More than 450,000 undergo COVID-19 rapid tests in Indonesia

More than 450,000 people in Indonesia have so far undergone rapid tests for early detection of COVID-19 virus infection.

Achmad Yurianto, spokesman for the COVID-19 Task Force, said it was in line with President Joko Widodo's directive on March 20 that he wanted rapid mass testing to be carried out, through blood sample examination.

He said the previous focus was on rapid tests because the cost was not very expensive, but the Indonesian government is also conducting Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests which so far had involved 15,000 people.

In his daily press conference today, Achmad Yurianto said there were 218 new positive cases within 24 hours, bringing the total to 2,956.

Between noon yesterday and noon today, another 19 deaths occurred, bringing the total to 240.

Today, a total of 750 journalists, who have signed up for the rapid test, underwent blood sample examinations at the Ministry of Communications and Information.

-- BERNAMA