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

With the increasing rate of Omicron in Indonesia, 164 regencies/cities are aggressively conducting weekly suspect testing percentages above the national average. Data as of Wednesday, September 14, 2022, shows the national average testing rate at 10.19 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 with the highest weekly suspect testing percentage, are Simalungun (91.2%), Tidore Islands City (87.73%), Pangandaran (81.38%), Mandailing Natal (80.32%), and Banggai Islands (76.14%).

Simalungun ranks first. With a population of 877,710, the weekly suspect testing percentage is recorded at 91.2 percent. The latest positive rate is 9.7 percent. The positive rate in this region has decreased compared to the previous week's percentage.

Next is Tidore Islands City. The population of this region is recorded at 101,620. In an effort to counter the Covid-19 pandemic, the weekly suspect testing percentage is 87.73 percent. The positive rate in this region is recorded at 28.57 percent, an increase compared to the previous week's ratio.

Furthermore, the weekly suspect testing percentage in Pangandaran is recorded at 81.38 percent. Mandailing Natal, with a population of 460,360, recorded a weekly suspect testing percentage of 80.32 percent, while Banggai Islands recorded 76.14 percent.

In anticipation of the impact of Omicron in various regions, based on the national Covid data recapitulation, there are 186 regencies/cities in Indonesia that actively report a higher daily weekly suspect testing percentage than before. Meanwhile, 159 other regencies/cities recorded a lower weekly suspect testing percentage compared to the previous week's testing.

Some of the regions outside Java with the highest weekly suspect testing percentages include Simalungun, Tidore Islands City, and Mandailing Natal, with weekly suspect testing percentages of 91.2 percent, 87.73 percent, and 80.32 percent, respectively.

Although Covid-19 transmission has decreased in some areas, the government urges everyone to continue to reduce 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 rate of coronavirus transmission.