After 419 First Umrah Congregants To Saudi Arabia, Ministry Of Religion Reminds Prokes Discipline To Prevent COVID

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Religion (Kemenag) asked Umrah pilgrims who had departed for the Holy Land to comply with the rules for implementing health protocols in force in Saudi Arabia for the sake of smoothness during worship.

"Keep doing the health protocols because the pandemic is not over yet," said the Ministry of Religion's Director General of Hajj and Umrah (PHU) Hilman Latief in a written statement received in Jakarta, Antara, Monday, January 10.

Previously, the Ministry of Religion released 419 people to perform Umrah on Saturday, January 8 and became the first cluster after two years of not sending worshipers due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The start of the implementation of Umrah is inseparable from the intensive communication between the Indonesian government and Saudi Arabia. Therefore, he invites the congregation to maintain the trust that has been given by remaining obedient to the rules.

"Especially complying with the health protocols that have been established," he said.

Hilman also reminded operators of Umrah pilgrimages (PPIU) to comply with the One Gate Policy as an effort to minimize the potential for COVID-19 transmission.

This one-door policy is a centralized system for departing pilgrims that has been set by the Ministry of Religion. This rule regulates all Umrah pilgrims departing from Soekarno-Hatta Airport and undergoing quarantine in Jakarta.

This policy also regulates health checks, PCR/Swab tests, checks on vaccination status, immigration, and centrally manages other documents.

Meanwhile, General Chairperson of the Umrah and Hajj Organizing Association (Himpuh) Budi Darmawan said the departure of these pilgrims was flown directly to Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Medina.

Upon arrival in Medina, Budi said, they were quarantined for five days, if the results were negative, they would proceed to Mecca to perform Umrah and before returning to the country the pilgrims would be tested by PCR and re-quarantined at the Pondok Gede Hajj Dormitory.

"There were no other passengers on the plane other than Umrah pilgrims," he said.