Rapid Tests Only Used for COVID-19 Screening, Says Govt
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15 July 2020 19:10 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The government’s COVID-19 mitigation spokesperson, Achmad Yurianto, on Wednesday said that the rapid test result will remain as a requirement for people who travel across provincial borders.
“Are diagnosis needed in traveling? [It] only needs screening,” said Yurianto to Tempo on Wednesday, July 15.
His statement follows the regulation issued by Health Minister Terawan Agus Putranto on the rapid testing that is no longer recommended to diagnose COVID-19 cases. This is contained in the Health Minister’s Decree No. HK.01.07/MENKES/413/2020.
The aforementioned regulation oversees the use of rapid test equipment for specific situations such as a contact-tracing tool. The World Health Organization itself has recommended NAAT (Nucleic Acid Amplification Test) over the rapid test method.
“It’s clearly not to diagnose, but rather as screening purposes,” said Yurianto.
Read: Ombudsman Suspects Commercialization of Covid-19 Rapid Test
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