Tourists Visiting Bali Obliged to Take PCR Test: Luhut Pandjaitan

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Pandjaitan asked Bali provincial administration and other local governments to tighten the health protocols in rest areas, hotels, and tourist attractions in an effort to anticipate a hike in COVID-19 cases after the Christmas and New Year holidays.

“Tourists who are boarding a plane to Bali must take the PCR test Day-2 before departure and rapid antigen test Day-2 before going on a land trip to Bali,” said Luhut in a written statement on Monday, Dec. 14, 2020.

Luhut also urged the Minister of Health, Head of BNPB (National Disaster Mitigation Agency), and the Minister of Transportation to set the procedure immediately. “I ask for the completion of the SOP on the use of rapid antigen tests today,” he added.

Indonesia decided to ban crowds and New Year celebrations in public places. This decision was taken at the virtual COVID-19 mitigation coordination meeting with Jakarta, West Java, Central Java, East Java, and Bali governments.

Luhut requested the tightened policy beginning Dec. 18, 2020, until January 8, 2021, given the significant rise of cases after collective leave and long holidays at the end of October.

“The number of positive cases and the fatality rate continue to increase after holidays in 8 and 20 provinces, after the trends previously dropped,” Luhut recalled.

Luhut Pandjaitan underlined that provinces with an increasing trend of Covid-19 cases included Jakarta, West Java, Central Java, East Java, South Sulawesi, North Sumatra, Bali, and South Kalimantan.

Also Read: Indonesia COVID-19 Figures Rise by 5,489; East Java Reports Highest Death Toll

HENDARTYO HANGGI