Still Minimal, Task Force Asks Central Java And East Java To Intensify COVID-19 Testing

COVID-19 Task Force Spokesperson Wiku Adisasmito (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - The COVID-19 Handling Task Force has asked the provinces of East Java and Central Java to re-activate the COVID-19 testing ratio because it is still below the national figure.

"East Java and Central Java are included in the group whose testing ratio is still below the national figure", said Spokesperson for the COVID-19 Handling Task Force Wiku Adisasmito at a press conference that was attended online in Jakarta, reported by Antara, Thursday, February 10.

He said the testing ratio in East Java was five people out of 1,000 people tested (5:1,000), while in Central Java the number was still very low, namely two out of 1,000 people tested.

Currently, Wiku said, the national testing ratio is seven out of 1,000 people or already exceeding the WHO standard, which is one in 1,000 people.

Wiku said that there are at least 22 provinces whose testing ratio is still below the national testing ratio. Local governments in the 22 provinces, especially East Java and Central Java, were asked to reactivate testing.

"Don't let the reported data be smaller than the actual case conditions and impact on the determination of policies that are not by the real situation on the ground", he said.

In a pandemic, Wiku said, testing is the single benchmark for determining the diagnosis of a disease.

He added that testing is also a determinant of safe mobility, because only then (testing) people can identify positive people.

"Supervision of the positive status of travelers must really be carried out both on long-distance transportation facilities, such as planes, ships, and various land transportations as well as the use of PeduliLindung as screening activities and short-distance mobility", he said.