Even if the result of a rapid test is negative, it is not a proven negative. In fact, they (people testing negative) may test positive (later) and potentially transmit the virus.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - A total of 47,588 Jakarta residents have so far undergone rapid diagnostic tests for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), and 1,791, or 3.8 percent, of them have tested positive for the virus, an official said.

Of the total people tested, 45,797 have tested negative for COVID-19, head of the Health Resource Section of the Jakarta Health Office, Ani Pusparini, said in a press conference on Friday at the Jakarta City Hall.

COVID-19 rapid testing is still being conducted in the capital, including the Seribu Islands District, Ani informed.

Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan had earlier said COVID-19 rapid tests potentially have a high margin of error and had reiterated the need to raise the capacity for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing.

The potentially high margin of error from the COVID-19 rapid tests may lead to a wider spread of infections, he elaborated.

“Even if the result of a rapid test is negative, it is not a proven negative. In fact, they (people testing negative) may test positive (later) and potentially transmit the virus," he explained.

So far, Jakarta has roped in 23 laboratories for conducting 4,524 tests per day.

In the meantime, 204 Jakartans who tested positive for COVID-19 have recovered from the infection as of April 17, 2020, according to Ani Pusparini.

Jakarta has recorded 2,819 confirmed coronavirus cases and 248 deaths so far, she said.

While 1,725 patients are undergoing treatment at different hospitals in the capital, 643 are self-isolating at home, she added.

"A total of 822 people are waiting for the results of their laboratory tests," she further said.

A total of 3,379 people are under surveillance for COVID-19 in the capital, and 596 of them are still being monitored, while 3,183 have been monitored, Ani revealed.

Meanwhile, the number of patients under surveillance has reached 2,867. While 1,374 of them are still receiving medical treatment, 1,493 have completed treatment, she said.

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Translator: Fauzi/Suharto
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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