Travel Restrictions Tightened

KOMPAS/STEFANUS ATO

Residents choose to mudik (go home) early in Lebaran 2021 by using the AKAP bus at the Bekasi Main Terminal, Bekasi City, on Thursday (22/4/2021).

JAKARTA, KOMPAS - Travel restrictions leading up to and after Idul Fitri have been revised to include 22 April through 24 May. During the period, travelers are required to present a negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or antigen test results. In addition, those traveling for urgent matters must obtain permits from the relevant agencies.

Spokesperson for the Covid-19 Handling Task Force, Wiku Bakti Bawono Adisasmito, said in Jakarta on Thursday (22/4/2021) that the travel restriction period had been extended because many people planned to go on mudik (exodus) before the initial restriction took effect as indicated in a survey conducted by the Research and Development Agency of the Transportation Ministry.

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"Between 22 April and 5 May 2021 and between 18 May and 24 May 2021, travelers are required to present a negative PCR (polymerase chain reaction) or rapid antigen test taken no later than 24 hours before departure or get a GeNose test just before departure for all modes of transportation,” he said.

The extension of the travel restriction period was issued as an addition to the provision of the Covid-19 Handling Task Force ‘s Circular Number 13 of 2021 concerning the travel ban ahead and after Idul Fitri in an effort to control the spread of Covid-19. In the circular, the travel ban was imposed from May 6 to May 17,2021.

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During the ban period, people are only allowed to travel for urgent matters such as visits due to the sickness or death of a family member or those related to pregnancy, childbirth or work. However, this criteria is exempted in the additional period of between 22 April and May 5 and between 18 May to 24 May. In this period, travelling is still allowed but travellers are required to undergo tests.

KOMPASTotok Wijayanto

The travelers await the arrival of the bus that will take them to their hometowns at the Pondok Pinang terminal, South Jakarta, Thursday (22/4/2021). Before leaving, the Covid-19 Task Force requires inter-regional travelers to show the results of a PCR test or antigen swab.

Wiku said that during the extended period, a random antigen and GeNose rapid test would be carried out on travelers using public land transportation services. Travelers using private cars are also required to present a negative PCR or antigen tests taken no later than 24 hours before the departure or a GeNose test just before the departure. A number of rest areas provide Covid-19 testing facilities.

The regulation on the extension of the travel restrictions also applies to travelers from abroad to prevent the transmission of new Covid variants, which have been detected in a number of countries. A new variants have been found in a number of provinces, including West Java, Jakarta and East Java.

Layered screening is applied at immigration check points and border crossings. The checks, among other things, are conducted on body temperature, travel documents including a negative Covid-19 test certificate.

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In this regard, residents are advised not to go mudik to protect themselves and their families in their hometowns from Covid-19. They can instead communicate with family members and relatives in their hometown virtually.

Apart from that, the local governments are also asked to closely monitor the implementation of the Covid-19 Task Force’s travel restrictions. New Covid-19 cases always increase during extended holidays. According the task force’s data, on 22 April, 2021, daily Covid-19 cases rose by 6,243 with 165 deaths.

KOMPAS/FERGANATA INDRA RIATMOKO

Officers spray disinfectant liquid on city transportation vehicles arriving at Tirtonadi Terminal, Surakarta, Central Java, Thursday (22/4/2021).

Even though they showed a negative test result, they were still required to undergo isolation for five days and take two PCR swab tests.

Separately, the head of the health quarantine division at the Directorate General of Disease Prevention and Control of the Health Ministry, Benget Saragih, said control of the arrival of people from abroad had also been tightened to prevent the spread of the new variants of Covid-19. The measure was taken following the arrival of 132 people from India, consisting of 127 people of Indian nationality and 5 Indonesian citizens.

They arrived at the Soekarno-Hatta Airport at 7:30 p.m. on April 21 using a chartered plane. "Even though they showed a negative test result, they were still required to undergo isolation for five days and take two PCR swab tests," he said.

Preparation in the regions

A number of regions have also tightened mobility restrictions for citizens, such as in Palembang and Bandar Lampung. Traffic control on main routes in West Java will be heightened. The Papua provincial government has also imposed the additional travel restrictions from 22 April to 24 May in accordance with the circular issued by the Covid-19 task force. People who travel to Papua should undergo quarantine.

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However, a number of regions are not yet ready to enforce the extended travel restrictions. Yogyakarta province, for example, has not yet expanded its traffic control measures despite the imposition of the new travel restrictions. It is feared that the expansion of the traffic checks will make on duty officials exhausted. "We were just informed about the issuance of the circular and we need carry out coordination," said the head of the Yogyakarta Transportation Service, Ni Made Dwi Panti Indrayanti. (TAN/ INA / FLO/ IDO/ NCA / C IP/ XTI / VIO/ RAM / ESA / RTG )

This article was translated by Hendarsyah Tarmizi.