ER
THE quarantine period for all international travelers entering the territory of Indonesia has become 8×24 hours from the previous 5×24 hours.
According to the Head of the Task Force for Handling COVID-19, Ganip Warsito, in a press conference regarding the regulation of overseas travelers who are monitored online in Jakarta, said all international travellers, both Indonesian citizens and foreigners, must follow the requirements, when they arrive, RT-PCR retests are carried out and required to undergo quarantine for 8 x 24 hours.
“This provision is contained in the addendum to the Circular Letter of the Task Force No. 8 of 2021 concerning International Travel Health Protocols During the COVID-19 Pandemic. The addendum is effective from July 6, 2021 until a specified time is then issued with the aim of monitoring, controlling, and evaluating in order to prevent an increase in COVID-19, including its new variants,” he said.
Ganip explained the quarantine provisions, namely for Indonesian citizens such as Indonesian Migrant Workers (PMI), students, students or government employees returning from official trips abroad, in accordance with the Decree of the Head of the COVID-19 Task Force No. 11 of 2021 concerning entrances, quarantine places and PCR obligations at the cost of being borne by the government.
“For Indonesian citizens outside these criteria and foreigners, including diplomats outside the head of foreign diplomats and the families of the heads of foreign representatives, undergoing quarantine in quarantine accommodation places that have received certification for organizing COVID-19 quarantine accommodation by the Ministry of Health, all costs are borne independently,” he stated.
In the event that the head of the foreign representative and family serving in Indonesia can self-quarantine at their respective residences for 8×24 hours.
Furthermore, for all international travelers, an PCR test is carried out on the seventh day of quarantine, if the results are negative then after 8×24 hours the quarantine is complete and they are allowed to continue the journey but it is recommended to self-quarantine for 14 days and continue to apply health protocols
However, if the results of the PCR test are positive, then the Indonesian citizen will be treated at the hospital at a cost to be borne by the government, while the foreign national will bear all the costs themselves.
Another provision added to the circular letter is that Indonesian citizens must show a card or certificate, both physical and digital, that has been vaccinated against COVID-19 in full doses. If Indonesian citizens have not received vaccines abroad, they will be vaccinated in a quarantine place after a second PCR examination with negative results or a seven-day quarantine period is carried out.
Likewise, foreigners are required to show a card or certificate, both physical and digital, that has received a complete dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Foreigners who are already in Indonesia who will travel both domestically and internationally are required to vaccinate through a program or mutual cooperation scheme in accordance with statutory regulations.
The exception is showing a vaccine card for foreigners holding diplomatic visas and service visas related to official state visits of foreign officials at ministerial level and above with the Travel Corridor Arrangement scheme according to the principle of reciprocity while still implementing strict health protocols. [antaranews/photo special]
