Yogyakarta To Introduce COVID-19 Swab Test Without Mouth-Nose Plug, But With Saliva

YOGYAKARTA - The Yogyakarta City Government plans to introduce a COVID-19 test method that is considered more friendly to children and the elderly in the hope of maintaining a high number of testing as an effort to handle cases.

“The PCR swab test method by taking samples from the nose and mouth sometimes makes many people feel uncomfortable, especially children and the elderly. Therefore, we will introduce a new method," said Yogyakarta Mayor Haryadi Suyuti, quoted by Antara, Wednesday, October 13.

According to him, the new method is to use a saliva sample so that it is expected to be more comfortable for the elderly and children.

“Thus, we can still do better testing. We plan to introduce it next week," he said.

Haryadi said tracing and testing in the city of Yogyakarta still needed to be improved to ensure the transmission of COVID-19 had decreased and could be controlled.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, October 13, Yogyakarta City recorded an additional three new cases, four patients recovered or completed isolation and no patient died. Thus, there are 103 active cases in the city.

As for the vaccination for residents of Yogyakarta, continued Haryadi, it can be completed. Yogyakarta has declared the complete vaccine (first dose) on October 7th.

"Including the elderly. They get priority early when the vaccination program is launched. So, I dare say that vaccination for the elderly is 100 percent," he said.

As for the need for treatment or care for residents who are confirmed positive for COVID-19, the City of Yogyakarta continues to operate two handling shelters, namely the Tegalrejo shelter and the Gemawang shelter.

"If there are residents who are confirmed positive, they will immediately be recommended to be treated in the shelter to minimize the potential for transmission in the family and region," said the Daily Chair of the Yogyakarta COVID-19 Handling Task Force Heroe Poerwadi.

Currently, the Tegalrejo shelter, which has a capacity of 84 patients, only treats five patients and the Gemawang shelter is no longer receiving patients but is still on standby if needed.