Jakarta, 24 July 2021
The Ministry of Health has instructed the Heads of Health Offices, both Provinces and Regencies/Cities throughout Indonesia, to increase testing and tracing during the Enforcement of Community Activity Restrictions (PPKM).
This policy is contained in the Circular Number: HK02.02/II/1918/2021 concerning the Acceleration of Inspections and Tracking During the Enforcement Period of Restrictions on Community Activities (PPKM) which is set on July 23, 2021.
“This circular is intended to accelerate the prevention of pandemics during the PPKM period through strengthening the detection pillar by increasing the number of checks and contact tracing,” said Acting Director General of Disease Prevention and Control Maxi Rein Rondonuwu.
He explained that this step is part of accelerating the discovery of confirmed cases and close contacts of positive COVID-19 cases, so that treatment can be carried out as early as possible in the hope of reducing the occurrence of worsening cases and deaths.
“This strengthening of testing and tracing will be prioritized for areas with community mobility and a high rate of case transmission, so that by knowing cases faster, actions can be taken immediately to reduce the rate of virus transmission,” he said.
The regulation details that areas that fall into the PPKM level 3 and 4 categories are allowed to use the results of the Rapid Antigen (RDT-Ag) test as a diagnosis for tracing close contacts or suspects, and can also be used as supporting data in submitting COVID-19 claims.
The use of RDT Antigen is prioritized for areas where diagnostic tools are limited, so that the results can be known more quickly and tests can be carried out on a massive scale so as to speed up tracing.
A person identified as a close contact, both symptomatic and asymptomatic, is required to take an entry and exit test. If the RDT-Ag examination on the first day is negative, it is followed by a PCR swab test on the fifth day (exit test). For areas that do not have PCR lab facilities, the exit test can use RDT-Ag.
In addition to strengthening testing, the Ministry of Health will also tighten the handling of close contacts. All close contacts of confirmed cases must be quarantined until the test results are negative so as not to become a source of transmission in the community.
“To improve contact tracing, all people who live in the same house and work in the same room are considered close contacts and must undergo examination (test entry) and quarantine,” said Director General Maxi.
In addition to identifying all people who have a history of direct interaction with positive cases, close contact tracing will also be identified from people who are on a trip, a religious/social activity (such as takziah, recitation, worship, marriage), and a history of eating together.
If during the tracking process a positive confirmed case of COVID-19 is found, then patients with mild and asymptomatic symptoms will be immediately isolated in the centralized isolation area provided. Meanwhile, patients with moderate and severe symptoms will be taken to health facilities for further treatment.
Corona Virus Hotline 119 ext 9. This news was broadcast by the Bureau of Communications and Public Services, Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia. For further information, please contact the Halo Ministry of Health hotline number via hotline 1500-567, SMS 081281562620, facsimile (021) 5223002, 52921669, and email address [email protected] (MF)
Head of Communication and Community Service Bureau Pelayanan
drg. Widyawati, MKM
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