Ministry Of Religion Arranges Risk Mitigation For Organizing Umrah During The COVID-19 Pandemic

JAKARTA - Saudi Arabia began to grant permits to perform Umrah since October 5, although it was limited to its citizens and expatriates living there. On November 1, the Saudis plan to start giving the green light to pilgrims from outside the Kingdom. However, the Saudis will first release the countries that have received permission to dispatch the congregation.

Reporting from the Ministry of Religion's website, the Directorate General of Haj and Umrah Implementation at the Ministry of Religion has begun to prepare risk mitigation for organizing Umrah during the COVID-19 period as preparation. Director of Bina Umrah and Special Hajj Arfi Hatim said this mitigation will be made in the form of regulations that can become a common reference for all stakeholders in organizing Umrah.

"The form could be a Decree or Regulation of the Minister of Religion. We are still formulating it, hopefully this regulation can be completed soon," said Arfi in Depok, Tuesday, October 6.

"If indeed Indonesia is allowed, our priority is to dispatch the Umrah pilgrims which have been delayed since February 27 because of the Saudi policy to close access to entry," he continued.

According to Arfi, there were around 36 thousand pilgrims who had delayed their departure. They have made payments to the Umrah Worship Trip Organizer (PPIU).

"Our focus is currently prioritizing them. The data continues to be validated while we are preparing regulations," he explained.

The next stage, said Arfi, Ministry of Religion will discuss the draft Umrah pilgrimage regulations during this pandemic with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Transportation, BNPB (Task Force for Prevention of COVID-19), and the PPIU association.

"The implementation of the pandemic era Umrah is expected to provide experience for the holding of the 1442 H haj," he said.

The importance of regulation was also highlighted by the Minister of Religion for the 2014-2019 period Lukman Hakim Saefuddin. Present as a resource person at the same place, Lukman assessed that the Ministry of Religion must immediately prepare regulations for organizing Umrah during the pandemic which will become the basis of policy.

He introduced the 6-6-3 formula in mitigating Umrah during a pandemic. Lukman divided into three groups, pre-organizing (departure), during organizing, and post-organizing (returning).

"Preparation of regulations is the first thing that must be done from the six pre-implementation stages," he said.

The second thing is to formulate the concept of quota distribution. He suspects that the Saudis will set a quota for organizing Umrah during the pandemic.

"Each country gets a quota which must be distributed based on the locus (province) and tempus (time). It could be that there will be an Umrah (monthly) schedule. This needs to be formulated," said LHS.

Third, implementation of health protocols from home to quarantine. "Quarantine can take advantage of the Hajj dormitories," he explained.

Fourth, the implementation of the protocol when the congregation follows quarantine. Included in this is the swab implementation protocol and how it will be handled if a congregation is confirmed positive.

Fifth, the implementation of the protocol at the Indonesian airport. "The sixth mitigation is the application of the in-flight protocol. It must also be ensured that the flight is direct flight," he said.

At the stage of organizing the Umrah, there are 6 schemes that must be carried out. This begins with the implementation of a protocol at the Saudi Airport (Jeddah / Medina), not only for the congregation but also for PPIU officers who accompany the congregation.

Second, the application of the road trip protocol from Saudi airports to hotels. Third, the implementation of the protocol in the hotel. "This can follow Saudi regulations. However, our protocol must also regulate detailed matters related to the activities of the congregation while at the hotel," he said.

Fourth, the implementation of protocols for the congregation while at the Grand Mosque and Nabawi. Fifth, implementation of protocols ahead of return. "The congregation must be confirmed in a negative condition for Covid-19. You can do a swab test before boarding a plane from Saudi Arabia," he said.

"Finally, the implementation of the protocol if there is a congregation who is confirmed positive for Covid in Saudi. This is of course also related to Saudi policy," he continued.

As for the post-Umrah mitigation, he underlined three things, namely: the application of the protocol at the Saudi Airport (Jeddah / Medina) before returning home, the protocol on the plane when going to the country, and the protocol at the airport in the country.

Lukman encouraged the formulation of regulations to be discussed with stakeholders in organizing Umrah. Thus, decisions taken later can become joint responsibility, both PPIU and related ministries and agencies.