Top 10 Regencies/Cities with the Highest Percentage of Suspect Examinations per Week (Week of November 27, 2022)

To curb the spread of COVID-19 in regions, 171 regencies/cities are aggressively conducting weekly suspect testing exceeding the national average. Data from the week of November 27, 2022, shows a national average of 13.66 percent. This suspect testing data is calculated based on the number of suspected individuals and close contacts compared to the total number of people tested in each region, then reported to the Ministry of Health.

The top five, starting from the highest, are Simalungun, Boven Digoel, Mandailing Natal, Tidore Islands City, and Banggai Islands Regency, with percentages of 87.55 percent, 81.82 percent, 81.78 percent, 79.44 percent, and 79.17 percent, respectively.

Simalungun ranks first. With a population of 877,710, its weekly suspect testing percentage is 87.55 percent. The latest positive rate is 10.61 percent. The positive rate in this region increased compared to the previous week.

Next is Boven Digoel. The region's population is 71,134. In efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, the weekly suspect testing percentage is 81.82 percent. The positive rate in this region is 42.86 percent, a decrease from the previous week's ratio.

Furthermore, the weekly suspect testing percentage in Mandailing Natal is 81.78 percent, 79.44 percent in Tidore Islands City, and 79.17 percent in Banggai Islands Regency, which has a population of 119,720.

Anticipating the impact of Omicron in various regions, based on national COVID-19 data recapitulation, 175 regencies/cities in Indonesia actively report a higher weekly percentage of suspect testing than before. Meanwhile, 171 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 percentages include Simalungun, Boven Digoel, and Mandailing Natal, with weekly suspect testing percentages of 87.55 percent, 81.82 percent, and 81.78 percent, respectively.

Although COVID-19 transmission has decreased in some areas, the government urges everyone to continue 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 curbing the spread of the coronavirus.