Anticipating the impact of the continuously rising Omicron variant, 158 regencies/cities aggressively conducted COVID-19 tests above the national average. Data as of Saturday, August 6, 2022, shows a national average of 0.96 tests per 1,000 people per week.
The top five, starting from the highest, are South Jakarta, Central Jakarta, South Tangerang, East Jakarta, and Balikpapan, with respective figures of 10.58, 10.04, 7.5, 6.77, and 6.44 tests per 1,000 people per week.
South Jakarta ranks first, with 10.58 tests per 1,000 people per week. The latest positive rate is 15.42 percent, down from the previous week.
Next is Central Jakarta, with a population of 913,720. In an effort to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, 10.04 tests per 1,000 people per week were conducted. The positive rate is 14.73 percent, also down from the previous week.
Furthermore, East Jakarta recorded 6.77 tests per 1,000 people per week, while Balikpapan, with a population of 646,020, recorded 6.44 tests per 1,000 people per week.
Anticipating the impact of Omicron in various regions, based on a recapitulation of national COVID-19 data, 252 regencies/cities in Indonesia actively reported a higher number of daily tests than before. Meanwhile, 95 other regencies/cities recorded a lower number of tests compared to the previous week.
Areas outside Java with the highest number of tests include Balikpapan, Badung, and Mimika, with 6.44, 5.76, and 4.55 tests per 1,000 people respectively.
Although COVID-19 transmission has decreased in some areas, the government urges everyone to continue reducing transmission by consistently 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.