Top 10 Regencies/Cities with the Highest Percentage of Suspect Examinations per Week (Monday, October 24, 2022)

With the increasing rate of Omicron in Indonesia, currently 163 regencies/cities are aggressively conducting weekly suspect testing percentages above the national average. Data as of Monday, October 24, 2022, shows the national average testing rate at 11.42 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, which is then reported to the Ministry of Health.

The top five, starting from the highest, are Simalungun, Boven Digoel, Mandailing Natal, Tidore Islands City, and Tasikmalaya, with ratios of 94.01 percent, 82.24 percent, 82.08 percent, 81.25 percent, and 79.31 percent, respectively.

Simalungun is ranked first. With a population of 877,710, the weekly suspect testing percentage here is recorded at 94.01 percent. The latest positive rate is 4.73 percent. The positive rate in this region has increased compared to the previous week's ratio.

Next is Boven Digoel. The population in this region is recorded at 71,134. In an effort to counter the Covid-19 pandemic, the weekly suspect testing percentage is 82.24 percent. The positive rate in this region is recorded at 0 percent, having decreased compared to the previous week's ratio.

Then, Mandailing Natal, with a population of 460,360, recorded a weekly suspect testing percentage of 82.08 percent; Tidore Islands City recorded 81.25 percent; and Tasikmalaya recorded 79.31 percent.

Anticipating the impact of Omicron in various regions, based on the national Covid data recapitulation, there are 184 regencies/cities in Indonesia that actively report a higher daily weekly suspect testing percentage than before. Meanwhile, 159 other regencies/cities recorded a lower weekly suspect testing percentage compared to the previous week's testing.

Some of the regions outside Java with the highest weekly suspect testing percentage ratios include Simalungun, Boven Digoel, and Mandailing Natal, with weekly suspect testing percentages of 94.01 percent, 82.24 percent, and 82.08 percent, respectively.

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