IDNEWSNOW.COM, Jakarta – Epidemiologist from Griffith University Dicky Budiman opined that the government’s plan to expand COVID-19 PCR test as a travel requirement is a cost-ineffective policy.
“Applying [PCR test] to other transport modes is possible as a public health intervention but for a fast, cheap, and effective test, it is a rapid test. PCR test requirement is not a cost effective policy,” said Dicky to Tempo on Wednesday, October 27.
Dicky suspected that there was a misunderstanding about COVID-19 testing as a public health strategy and testing as a diagnostic tool in hospitals.
If the test is for public health purposes, according to Dicky, WHO recommends a rapid test. Based on studies in the UK, the rapid test has a sensitivity rate of 97 percent to detect the virus. Thus, he underlined that the rapid test is cost effective. Besides, the results could be obtained quicker than the PCR test.
“The test requirement aims at ensuring that people who carry the virus can be detected quickly so they don’t infect others and can be immediately quarantined,” said Dicky. Moreover, the authority could also trace other contacts from the results.
Read: Indonesia Lowers PCR Test Tariffs
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