Government Prohibits Homecoming, Polri Prepares Ketupat Operations Adjustments

JAKARTA - The government has decided to ban the 2021 homecoming due to the COVID-19 pandemic conditions. The National Police will adjust Operation Ketupat 2021.

"What is clear is that in the Lebaran homecoming security activity, the police will hold a ketupat operation and of course the plan for the ketupat operation to be carried out is adjusted to the government's policy. Of course, the operation will be carried out in accordance with the government policy. Now it is still at the planning stage, ”said Karo Penmas, Police Public Relations Division Brigadier General Rusdi Hartono at the Police Headquarters, Friday, March 26.

Previously, the Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture of Indonesia (Menko PMK) Muhadjir Effendy explained the reasons for banning the 2021 homecoming. He said the decision to prohibit going home to keep the implementation of COVID-19 vaccination was not disturbed.

"In 2021, homecoming will be eliminated, so that the vaccination efforts that have been carried out can produce the maximum possible health condition as expected," Muhadjir said in a virtual press conference, Friday, March 26.

Muhadjir said the government had implemented programs to deal with COVID-19, such as the implementation of PSBB, micro PPKM, and strengthening of health programs, to vaccinations.

In addition, according to the experience of several long holidays before, the increase in the number of COVID-19 cases occurred due to the high mobility of the community. So that case control is not disturbed along with the vaccination process, a ban on going home is stipulated.

"The high rate of transmission and death, both for the public and health workers due to the COVID-19 outbreak after several long holidays, especially after the Christmas and New Year holidays, including the high BOR for hospitals. So that decisive steps are needed to prevent this from happening again," Muhadjir explained.