting higher weekly suspect testing percentages than before. Meanwhile, 122 other regencies/cities recorded lower weekly suspect testing percentages compared to the previous week.

Some of the regions outside Java with the highest weekly suspect testing percentages include Simalungun, Mandailing Natal, and Padang Lawas Utara, with weekly suspect testing percentages of 81.77 percent, 64.06 percent, and 51.3 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 curbing the spread of the coronavirus.