Health workers taking swab samples from airplane passengers while taking a COVID-19 rapid test at Terminal 2 Soekarno Hatta Airport, Tangerang, Banten, Monday, December 21, 2020. The negative results of Covid-19 from the PCR test and rapid antigen test are to make sure that flights are safe ahead of Christmas and New Year 2021. TEMPO/M Taufan Rengganis
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian government has once again adjusted its air travel rule regarding polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests in Java - Bali flights. Air passengers no longer need to acquire negative PCR test results.
“There will be changes for air travel in Java - Bali, as it no longer mandates the use of PCR tests,” said Coordinating Minister of Human Development and Culture Muhadjir Effendy on November 1.
Moreover, the Minister said air travelers now will only be required to undergo rapid antigen tests that apply in the entire Indonesian region.
Prior to this, the government mandated the use of PCR test certificates as a requirement, which was believed to help contain the spread of Covid-19 under the public activity restriction (PPKM) level 3 and 4.
It was then changed, and only mandated PCR tests for air travelers in the Java-Bali areas. The government even tried to implement the same requirement across all means of public transportation. This caused a public outcry that urged the government to reevaluate the health regulation.
