Govt Preps Steps to Anticipate Eid Return Traffic, Stem COVID-19 Transmission

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The government is preparing measures to anticipate the peak of the Eid return traffic that was forecasted to take place three and seven days after the Eid al-Fitr Day.

Among the measures is the intensified random testing for drivers of private and public transportation vehicles on toll roads, arterial roads and small roads in residential areas. The government also formed a Special Task Force for Lampung province.

COVID-19 Mitigation Task Force spokesman Wiku Adisasmito said the government took the measures in the wake of increased escalation of COVID-19 cases in virtually all provinces on Sumatra Island.

“The condition as of May 2021, Java Island’s contribution to the national cases tumbled by 11.06 percent. On the contrary, Sumatra Island saw an increase of 27.22 percent. As for mortality rates, Java Island’s dropped by 16.07 percent, while Sumatra Island’s rose by 17.18 percent,” Wiku said in a written statement on Friday, May 14, 2021.

Responding to the situation, the Chairman of the COVID-19 Mitigation Task Force issued Letter no. 46/05 Year 2021 on the Anticipation of Public Travels during the 2021 Eid Return Traffic.

“In this letter, regional governments, particularly of provinces on Sumatra Island, are ordered to be meticulous and precise in perusing all documents of travelers during the return traffic,” he said.

In keeping with Circular No. 13 Year 2021, documents declaring the holders’ COVID-19-free status encompass the results of PRC and antigen or GeNose tests with validity of three days during the mudik (homecoming) ban on May 6-17, 2021. As for the period of post-Eid traffic restrictions from May 18-24, COVID-19-free letters must be valid for 24 hours for all kinds of testing methods and travelers must carry the required travel permits.

“Thus, all travelers failing to show travel documents and travel permits without any exceptions must turn around and be barred from continuing their trips,” he said.

Read: Eid al-Fitr: Jakarta Police Turn Back 64,612 Vehicles during Mudik Ban

DEWI NURITA