Unlike The Deputy Governor Of DKI, Head of Health Department Admits There Has Been A Decrease In The Number Of COVID-19 Testing

JAKARTA - Head of the DKI Health Office, Widyastuti, admitted that there was a decrease in the number of people being tested or tested for COVID-19, although the number was still high.

This is different from the statement of the Deputy Governor of DKI Jakarta, Ahmad Riza Patria, who said that there was no decrease in the number of testing in Jakarta. Widyastuti explained that the number of testing in Jakarta could decrease because the number of COVID-19 cases in the capital city had begun to fall.

"Testing and tracing depend on the case. The higher the number of cases, the more testing will increase. If the number of cases decreases, of course, the number of testing will also decrease", Widyastuti told reporters, Tuesday, July 20.

However, he admitted that the number of testing had also decreased when cases were still high. This is because a number of PCR examination laboratories in Jakarta are late in inputting data.

"Yesterday, when the case was still very high, there were indeed some labs that were a little late in inputting data, so it seemed as if the testing had not been inputted and this is what we are continuously doing", he said.

As an explanation, Widyastuti said the number of testing was obtained from the development of positive cases. Second, testing is also obtained by tracing close contacts of a case. Third, testing is taken from someone who is going to travel and must include a negative test result letter.

Previously, Deputy Governor of DKI Jakarta Ahmad Riza Patria said the number of new COVID-19 cases in Jakarta per day in the last few days had begun to decline. Along with that, it turns out that the number of residents undergoing PCR tests has also decreased in the past week.

Since July 11, the number of PCR tests has always been at 42 thousand to 56 thousand per day. However, starting on July 19, only 28 thousand people were tested until now the number of tests is around 30 thousand. However, Riza denied the decline in cases due to a decrease in the number of specimens examined.

"The decline in the number of cases is not due to reduced testing. In fact, testing in DKI Jakarta is very high, the data is 207.339 a week. That means it is more than 20 times the standard requested by WHO", said Riza at DKI City Hall, Central Jakarta, Friday, July 23.