Preventing Omicron Variants From Entering Indonesia, Ministry Of Transportation Releases New Provisions For International Flights

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Transportation (Kemenhub) has released the latest regulations regarding international travel by air, as outlined in Circular Letter (SE) 106 of 2021 concerning Amendments to Circular Letter of the Minister of Transportation Number SE 102 of 2021 concerning Instructions for Implementing International Travel by Air Transportation During a Pandemic Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Director-General of Civil Aviation Novie Riyanto said that SE 106 of 2021 was issued to prevent the entry of COVID-19 B.1.1.529 or the Omicron Variant to Indonesia.

"We must be able to prevent the third wave from occurring. Domestically, restrictions are being placed on Christmas and New Year, while internationally we are preventing Omicron from entering Indonesia," Novie Riyanto said at a press conference quoted by ANTARA, Saturday, December 4.

Novie explained that the latest provisions in SE 106 of 2021, among others, change the quarantine time outside 11 countries (South Africa, Botswana, and Hong Kong, as well as countries that are geographically close to the transmission country for the Omicron case community, namely Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Eswatini and Lesotho), from 7 days to 10 days.

In addition, it also changes the PCR requirements for foreign aircraft personnel, from 7x24 hours to 3x24 hours, and adds provisions for mandatory PCR tests upon arrival for foreign aircraft personnel.

"We provide more specific details to the crew, both pilots, flight attendants, and all of our technicians, we apply the same thing. The validity period starts on December 3, 2021," he said.

Novie said that the government had learned that the Omicron variant of COVID-19 had spread in more than 11 countries, and it had even been detected in Malaysia and Singapore.

He hopes that the efforts that have been made can be useful in preventing the entry of these variants into the country.

Novie also asked all stakeholders, especially airport operators, to carry out the provisions properly.

"We are doing things that are more aware by tightening the rules. I have also asked the airport to review the existing SOPs, so that as much as possible we are obedient and consistent," he concluded.