COVID-19 test. (Image via Pixabay/fernandozhiminaicela)

COVID-19 tests in Indonesia closes in to WHO's standard

The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) testing currently being held by the Indonesian Government has reached 239,000 figure, approaching the standard set by the World Health Organization (WHO). Speaking in a press conference on Tuesday, the spokesman of the COVID-19 task force, Wiku Adisasmito, confirmed the news.

Wiku stated that the Government is working hard to meet the WHO's standard. The amount of test per region is adjusted to the population's density. Since Indonesia has more than 267 million residents, there should be at least 267 thousand testings per week. On the third week of November 2020, the testing has reached 239 thousand or 88.6% from WHO's standard, which Wiku referred to as the "highest".

Since June 2020 to the third week of October 2020, there had been a significant increase in COVID-19 testings. However, the trend faded two weeks after and rebounded now to the WHO's standard. The fluctuation happened due to the holiday, the number of laboratories & its capacity, the number of medical teams, reagent availability, and Indonesia's geographical condition. Wiku assured that both central and regional governments would look at this matter closely.

Reportedly, the number of testings decreased on certain days, especially holidays. Therefore, Wiku asked the regional governments to improve their laboratory's operational mechanisms such as adding shifts while giving equal incentives and checking the suitability of reagents and testing tools. Should there be anyone who refuses to be tested, Wiku urged the regional government to sanction them.

Source: https://bit.ly/3qcYhJd