With new COVID-19 clusters in Bali’s Klungkung regency being traced to weddings recently, local officials have started to facilitate free antigen rapid tests for residents who are getting married in order to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
Klungkung regent Nyoman Suwirta today said that residents can report themselves to their traditional village (desa adat) council so that the local health agency can facilitate the necessary tests. The policy is in place for the duration of Enforcement of Restrictions on Public Activities (PPKM), which is scheduled until Feb. 8 pending further extensions.
“For residents who will get married, it’s better to postpone. However, if they must carry on, then health protocols have to be strictly implemented. The participants (the bride, groom and their families) have to undergo antigen rapid tests, so that it’s safe,” Suwirta said.
The antigen rapid test, also known as antigen swab test, is conducted by taking samples of secretions from the nose and throat to detect the presence of certain viral antigens that indicate a current viral infection. A rapid antigen test costs around IDR250K (US$17.82) and can produce a relatively accurate result in under one hour, though it is still considered less accurate compared to the PCR swab test.
The free service, which appears to be Klungkung regency’s own initiative, is also open for other events that may require some sort of gathering, including religious ceremonies and funerals.
Klungkung officials previously reported dozens of people testing positive for the coronavirus after attending weddings, including one occasion on Jan. 6 that led to 21 new COVID-19 cases.
Facilitating these tests seem like the best compromise to curb coronavirus transmissions for the time being, considering how public activities are still permitted with limited participants even under PPKM. Bali, and the rest of Indonesia, has never been in a full lockdown since the pandemic came to the country’s shores last March, despite continued struggle with soaring cases and a rising death toll.
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