Top 10 Regencies/Cities with the Highest Percentage of Suspect Examinations per Week (Week of September 18, 2022)

To curb the spread of COVID-19 in regions, 157 regencies/cities are aggressively conducting weekly suspect testing exceeding the national average. Data from the week of September 18, 2022, shows a national average of 10.87 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 suspect testing percentage, are Simalungun (91.87%), Mandailing Natal (78.66%), Banggai Kepulauan (78.57%), Pangandaran (77.85%), and Tasikmalaya (72.08%).

Simalungun ranks first. With a population of 877,710, its weekly suspect testing percentage is 91.87 percent. The latest positive rate is 4.33 percent, lower than the previous week.

Next is Mandailing Natal. With a population of 460,360, its weekly suspect testing percentage is 78.66 percent. The positive rate is 0.36 percent, also lower than the previous week.

Following is Banggai Kepulauan, with a population of 119,720, and a weekly suspect testing percentage of 78.57 percent. Pangandaran recorded a weekly suspect testing percentage of 77.85 percent, and Tasikmalaya recorded 72.08 percent.

In anticipation of the Omicron impact across various regions, based on national COVID-19 data, 175 regencies/cities in Indonesia actively reported higher weekly suspect testing percentages than before. Meanwhile, 156 other regencies/cities recorded lower weekly suspect testing percentages compared to the previous week.

Regions outside Java with the highest weekly suspect testing percentages include Simalungun, Mandailing Natal, and Banggai Kepulauan, with percentages of 91.87 percent, 78.66 percent, and 78.57 percent, respectively.

Although COVID-19 transmission has decreased in some areas, the government urges everyone to continue reducing COVID-19 transmission by consistently wearing masks, maintaining physical distance, and frequently washing hands with soap and running water. Avoiding crowds and reducing mobility also contribute to curbing the spread of the coronavirus.