The tests will be conducted from Thursday to Saturday, officials said.
The mass testing is part of local health workers' efforts to prevent the emergence of new clusters of the novel coronavirus disease during the long weekend, head of Bandung Barat district's Health Office, Hernawan Widjajanto, said here on Thursday.
"On the first day, the rapid testing took place in Lembang Park and Zoo. The visitors were randomly selected for the rapid tests," he said, adding that his office has provided one thousand rapid test kits for the mass tests.
During the mass test exercise, those showing COVID-19 symptoms will be requested to undergo swab tests and self-quarantine, while all those who have had any contact with them will be traced, Widjajanto informed.
The Indonesian government has declared October 28 and October 30 this year as collective leave days, while October 29, which marks Prophet Muhammad's birthday, is also a public holiday.
West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil has appealed to city and district administrations across the province to intensify mitigation efforts to contain the potential spread of COVID-19 during the long weekend.
In a letter to city mayors and district heads in West Java, Kamil outlined six directives, including a request for making people remain vigilant by practicing preventive measures, as mandated by the government's health protocols.
"Governor Ridwan Kamil has also urged local residents to refrain from traveling outside West Java. Instead, they have been advised to stay with their families at home during the long weekend," head of the West Java COVID-19 Task Force, Daud Achmad, said on Wednesday.
The district heads and city mayors have also been asked to make sure that all tourist sites, amusement centers, markets, food courts, train stations, bus terminals, and airports strictly impose COVID-19-related health protocols, he added.
As of October 26, 2020, the number of people recovering from the novel coronavirus disease in Indonesia has risen by 3,908, taking the total recoveries to 317,672, according to the national COVID-19 task force.
Meanwhile, Indonesia has recorded 3,222 new COVID-19 cases, which have brought the total tally of infections to 392,934, the task force informed.
With 112 more patients succumbing to the virus, the death toll has reached 13,411.
Among the 34 Indonesian provinces, Jakarta has reported the highest number of new recoveries at 1,162, with 905 people testing positive for COVID-19 and 13 people succumbing to the infection.
West Java has reported 442 new recoveries, 431 new cases, and 15 deaths.
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Translator: Bagus AR, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Sri Haryati
Copyright © ANTARA 2020
