Immigration Comments on Arrival of 117 Indian Citizens in Soekarno-Hatta Airport

TEMPO.CO, Tangerang - Soekarno-Hatta Airport Class 1 Immigration Office Head Romi Yudianto confirmed that the arrival of 117 Indian citizens at Soekarno-Hatta Airport had gone through strict supervision and inspection.

“They bring KITAS/ITAS (Limited Stay Permits) and KITAP/ITAP (Permanent Stay Permit),” said Romi to Tempo on Friday, April 23, 2021.

Romi made the statement following wide reports about the arrival of hundreds of Indian nationals at Soekarno-Hatta Airport which caused public concern as the country was being hit by the 'Covid-19 tsunami' in the last two months. Besides, India is reportedly striving to fight against mutated SARS-CoV-2 strain touted as B1617 which contains double mutations.

Romi clarified that there were only 117 Indians, not 135 as widely reported, who landed in Indonesia on Wednesday night. They boarded AirAsia flight XZ988 that carried 127 passengers and crew, including them.

Upon arrival at the airport, all passengers underwent a medical examination by officers of the Port Health Office. “They passed the medical check and PCR/swab tests,” said Romi, adding that they also met the requirement to enter Indonesia as they presented Kitas and Kitap.

They were also obliged to undergo quarantine for five days under the monitoring of the Covid-19 Task Force. “At the quarantine site, they undergo another health check and PCR/swab test again to ensure that they are free from Covid-19,” Romi concluded.

Read Also: Covid-19 Task Force: B1617 New Variant Not Yet Detected in Indonesia

JONIANSYAH HARDJONO