People Are Asked To Obey Health Protocol Because Omicron Has Entered The ASEAN Region

JAKARTA - The government asks all parties to comply with travel rules and quarantine provisions and carry out health protocols (prokes) ahead of the 2021 Christmas and New Year's holidays in 2022, considering that the Omicron COVID-19 variant has been reported to have entered the ASEAN region.

"News reports state that our neighboring countries in ASEAN have also reported detecting this variant. So how do we do it? Let's support the government to regulate overseas travel, implement appropriate quarantine and comply with PPKM regulations during the Christmas and New Year holidays," said Government Spokesperson for Handling COVID-19 dr. Reisa Broto Asmoro quoted by Antara, Friday, December 3.

Previously, the government had tightened the rules for travel and community activities during the Christmas and New Year holidays. One of them is PPKM Level 3 which will take effect from December 24, 2021, to January 2, 2021.

The Circular Letter (SE) of the COVID-19 Task Force Number 24 of 2021 concerning Regulation of Community Activities and Mobility During the Christmas Period of 2021 and the New Year of 2022 during the Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic also tightened public travel and activities.

The government has also tightened the quarantine period for foreign nationals and Indonesian residents to 10 days from the previous seven days. There is also a ban on arrivals from several countries due to concerns about Omicron.

Reisa said that every individual can support this effort by continuing to carry out health protocols, namely wearing masks, washing hands, maintaining distance, staying away from crowds, and limiting mobility, especially in the period before Christmas and New Year.

"What are the variants of implementing the program is the answer to prevention," said Reisa, who is also the New Habit Adaptation Ambassador.