Top 10 Regencies/Cities with the Highest Percentage of Suspect Examinations per Week (Week of March 19, 2023)

Unwilling to be caught off guard and continuing efforts to curb the spread of Covid-19, currently 137 regencies/cities are aggressively conducting weekly suspect examination percentages above the national average. Data for the week of March 19, 2023, shows the national average examination rate at 7.27 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, are Mandailing Natal, Boven Digoel, Bima City, Simalungun, and Asahan, with ratios of 82.14 percent, 81.25 percent, 73.02 percent, 58.33 percent, and 55 percent respectively.

Mandailing Natal is ranked first. With a population of 463,910, the weekly suspect examination percentage here is recorded at 82.14 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 Boven Digoel. The population of this region is recorded at 72,236. In an effort to prevent the Covid-19 pandemic, the weekly suspect examination percentage is 81.25 percent. The positive rate in this region is recorded at 50 percent, an increase compared to the previous week's percentage.

Then, Bima City recorded 73.02 percent for weekly suspect examination percentage; Simalungun recorded 58.33 percent; and Asahan recorded 55 percent.

Anticipating the impact of Omicron in various regions, based on a recapitulation of national Covid data, there are 128 regencies/cities in Indonesia that actively report a higher weekly suspect examination percentage than before. Meanwhile, 101 other regencies/cities recorded a lower weekly suspect examination percentage compared to the previous week.

Regions outside Java with the highest weekly suspect examination percentage ratios include Mandailing Natal, Boven Digoel, and Bima City, with weekly suspect examination percentages of 82.14 percent, 81.25 percent, and 73.02 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.