As one way to follow up on the increasing spread of COVID-19, the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government has distributed around 164 thousand medical devices used for rapid testing to more than 100 health facilities in the capital. Using these tools, more than 10 thousand Jakarta residents have been tested from 24 to 27 March 2020. Of that number, 121 people tested positive for COVID-19, while the rest were negative. But exactly how is the rapid testing procedure performed and who needs to be tested?
Do I Need Rapid Testing?
Let's identify three types of people who enter a health facility setting and need to be tested. The first type is Low Risk Close Contact, which is a person who has close contact with another person who has been classified as a Patient Under Monitoring (PDP). PDP itself is a person who has fever (> 38 ℃), ARI (Upper Respiratory Infection), and pneumonia, and has a history of travel to an infected country 14 days before symptoms appear. If there is Low Risk Close Contact, there must be High Risk Close Contact. This second category refers to people who have close contact with other people who are suspected or confirmed positive COVID-19 patients. The last is the category of People Under Monitoring (ODP), namely people who experience symptoms of fever (> 38 ℃) or respiratory problems such as runny nose, cough, and sore throat without pneumonia. To be classified as ODP, there must also be a history of travel to the affected country or local transmission area in Indonesia within 14 days before symptoms appear. If you feel that you meet the criteria for one of the three groups above, contact the nearest health facility.
How Does Rapid Testing Work?
Now that we know three types of people who need rapid testing, what is the procedure? According to the DKI Jakarta Health Office, hospitals and puskesmas have two ways to identify patients who need to be tested, namely active and passive methods. In an active manner, the hospital or puskesmas will contact people who are considered to fall into one of the three categories above. These individuals were identified via the Epidemiological Investigation (PE) form. Conversely, in a passive way, it is the patient who first contacts the health facility. The officer will then determine the classification of the person. If they enter as Low, High, or ODP Close Contact, they will be referred to the laboratory for testing.
[What will happen if you get infected?]
Either way, people who are contacted or contacted will be sent to the laboratory to carry out rapid testing. Before the process begins, the officer will inform the patient about the rapid test procedure, risk communication, and explanation and consent. After all the information has been presented, the test can be started. The rapid test only needs to take a blood sample from the patient which will then be checked for the presence or absence of the new coronavirus. If the result is positive, the patient will be tested for a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), also known as a swab test, by taking a sample of mucus from the nose or mouth. PCR test results are quite long. So while waiting, patients are advised to carry out independent isolation for 14 days at home or in the shelter provided. If the patient's condition worsens during isolation, they will be immediately referred to the hospital.
[Why do you have to #dirumahaja for 14 days?]
If the rapid testing results are negative, the patient is still considered infectious or contagious, so they still need to carry out independent isolation for 14 days. If during isolation the patient's condition does not worsen and does not need to be taken to the hospital, they will undergo rapid retesting 7-10 days after the first test. If the second test comes back positive, the patient must do the PCR test and wait for the results. If negative, the patient is considered non-infectious and healthy.
Can I Test For Symptoms On My Own?
If you have symptoms related to or are worried about COVID-19 and want to find out more, reliable information can be obtained from the Jakarta Provincial Government's COVID-19 website at corona.jakarta.go.id. This site contains various information and data about COVID-19, such as the closest referral hospital or statistics on the number of COVID-19 cases in Jakarta which are updated every day. This site also provides a self-test with a number of questions related to the condition and symptoms you are experiencing. The results of this test will show recommendations that match your condition, whether you need to contact a health facility or just need to keep your body and environment clean. There is nothing wrong with always being ready!
[Important information about COVID-19 in Jakarta is here]
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