There cannot be a reduction in testing, as it would make it hard to detect people infected with COVID-19Jakarta (ANTARA) - People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Deputy Speaker Syarief Hasan has requested the government to increase COVID-19 testing, such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Antigen, in order to avoid the potential abuse of data on COVID-19.
In his statement here on Monday, Hasan urged the government to focus on the positivity rate of PCR for COVID-19 in Indonesia.
The deputy speaker pointed to an increase in the COVID-19 case count, which had reached 10,050 daily positive cases. However, this was followed by the number of deaths staying at 591 as of Saturday.
The deputy speaker opined that the government should increase COVID-19 testing in Indonesia, so that the number of positive cases can be detected, tracked, and localized to thwart their spread anywhere.
"There cannot be a reduction in testing, as it would make it hard to detect people infected with COVID-19," he emphasized.
Hasan also highlighted the number of deaths due to COVID-19 that remained high, thereby necessitating special treatment to reduce that count.
He also appealed to the government to tighten the implementation of health protocols, for which the government must be strict but also humane in enforcing health protocols.
"We also support the government's move to ban the entry of foreign citizens. However, the move must be followed with supervision to prevent other cases of entry of foreign citizens during the restriction period," he asserted.
Hasan added that the government should also optimize and boost the vaccination program in order to realize herd immunity to thwart the spread of COVID-19.
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Translator: Imam Budilaksono, Fadhli Ruhma
Editor: Sri Haryati
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