COVID-19 Case Reaches New Record, 2,000 Workers In Bekasi Underwent A Mass Swab Test

2,000 workers in Bekasi, West Java, mass swab test (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - In recent times, COVID-19 cases have risen after sloping down. In fact, new cases of COVID-19 set a new record on Sunday, November 29 positive cases reaching 6,267 cases.

Prevention and traceability steps continue. As in Bekasi District, West Java, carried out swab tests on 2,000 workers. The mass swab test was centered at SMK Mitra Industri MM2100, Jalan Kalimantan Number 2 Desa Danau Indah.

"This is part of the 12,000 first phase workers who underwent a swab test in the first week and day of implementation," said spokesman for the Bekasi Alamsyah Covid-19 Task Force in Cikarang, as reported by Antara, Thursday, December 3.

Alamsyah said the 2,000 workers were all workers in the MM2100 Industrial Estate following the high number of COVID-19 cases in the industrial area, including the LG, Epson and Unilever clusters.

This mass swab test activity was held by the Central Government COVID-19 Task Force together with the West Java Provincial Task Force and the Bekasi Regency Government with the aim of breaking the chain of the spread of the corona virus, especially in industrial clusters.

Head of Disease Prevention and Control Division at the Bekasi District Health Office Masrikoh said the mass swab test was divided into two implementation sessions. The first session starts at 09.00-11.00 WIB and the next session at 14.00-17.00 WIB with 1,000 workers each for each session.

"Later the results will be sent to the UI Laboratory in Salemba and will come out in the next four days. If we only contribute to the officers, there are 20 of our personnel at the location," he said.

Ikoh, Masrikoh's nickname, said the 2,000 workers were part of a total of 70 companies that volunteered to carry out random swab tests on their employees.

"On average, one company sends 100 workers, there are 150 as well. The system is random with the criteria for close contact with COVID-19 patients. Next we will marathon, this week only today, next week we can be in other locations, such as Jababeka, Ejip, and other red zone pockets, "he said.

He said the mass swab test was predicted to increase the number of positive cases of COVID-19 in Bekasi Regency. However, this increase in cases will serve as the basis for the task force in handling industrial clusters.

"So don't be surprised if later the numbers jump high, but we have anticipated the potential increase in cases by increasing the number of quarantine and comprehensive tracing spaces. The results from here will also be a mapping of the handling of this industrial cluster," he said.

Ikoh admitted that the industrial cluster is still the biggest contributor to positive cases of COVID-19. More than 60 percent of cases were among factory workers based on the incoming reports.

"Still at 60 percent and above and continuing to increase, the average daily report from contributors is from industrial areas. For this reason, serious handling must be done," he said.