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THE Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan emphasized that the government will enforce tightening of community activities during the Christmas and New Year holidays to anticipate a spike in COVID-19 cases, not impose Large-Scale Social Restrictions.
“We are not implementing Large-Scale Social Restrictions, but will implement a measured and controlled tightening policy, so that the addition of cases and deaths can be controlled with relatively minimal economic impact,” he said in a written statement in Jakarta.
Luhut, who is also Deputy Chair of the Committee for Handling COVID-19 and National Economic Recovery, emphasized that the tightening of community activities will be carried out in a measured and controlled manner, starting from the ban on New Year celebrations to limiting the operating hours of entertainment venues which are community gathering points.
“Measurable community tightening includes WFH 75 percent, banning New Year celebrations in all provinces, and limiting operating hours of malls, restaurants, entertainment venues until 19.00 for Jabodetabek and 20.00 for the red zone in West Java, Central Java and East Java. The implementation of health protocols will also be tightened in rest areas (rest areas) and tourist attractions,” he affirmed.
Luhut added, the obligation to carry out a maximum antigen rapid test for D-2 departures will also be applied to trips using long-distance trains and airplanes. This type of rapid test has a better sensitivity than the antibody rapid test so it can more accurately detect COVID-19.
“This rapid antigen test has a better sensitivity than the rapid antibody test. For a visit to Bali by plane, passengers are required to take a PCR test on D-2 departure,” he noted.
He explained that previously, in a coordination meeting on Monday (14/12), I had asked for a tightening of health protocols in rest areas, hotels and tourist attractions in Bali. We ask that tourists who are boarding a plane to Bali must take the PCR H-2 test before their flight to Bali and require the H-2 rapid antigen test before land travel to Bali.
“To regulate the mechanism, Luhut also asked the Minister of Health, the Head of National Board for Disaster Management, and the Minister of Transportation to immediately regulate the procedure for using the rapid antigen test for travel requirements. I ask that today the SOP for the use of the antigen rapid test will be completed immediately,” Luhut concluded. [antaranews/photo special]
