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THE REQUIREMENT for a PCR test for domestic travel by airplane is a matter of controversy. Chairman of the Indonesian Doctors Association (IDI) Task Force Zubairi Djoerban explained the importance of screening in the form of an RT PCR test before travelers travel by airplane.
Zubairi said there must be a tightening on the one hand if the government loosens travel policies on the other hand. So, on the one hand we have relaxed (terms and rules) and this is worrying. So, it is appropriate to tighten the screening.
According to Zubairi, the RT PCR test is better than the antigen swab test. Because the accuracy in detecting COVID-19 through PCR is higher.
He also explains why airplanes need more stringent screening. This is because the physical conditions on the plane tend to be more closed than other forms of transportation. The potential for transmission (COVID-19) is high in a closed room, the conditions are many people and the time is long. For example, airplanes, cruise ships and so on.
With this potential, Zubairi said, all parties certainly do not want the transmission of COVID-19 due to domestic travel to make Indonesia jump again as in last July-August.
He reminded that at that time Indonesia had recorded more than 2,000 cases of COVID-19 deaths in a day. In addition, Indonesia has also experienced the highest weekly number of cases in the world.
“Now our ranking has dropped to the bottom. For weekly cases we rank 60. The number of people dying is also below 100 on a daily basis, while our positivity rate is below 2%. Therefore, we must maintain it. This means that on the one hand we are still good, but also on the other hand we are opening up economic activity so it must be tightened,” said Zubairi.
Previously reported, the COVID-19 Handling Task Force issued Circular Letter (SE) of the COVID-19 Task Force Number 21 of 2021 concerning Travel Provisions for Domestic People During the COVID-19 Pandemic.
This SE details the rules for domestic travelers. Both those using land, rail, sea and air transportation modes throughout Indonesia. One of them, SE regulates that traveling by plane to the Java-Bali region must show a vaccine card document for at least the first dose of vaccination.
In addition, it is mandatory to show a certificate of RT PCR results whose samples were taken within 2 x 24 hours before departure. The two documents also apply to travelers from areas with level 3 and level 4 status outside Java-Bali who will fly to Java-Bali.
In addition, travel by plane for destinations to non-Java-Bali levels 3 and 4 is also required to show these two documents. However, the requirements for the RT PCR test for air transport travellers do not apply in pioneer areas, including in border areas and 3T areas (underdeveloped, frontier, outermost).
This is based on the Circular Letter (SE) of the Ministry of Transportation Number 88 of 2021. The latest air travel regulations will take effect on October 24, 2021 at 00.00 WIB. [kontan.co.id/photo special]
