Top 10 Regencies/Cities with the Highest Percentage of Suspect Examinations per Week (Week of May 22, 2022)

Unwilling to be caught off guard and continuing efforts to curb the spread of Covid-19, currently 136 districts/cities are aggressively conducting weekly suspect testing percentages above the national average. Data for the week of May 22, 2022, shows the national average testing rate at 4.74 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 Pangandaran, Simalungun, Mandailing Natal, Padang Lawas Utara, and Balangan, with ratios of 82.61 percent, 81.98 percent, 64.18 percent, 53.01 percent, and 43.01 percent respectively.

Pangandaran is ranked first. With a population of 407,350, the weekly suspect testing percentage is recorded at 82.61 percent. The latest positive rate is 0 percent. The positive rate in this region has decreased compared to the previous week's ratio.

Next is Simalungun. The population in this region is recorded at 877,710. In an effort to prevent the Covid-19 pandemic, the weekly suspect testing percentage is 81.98 percent. The positive rate in this region is recorded at 0.12 percent, which has decreased compared to the previous week's percentage.

Then, Mandailing Natal recorded 64.18 percent testing, Padang Lawas Utara 53.01 percent, and Balangan 43.01 percent.

Anticipating the impact of Omicron in various regions, based on the recapitulation of national Covid data, there are 247 districts/cities in Indonesia that actively report a higher weekly suspect testing percentage than before. Meanwhile, 109 other districts/cities recorded a lower weekly suspect testing percentage compared to the previous week.

Some of the regions outside Java with the highest weekly suspect testing percentage ratios include Simalungun, Mandailing Natal, and Padang Lawas Utara, with weekly suspect testing percentages of 81.98 percent, 64.18 percent, and 53.01 percent respectively.

Although Covid-19 transmission has decreased in some areas, the government urges everyone to continue to participate in 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.