TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Coordinator for the Java-Bali Community Activity Restrictions or PPKM, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, said the government is anticipating a surge in COVID-19 cases ahead of Christmas and New Year holidays, including by tightening travel requirements.

“PCR tests will also be mandated for other transportation gradually in anticipation of the holiday period,” said Luhut at today’s press conference on the PPKM evaluation, October 25.

The mandatory PCR test has thus far applied to people traveling to Java-Bali regions by plane. The policy will be applied to travelers using land and sea transport.

According to Luhut, reflecting on last year's cases, although the government mandated PCR tests for flights to Bali and the Delta variant had yet to arrive, the public mobility continued to increase, leading to the significant surge in COVID-19 cases.

“We can say that the current situation in Bali is similar to that during last year's Christmas and New Year holidays and [public mobility] will continue to increase until the end of this year, raising the risk of new cases,” he remarked.

Luhut admitted that the government received a lot of criticism regarding the PCR policy. However, the government must continue to ensure that there is no increase in virus transmission as is happening in other countries although the COVID-19 situation in Indonesia is improving.

In response to public criticism, Luhut said the government would lower the price ceiling of the PCR test to Rp300,000 from previously Rp495,000 and extend the validity period of the PCR test to 3x24 hours from previously 2x24 hours.

Read: Jokowi Demands Lower PCR Test Cap at Rp300,000

FRANCISCA CHRISTY ROSANA