Govt Scraps Antigen, PCR Test Requirement for Domestic Travelers

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan announced that domestic travelers are no longer required to present proof of the RT-PCR or antigen COVID-19 test. This new policy applies to all modes of transportation.

“During the transition period to normal activities, the government today will implement various policies. First, domestic travelers who have received two doses or the complete dose of the vaccine no longer need to show evidence of the negative result of antigen and PCR tests,” said Luhut on Monday, March 7.

The provision will be set forth in ministerial and institutional regulations that will be issued in the near future. Additionally, the government dropped the mandatory quarantine for foreign travelers entering Bali on conditions.

Foreign travelers must have undergone a complete vaccination course or booster, present proof of payment of a hotel booking for eight days or a domicile card for Indonesian citizens.

Luhut explained that the policy was taken given the significant drop in COVID-19 cases, as well as hospital bed occupancy rate and mortality rate, in the past week.  

“The downward trend in daily confirmed cases is recorded in all provinces in Java and Bali. The hospital bed occupancy rate has also decreased, except in Yogyakarta. Yogyakarta will see a downward trend in cases in the next few days,” said Luhut in optimism.

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FRANCISCA CHRISTY ROSANA