Top 10 Regencies/Cities with the Highest Percentage of Suspect Examinations per Week (Wednesday, October 19, 2022)

To suppress the spread of Covid-19 in regions, currently 148 districts/cities are aggressively conducting weekly suspect testing percentages above the national average. Data as of Wednesday, October 19, 2022, shows the national average testing rate at 10.55 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, Boven Digoel, Mandailing Natal, Tasikmalaya, and Pangandaran, with percentages of 93.84 percent, 83.15 percent, 81.54 percent, 75.98 percent, and 74.94 percent, respectively.

Simalungun is ranked first. With a population of 877,710, the weekly suspect testing percentage here is recorded at 93.84 percent. The latest positive rate is 3.78 percent. The positive rate in this region increased compared to the previous week's percentage.

Next is Boven Digoel. The population in this region is recorded at 71,134. In an effort to prevent the Covid-19 pandemic, the weekly suspect testing percentage is 83.15 percent. The positive rate in this region is recorded at 6.67 percent, which has decreased compared to the previous week's ratio.

Then, testing reached 81.54 percent in Mandailing Natal, 75.98 percent in Tasikmalaya, and the weekly suspect testing percentage in Pangandaran is recorded at 74.94 percent.

Anticipating the impact of Omicron in various regions, based on the national Covid data recapitulation, there are 189 districts/cities in Indonesia that actively report a higher daily weekly suspect testing percentage than before. Meanwhile, 156 other districts/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, Boven Digoel, and Mandailing Natal, with weekly suspect testing percentages of 93.84 percent, 83.15 percent, and 81.54 percent, respectively.

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