Update On COVID-19 As Of July 2: Rapid Test Is Not A Benchmark On The Map Of The Spread Of COVID-19

Government spokesman for the handling of COVID-19 Achmad Yurianto (Yuri) (Photo: Ignatius Toto Satrio / BNPB)

JAKARTA - Government spokesman for the handling of COVID-19 Achmad Yurianto (Yuri) explained that as many as 22,281 specimens had been examined as of Friday, July 3. As a result, 1,301 new positive cases were found.

With the addition of new cases, the total number of positive cases since it was first discovered has reached 60,695 people. From the additional cases, East Java has become the top province with the most positive cases in recent days.

"East Java today reported 353 new confirmed positive cases and then 247 people reported recovered cases," said Yuri at Graha BNPB, Jakarta, Friday, July 3.

So, with the addition of these cases, the accumulative number of positive cases in East Java reached 13,048 people. Furthermore, Provinces which also contributed the most positive cases, for example, DKI Jakarta and South Sulawesi.

Meanwhile, continued Yuri, 16 provinces reported the addition of cases below the number 10. Then, there were 6 provinces that also reported finding no additional cases.

In addition, several other provinces also reported that the number of recovered cases was greater than the positive cases. For example, West Nusa Tenggara with 25 recovered cases versus 23 positive cases.

Then, Banten Province reported 54 recovered cases with 21 positive cases. Furthermore, Riau reported 12 cured cases and 4 positive cases.

"The total recovered today is 901 people. So that the total accumulation is 27,568 people," said Yuri.

An increase also occurred in the number of cases died. A total of 49 people were declared dead due to COVID-19. Thus, the total accumulatively reached 3,036 people.

So far, 453 Regencies / Cities in 34 Provinces have contracted COVID-19. A total of 38,767 people under surveillance (ODP) and 13,609 patients under surveillance (PDP) have been registered.

Rapid test is not a benchmark

The increase in the number of positive cases over the past few days, said Yuri, was due to massive tracing and examinations. The data on the addition of cases is the result of examination of the real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method and the Molecular Rapid Test (TCM).

"Because the positive confirmation case with this examination is included in the registration for world epidemiological observation," said Yuri.

Meanwhile, for examinations using the rapid test method, said Yuri, the results were not used as guidance in the map of the spread of COVID-19. This is because the rapid test is only used to detect transmission-related early.

When a person has reactive rapid test results, the examination is continued to be real time PCR and TCM.

"The rapid test will only be used as a guide for us to carry out tracing and to see early detection of migrant workers returning to Indonesia before the real time PCR examination is carried out," said Yuri.