Top 10 Regencies/Cities with the Highest Percentage of Suspect Examinations per Week (Thursday, October 20, 2022)

With the increasing rate of Omicron in Indonesia, currently 155 regencies/cities are aggressively conducting weekly suspect testing percentages above the national average. Data as of Thursday, October 20, 2022, shows the national average testing rate at 10.51 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 93.88 percent, 83.7 percent, 82.41 percent, 77.66 percent, and 75.23 percent, respectively.

Simalungun is ranked first. With a population of 877,710, the weekly suspect testing percentage is recorded at 93.88 percent. The latest positive rate is 4.35 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 83.7 percent. The positive rate in this region is recorded at 7.14 percent, which has decreased compared to the previous week's ratio.

Furthermore, the weekly suspect testing percentage in Mandailing Natal is recorded at 82.41 percent, Tasikmalaya at 77.66 percent, and Pangandaran at 75.23 percent.

Anticipating the impact of Omicron in various regions, based on the national Covid data recapitulation, there are 182 regencies/cities in Indonesia that actively report a higher daily weekly suspect testing percentage than before. Meanwhile, 161 other regencies/cities recorded a lower weekly suspect testing percentage compared to the previous week's testing.

Regions outside Java with the highest weekly suspect testing percentages include Simalungun, Boven Digoel, and Mandailing Natal, with weekly suspect testing percentages of 93.88 percent, 83.7 percent, and 82.41 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.