Top 10 Regencies/Cities with the Highest Percentage of Suspect Examinations per Week (Wednesday, September 28, 2022)

To curb the spread of COVID-19 in regions, 170 regencies/cities are aggressively conducting weekly suspect testing exceeding the national average. Data as of Wednesday, September 28, 2022, shows the national average at 10.34 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, subsequently reported to the Ministry of Health.

The top five, starting with the highest weekly suspect testing percentage, are Simalungun (92.75%), Tasikmalaya (84.48%), Mandailing Natal (80.52%), Pangandaran (80.32%), and Balangan (67.66%).

Simalungun ranks first. With a population of 877,710, its weekly suspect testing percentage is 92.75 percent. The latest positive rate is 7.03 percent, an increase from the previous week.

Next is Tasikmalaya. In its efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, its weekly suspect testing percentage is 84.48 percent. The positive rate in this region is 0.63 percent, a decrease from the previous week.

Following this, Mandailing Natal recorded 80.52 percent, Pangandaran (population 407,350) recorded 80.32 percent, and Balangan recorded 67.66 percent in weekly suspect testing percentages.

In anticipation of the Omicron impact in various regions, based on national COVID-19 data recapitulation, 182 regencies/cities in Indonesia actively reported higher weekly suspect testing percentages than the previous week. Meanwhile, 168 other regencies/cities recorded lower weekly suspect testing percentages compared to the previous week.

Some of the regions outside Java with the highest weekly suspect testing percentages include Simalungun, Mandailing Natal, and Balangan, with percentages of 92.75 percent, 80.52 percent, and 67.66 percent, respectively.

Although COVID-19 transmission has decreased in some areas, the government urges everyone to continue reducing COVID-19 transmission by consistently wearing masks, maintaining physical distancing, and frequently washing hands with soap and running water. Avoiding crowds and reducing mobility also contribute to curbing the spread of the coronavirus.