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

With the increasing rate of Omicron in Indonesia, currently 213 regencies/cities are aggressively conducting weekly suspect testing percentages above the national average. Data as of Saturday, February 19, 2022, shows the national average testing rate at 15.56 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 Pangandaran, Balangan, Simalungun, North Padang Lawas, and Samosir, with ratios of 53.45 percent, 51.98 percent, 51.38 percent, 48.11 percent, and 45.68 percent respectively.

Pangandaran is ranked first. With a population of 407,350, the weekly suspect testing percentage here is recorded at 53.45 percent. The latest positive rate is 5.64 percent. The positive rate in this region has increased compared to the previous week's ratio.

Next is Balangan. The population in this region is recorded at 134,580. In an effort to prevent the Covid-19 pandemic, the weekly suspect testing percentage is 51.98 percent. The positive rate in this region is recorded at 21.97 percent, or higher than the previous week's percentage.

Then, Simalungun recorded 51.38 percent testing, North Padang Lawas 48.11 percent, and Samosir 45.68 percent.

Anticipating the impact of Omicron in various regions, based on the national Covid data recapitulation, there are 278 regencies/cities in Indonesia actively reporting a higher weekly suspect testing percentage than before. Meanwhile, 115 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 Balangan, Simalungun, and North Padang Lawas, with weekly suspect testing percentages of 51.98 percent, 51.38 percent, and 48.11 percent respectively.

The government urges everyone 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 suppressing the spread of the coronavirus.