Luhut Admits Testing Rates Have Decreased Due To PCR-antigen Requirements For Travel Being Removed

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JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment (Menkomarves) Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan admitted that there had been a decline in the number of testing or examination of COVID-19 specimens in recent times.

This is due to the abolition of the mandatory RT-PCR and antigen tests as a condition for domestic (domestic) travel. Thus, the number of people who test for COVID-19 is reduced.

"The number of people being examined has decreased, as the Antigen requirement for travel is no longer enforced," Luhut said in a virtual press conference, Monday, March 14.

Looking at the data, the number of specimens examined as of March 14 was 195,229 and as of March 13 was 170,840. This figure decreased dramatically compared to mid-February which could reach more than 500 thousand specimens per day.

Therefore, Luhut asked all regional governments to be more passive in their efforts to trace cases (tracing) and examination (testing) so that transmission of the corona virus can still be detected.

"To continue to be able to identify cases and avoid a potential spike in cases quickly, the government asks all regions to re-strengthen testing and tracing capacity," said Luhut.

In addition, Luhut also revealed that the pandemic condition in Indonesia is getting better. This is indicated by the declining trend of positive confirmed cases of COVID-19 and the rate of hospitalization of COVID-19 patients nationally.

"Today the number of cases is below 10,000, while the number of recoveries has reached more than 39,000. This is in line with the significant decline in cases and hospitalizations in all areas of Java and Bali Provinces," Luhut explained.