Top 10 Regencies/Cities with the Highest Percentage of Suspect Examinations per Week (Monday, January 16, 2023)

Unwilling to be caught off guard and continuing efforts to curb the spread of Covid-19, currently 144 regencies/cities are aggressively conducting weekly suspect examination percentages above the national average. Data as of Monday, January 16, 2023, shows the national average examination rate at 7.86 percent. This suspect examination data is calculated based on the number of suspected individuals and close contacts compared to the number of people examined in each region, which is then reported to the Ministry of Health.

The top five, starting from the highest weekly suspect examination percentage, are Mandailing Natal (75.96%), Simalungun (71.59%), Tidore Islands City (70.37%), Boven Digoel (64%), and Kubu Raya (59.38%).

Mandailing Natal is ranked first. With a population of 463,910, the weekly suspect examination percentage here is recorded at 75.96 percent. The latest positive rate is 0 percent. The positive rate in this region has decreased compared to the previous week's percentage.

Next is Simalungun. The population in this region is recorded at 880,300. In an effort to prevent the Covid-19 pandemic, the weekly suspect examination percentage is 71.59 percent. The positive rate in this region is recorded at 1.87 percent, which has also decreased compared to the previous week's percentage.

Then, Tidore Islands City, with a population of 102,120, has a recorded weekly suspect examination percentage of 70.37 percent; Boven Digoel, with a population of 72,236, has a recorded weekly suspect examination percentage of 64 percent; and Kubu Raya has a 59.38 percent examination rate.

Anticipating the impact of Omicron in various regions, based on the recapitulation of national Covid data, there are 140 regencies/cities in Indonesia that actively report a higher daily weekly suspect examination percentage than before. Meanwhile, 137 other regencies/cities recorded a lower weekly suspect examination percentage compared to the previous week's examination.

Areas outside Java with the highest weekly suspect examination percentage ratio include Mandailing Natal, Simalungun, and Tidore Islands City, with weekly suspect examination percentages of 75.96 percent, 71.59 percent, and 70.37 percent, respectively.

Although Covid-19 transmission in some areas has decreased, 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.