Top 10 Regencies/Cities with the Highest Percentage of Suspect Examinations per Week (Monday, September 5, 2022)

Anticipating the impact of the continuously rising Omicron variant, 164 regencies/cities aggressively conducted suspect testing, with a weekly percentage exceeding the national average. Data from Monday, September 5, 2022, shows the national average testing rate at 10.74 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 Simalungun, Mandailing Natal, Padang Lawas, Pangandaran, and Lombok Timur, with ratios of 89.87 percent, 81.12 percent, 80 percent, 78.06 percent, and 68.44 percent, respectively.

Simalungun ranks first. With a population of 877,710, the weekly suspect testing percentage is recorded at 89.87 percent. The latest positive rate is 10.77 percent. The positive rate in this region increased compared to the previous week's ratio.

Next is Mandailing Natal. The population of this region is recorded at 460,360. In an effort to counter the Covid-19 pandemic, the weekly suspect testing percentage is 81.12 percent. The positive rate in this region is recorded at 0 percent, having decreased compared to the previous week's percentage.

Furthermore, the weekly suspect testing percentage in Padang Lawas is recorded at 80 percent, 78.06 percent in Pangandaran, and 68.44 percent in Lombok Timur.

Anticipating the impact of Omicron in various regions, based on the national Covid data recapitulation, there are 211 regencies/cities in Indonesia actively reporting a higher weekly percentage of suspect testing than before. Meanwhile, 139 other regencies/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, with weekly suspect testing percentages of 89.87 percent, 81.12 percent, and 80 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 suppressing the spread of the coronavirus.