TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo in a video uploaded by the Presidential Secretariat’s Youtube channel on Wednesday said he predicts there will be 85 million people who will travel in the Ramadan-end ‘mudik’ or mass exodus known as the Eid Homecoming.

Early predictions believe there will be 14 million people from Greater Jakarta traveling to their hometowns during this period, with 47 percent of them using personal vehicles.

The government has also announced the Eid al-Fitr national holiday will be set at May 2-3 with additional collective leaves from April 29, May 4-6.

“The government will surely work hard to provide maximum service for these travelers towards a safe and comfortable journey,” said the President on April 6. “The collective leave can be used to gather with family members, parents, and relatives back in your hometown.”

Despite the message of festivity, Jokowi reminded people that the Covid-19 pandemic has not completely subsided and called for people to take their booster shot, practice proper health protocols, and avoid gathering in large crowds.

Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin previously announced that people who have only taken their first vaccine dose must still test for covid through PCR test upon traveling in this year’s mudik season. People who have taken their first and second vaccine shots are required to show antigen reports while those with complete vaccination records, added with a booster, no longer have to take PCR or antigen tests to travel across regional borders.

Read: Trans Java Toll Operator Prepares for Upcoming Mass Exodus

FAJAR PEBRIANTO