COVID-19 Cases in Indonesia Rise Again, Here's the Response of AP I and AP II Airport Management

JAKARTA - The government is highlighting COVID-19 cases in Indonesia which have recently started to increase again.

Moreover, the Christmas 2023 and New Year 2024 (Nataru) holidays are only a few days away, during which time community movement will be very high.

Responding to the increasing number of COVID-19 cases, the state-owned airport operator, PT Angkasa Pura I (AP I), admitted that there were no specific instructions regarding restrictions on passenger movement at the airport from the Ministry of Transportation (Kemenhub).

"We have not specifically received instructions regarding restrictions, there have been no direct instructions (until now)," said AP I Operations Director, Indah Preastuty in a press conference welcoming Christmas 2023 and New Year 2024 (Nataru) InJourney, in Jakarta, wrote Thursday, December 14.

However, Indah admitted that AP I would again prepare a thermal scanner and also coordinate with the Port Health Office (KKP) to anticipate the spread of disease which could disrupt passenger movements at the airport.

"We ourselves have to anticipate if it is detected that there is a health-related disturbance that has the potential to cause operational disruption," he said.

Indah also said that officers at AP I airport would advise passengers to return to wearing masks to prevent the spread of disease while at the airport.

"We convey it both through media and information, we urge people to use masks again and anticipate the re-emergence of COVID-19 and pneumonia," he said.

AP II Waiting for Directions from the Ministry of Transportation

Likewise, AP II Corporate Secretary, Deni Krisnowibowo, explained that in taking steps to prevent COVID-19, AP II will wait for directions from the Ministry of Transportation (Kemenhub) and the Port Health Office (KKP).

"Later, of course, we will wait for its implementation based on the direction of the relevant stakeholders, we from the Ministry of Transportation or KKP, regarding implementation in the field and what kind of anticipation there will be," he said.

Furthermore, Deni said, airport officials under AP II management have also appealed to passengers again to anticipate the spread of disease.

"Now at the airport, there have started to be personal appeals from our officers to always be alert, and always use personal equipment to prevent this from happening more widely. "Hopefully we hope it doesn't happen again like last time," said Deni.