Makassar City Government Still Uses GeNose Even If It's Been Deleted Everywhere

MAKASSAR - Makassar Mayor Moh Ramdhan Pomanto alias Danny Pomanto said the Makassar City Government would still use GeNose to detect COVID-19, even though a number of regions have removed the use of the tool.

"The Makassar City Government's decision to continue to use GeNose to detect COVID-19 in a person is due to budget reasons," said Ramdhan Pomanto in Makassar, quoted by Antara, Monday, July 5.

According to him, by using GeNose when detecting someone, it can save more money than using rapid antigen or PCR tests.

With the use of GeNose, he continued, his party could do more in procurement. If all detections use antigens, it is feared that the budget will not be sufficient.

As an illustration, the price of GeNose in the market is only Rp30 thousand, while for rapid antigen and PCR tests it can cost Rp150 thousand to Rp1 million for a single test.

"Imagine the price difference between GeNose, antigen, and PCR," he said.

However, he continued, if there are residents who are detected as exposed to COVID-19 after testing using GeNose, then further tests will be directed for rapid antigen and PCR tests.

In this regard, the Makassar City Government has launched a detector task force that will be at the forefront of preventing and suppressing the spread of COVID-19 in Makassar City.

Responding to the use of GeNose, a resident of Makassar City, Mudassir said that the cost of GeNose is lighter for the community when traveling by sea and air.

Therefore, Mudassir is grateful that the Makassar City Government is still willing to implement and use GeNose to detect COVID-19. This is considered not too burdensome for people who are already in difficult conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic.