Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Siloam Hospitals Group and Lippo Malls Indonesia have opened drive-through rapid testing sites for those who develop coronavirus-like symptoms but don't want to go to hospital too soon.
"The drive-through allows a faster and safer Covid-19 screening because it minimizes physical contact between the lab technicians and the test taker. There is no need to step out of your vehicle to get tested," Siloam Hospitals deputy president director Caroline Riady said in Jakarta on Friday.
The drive-through testing sites are open at three locations – Gate 9 next to Lippo Mall Puri in West Jakarta, Kemang Village's entrance at Jalan Pangeran Antasari, South Jakarta and Meikarta Convention Center (Maxx Boxx Orange County) in Bekasi.
Medical workers will start carrying out tests as early as 8 a.m to 10 a.m.
People can apply for testing by contacting the WhatsApp number available at the registration booth. They will be required to inform their name, date of birth, phone number and e-mail and upload a picture of their identity card.
Afterward, they can pay for their registration using digital payment paltforms such as OVO or QRIS before having their blood sample taken from their cars.
Results will be notified through WhatsApp on the same day. Those who test positive for a virus attack will be requested to undergo a swab test, which will examine more accurately if the infection is caused by the novel coronavirus. If the result comes back negative, they will have to retake the test in seven to ten days.The rapid test is priced at Rp 489,000 ($31.59) until April 30. Once the results are delivered, online medical consultations are available free of charge.
Swab tests for more accuracy
Health workers carry out rapid tests by taking the blood sample to detect the antibody level. This method, however, is only meant for quicker results and is less accurate than the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method or nasal swab test.
To curb the virus outbreak, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has previously instructed the Health Ministry to conduct at least 10,000 swab tests a day. The ministry has also appointed 78 labs with level three biosafety certification across the country to perform the Covid-19 tests.
Among them are 38 Siloam Hospitals' labs, which offer paid swab tests in three packages depending on when the results are out – 24 hours, 72 hours, and seven days.
As of Friday, the government has confirmed 5.923 cases, with 607 people recovered and 520 fatalities. In response to the unwavering triple digit growth, Siloam has launched two hospitals designated for Covid-19 patients.
The first is Siloam Hospitals Kelapa Dua in Tangerang, with a capacity of 214 beds. Covid-19 patients can also be admitted to the 415-capacity Siloam Hospitals Mampang in South Jakarta.