79Mn Expected to Go Mudik; Govt Preps Vaccination Centers in Airports, Terminals

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian government, this year, is allowing the people to travel for Eid homecoming, locally known as mudik, after two years. But the homecomers are required to get the booster vaccine against Covid-19.

Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi said his side is preparing vaccination facilities at airports, ports, stations, and bus terminals for the homecomers. "Inshallah, there will be vaccination venues at airports, ports, bus terminals, and train stations," he said Friday, April 1, 2022.

Budi said his office will coordinate with related agencies in the next weeks and conduct a simulation.

Based on the data from the ministry, around 79 million are expected to go mudik this year. The number is considered high but also understandable as for the past two years, the people could not go to their hometowns to the Covid-19 restrictions. Most people go mudik to West Java, Central Java, and East Java.

Covid-19 Task Force head, who is also the chief of the national disaster mitigation agency (BNPB), Lt. Gen. Suharyanto said that the people are allowed to do homecoming travel this year but they must be vaccinated as the travel requirement.

For those who received the booster vaccine, there is no need to undergo a Covid-19 test. Those who got complete primary vaccination, or the first and second doses, must undergo an antigen test minimum of 1x24 hours before departure, or a PCR test (3x34 hours). Meanwhile, those who only received one dose must undergo a PCR test a minimum of 3x24 hours before departure.

Therefore, the Transportation Ministry provides vaccination facilities at airports, ports, stations, and terminals for the public aiming to travel for mudik and complete their booster vaccination.

Read: West Java Increase Booster Vaccination Ahead of Eid al-Fitr Homecoming

Antara