International Arrivals amid Covid-19 Restriction; Luhut Pandjaitan Answers

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Coordinating Minister of Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Pandjaitan in a virtual press conference on Tuesday anserwed questions about the arrival of 20 foreign workers in Indonesia amidst the government’s emergency PPKM (public activity restriction) enforcement.

The coordinating minister argues that Indonesia’s decision to accept the arrival of international communities under strict health requirements is nothing different from what other countries are currently implementing. 

“Other countries are doing it, we are too. We can’t run a country with a ‘you want but i don’t’ mentality. It can’t be like that,” he said in the virtual press conference on July 6. 

Luhut Pandjaitan confirmed that each and every foreigner entering Indonesia has gone through strict health restrictions such as requiring them to be completely vaccinated with the two doses. 

“No one is permitted to arrive in Indonesia without a card that shows they have received two-dose vaccinations,” he said.

Another health requirement is that foreigners are subjected to another Covid-19 PCR swab test and 8-day quarantine as they arrive - adding to the previous swab test they must undergo prior to departing from their country. Foreign nationals are only permitted to enter the country after they are thoroughly determined to be Covid-19-free. 

Read also: Emergency PPKM Reduces Passengers Traffic in Angkasa Pura Airports

FRANCISCA CHRISTY ROSANA