Top 10 Regencies/Cities with the Highest Percentage of Suspect Examinations per Week (Week of August 14, 2022)

To curb the spread of COVID-19 in regions, 173 regencies/cities are aggressively conducting weekly suspect testing exceeding the national average. Data from the week of August 14, 2022, shows a national average of 7.78 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 (86.69%), Mandailing Natal (78.45%), Pangandaran (75.48%), Pringsewu (63.26%), and Tasikmalaya (54.27%).

Simalungun ranks first. With a population of 877,710, its weekly suspect testing percentage is 86.69 percent. The latest positive rate is 6.73 percent. The positive rate in this region increased compared to the previous week's ratio.

Next is Mandailing Natal. This region has a population of 460,360. In efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, the weekly suspect testing percentage is 78.45 percent. The positive rate in this region is 0 percent, a decrease from the previous week's percentage.

Pangandaran recorded 75.48 percent, Pringsewu 63.26 percent, and Tasikmalaya 54.27 percent for weekly suspect testing percentages.

Anticipating the impact of Omicron in various regions, based on a recapitulation of national COVID-19 data, 216 regencies/cities in Indonesia actively reported higher weekly suspect testing percentages than before. Meanwhile, 136 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 Pringsewu, with percentages of 86.69 percent, 78.45 percent, and 63.26 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.