The rapid test devices would be prioritized for West Bangka, Belitung, and East Belitung, which are still undergoing Level 4 community activity restrictions
Pangkalpinang (ANTARA) - The Bangka Belitung Islands government has allocated seven thousand rapid test kits to three districts that are still undergoing Level 4 community activity restrictions (PPKM) to improve COVID-19 handling.

"The rapid test devices would be prioritized for West Bangka, Belitung, and East Belitung, which are still undergoing Level 4 community activity restrictions," Bangka Belitung Islands Governor Erzaldi Rosman Djohan said in Pangkalpinang on Wednesday.

The government allocated the test devices as it was concerned by the spike in COVID-19 cases recorded in areas undergoing level 4 community activity restrictions, including West Bangla, Belitung, and East Belitung districts, he added.

Pangkalpinang City, Bangka District, Central Bangka, and South Bangka have already been downgraded to level 3 community activity restrictions, Djohan informed.

The allocation is expected to help boost the number of daily tests to allow each area to detect and confirm the positive cases, he explained.

He said he also expected the district governments to immediately roll out testing after receiving the aid.

Related news: PPKM extension should be followed by policy improvement: PAN

"The devices are meant for tracing and increasing (the frequency of) testing. So, it needs to be immediately (noticed and) realized in order to handle COVID-19 pandemic," he remarked.

Currently, the government is in the process of securing five thousand additional rapid test devices from several sources so that the spread of COVID-19 can be curtailed effectively, Djohan said.

"We have received seven thousand (rapid test kits) from our friends, which we have immediately donated in order to increase testing (frequency," the governor said.

The government is targeting four hundred daily COVID-19 tests in the regions undergoing level 4 community activity restriction so their level can be downgraded, he added.

"We have prioritized these devices for Belitung, Belitung Timur, and West Bangka, since they have to conduct a minimum of 400 tests per day," he said.

Related news: Eight provinces experience fall in COVID-19 transmissions
Related news: Three regions outside Java-Bali see spike in COVID cases







Translator: Aprionis, Mecca Yumna
Editor: Azis Kurmala
Copyright © ANTARA 2021