There Is A Frequent Decrease In The Number Of COVID-19 Tests, The Task Force Will Conduct A Laboratory Evaluation

COVID-19 Task Force Spokesman Widu Adisasmito (Photo: doc BNPB)

JAKARTA - Spokesperson for the Task Force for Handling COVID-19, Wiku Adisasmito, said that his party would conduct an evaluation of the COVID-19 testing laboratory network service.

This is because, according to him, there has often been a decrease in the number of specimens examined in the laboratory, especially on weekends and long holidays.

"According to the data analysis, there is a decrease in testing every weekend or during long holidays. This is one of the challenges we are trying to solve," Wiku said in the Presidential Secretariat Youtube broadcast, Thursday, November 5.

Wiku admitted that there were obstacles that resulted in a frequent decrease in the number of tests nationally in one day. He said, there were problems with the testing equipment and examiners.

Wiku said that his party continues to coordinate with local governments to increase the capacity of laboratories and other supporting facilities such as reagents. However, there are still obstacles such as the extensive testing area and number of people.

"Because there are quite a lot of them, we have to make sure one by one. The total equipment and human resources needed depend on the population and area," he said.

Therefore, Wiku said that the central government continues to coordinate with local governments and laboratory managers to ensure the testing equipment and human resources needed.

"The government is currently also improving and harmonizing data coordination from districts / cities to the province and to the center, namely to the Ministry of Health," said Wiku.

In addition, Wiku also asked the public to immediately go to the nearest health facility if they get symptoms of COVID-19.