TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Center for Indonesia's Strategic Development Initiatives (CISDI), released its latest survey report on Covid-19 situations in Tanjung Priok District, North Jakarta. The survey found that 29.9 percent of Tanjung Priok residents were infected with the new coronavirus in February 2021.

"The results indicate that the transmission is much higher than reported. This matches our observations that testing has not been optimal and that Indonesia has a limited ability to trace cases," CISDI policy director Olivia Herlinda said on Thursday, June 10.

For the research, CISDI used the serological tests or blood sampling method. This survey was followed by 3,196 respondents aged 15 to 65 in 42 RW (neighborhoods) and seven urban villages in Tanjung Priok.

CISDI's findings show that the spread of Covid-19 in Tanjung Priok is 12 times higher than the number of cases reported.

The survey results also show that women are 1.2 times more likely to contract the virus than men. In addition, respondents aged 45 to 65 are more susceptible to being infected with the virus than adolescents age 15 to 18.

Simple correlation measurements between the level of seropositivity and the percentage of poor households at the RW level shows that the spread of Covid-19 infection in Tanjung Priok District is most likely not related to the poverty level.

Residents with higher levels of education tend to have better mitigation of transmission, particularly more obedient to wear masks and maintaining social distance.

The survey also showed that people working in the formal sector are slightly more disciplined in following coronavirus prevention measures compared to those who work in the informal sector. The CISDI hopes that the government can review its research results.

"Although the vaccine rollout for people aged 18 and older has started, we continue to encourage the government to improve 3T (Testing, Tracing, and Treatment) capabilities; issue policies that support 3M (mask-wearing, hand-washing, physical-distancing), and accelerate inoculation—especially for senior citizens through health centers with special approaches and outreach," Olivia said.

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Francisca Christy Rosana