TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo asserted that the coronavirus rapid test is prioritized for medical personnel. He made the statement when asked about the House of Representatives’ (DPR) plan to take the test for its members and families.

“I have ordered the Health Minister this morning that the rapid test must be first prioritized for doctors and medical workers, as well as their families,” said the President during a press conference on Tuesday, March 24.

In addition to the medical personnel, those who are prioritized to carry out the rapid test are people who have contacts with COVID-19 patients.

“And people who are under monitoring (ODP), as well as patients under monitoring (PDP) and their families too. They must be prioritized,” Jokowi underlined.

Previously, the DPR announced it planned to hold a rapid test for members and families. The council secretary-general Indra Iskandar said it was scheduled starting Thursday, March 26.

The House’s deputy speaker Sufmi Dasco Ahmad claimed a number of legislative members jointly purchased a total of 40,000 coronavirus rapid test equipment from Wuhan, China, adding that the test kits would be used for DPR members and also be donated to hospitals.

“The purchase was not funded from the government or the state budget, but from joint funds collected by DPR members,” Dasco told Tempo last Friday, March 20.

BUDIARTI UTAMI PUTRI