TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Government has claimed it has tested 14,354 samples for COVID-19 using the PCR (polymerase chain reaction) method as on Tuesday.

"We have received specimens from more than 300 COVID-19 referral hospitals," government spokesperson for the handling of COVID-19, Achmad Yurianto, said during a press conference held on Tuesday at the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) in Jakarta.

All the specimens have been tested on a real-time basis until 8 a.m local time on Tuesday (April 7) using the PCR method, he revealed.

The COVID-19 referral hospitals which have sent the samples include government-run general hospitals, state-owned companies' hospitals, military and police hospitals, and private hospitals.

In the meantime, the number of medical and non-medical volunteers participating in COVID-19 efforts in the country has reached 17,190, he added.

Yurianto has called for public participation to put a stop to the transmission of COVID-19. He has urged people to keep a distance of at least one meter while communicating with each other, reduce social activity or mobility, and wear masks when venturing out of home for urgent tasks.

In addition, people must lead a healthy lifedata-style and always wash hands for at least 20 seconds using water and soap, he said.

ANTARA