Top 10 Regencies/Cities with the Highest Percentage of Weekly Individuals Tested (Thursday, March 16, 2023)

Anticipating the impact of the continuously rising Omicron variant, 87 regencies/cities aggressively conducted testing, exceeding the national average weekly percentage of people tested. Data as of Thursday, March 16, 2023, shows the national average testing rate at 9.09 percent. This testing achievement data is calculated based on the number of people tested compared to each region's weekly target, which is then reported to the Ministry of Health.

The top five, starting from the highest, are Indragiri Hulu, Balikpapan City, Purwakarta, Central Halmahera, and Kutai Kartanegara, with ratios of 340.85 percent, 242.7 percent, 215.75 percent, 174.22 percent, and 125.28 percent, respectively.

Indragiri Hulu ranks first. With a population of 453,480, the weekly percentage of people tested here is recorded at 340.85 percent. The latest positive rate is 0.07 percent. The positive rate in this region increased compared to the previous week's percentage.

Next is Balikpapan City. The population in this region is recorded at 649,420. In an effort to counter the Covid-19 pandemic, the weekly percentage of people tested is 242.7 percent. The positive rate in this region is recorded at 0.06 percent, which has decreased compared to the previous week's percentage.

Furthermore, Purwakarta recorded 215.75 percent testing, Central Halmahera recorded 174.22 percent, and Kutai Kartanegara recorded 125.28 percent.

Anticipating the impact of Omicron in various regions, based on the national Covid data recapitulation, there are 180 regencies/cities in Indonesia actively reporting a higher weekly percentage of people tested than before. Meanwhile, 143 other regencies/cities recorded a lower weekly percentage of people tested compared to the previous week's testing.

Regions outside Java with the highest weekly percentage of people tested include Indragiri Hulu, Balikpapan City, and Central Halmahera, with weekly percentages of 340.85 percent, 242.7 percent, and 174.22 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 spread of the coronavirus.