Vice President: Homecoming Is Sunnah, Prevent Transmission of COVID-19 Mandatory

JAKARTA - Vice President Ma'ruf Amin said maintaining silaturahim (visit each other) of Eid al-Fitr homecoming is an act of sunnah. But protecting yourself and others from the dangers of COVID-19 is more important and an obligation to the whole community.

"The position that homecoming, silaturahim is sunnah, is good, but there is a danger or al ikhtiraj anil waba, so keeping yourself from the plague of the disease is mandatory", vice president Ma'ruf Amin was quoted as saying by Antara, Saturday, April 10.

With the reason to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 increasingly massive in Indonesia, the government issued a ban on homecoming for the public on Eid al-Fitr 1442 Hijri 2021.

"Why does the government ban homecoming? That's because last year's experience increased COVID-19 to 90 percent during homecoming. To keep it (the transmission of COVID-19), then it is forbidden to go home", said the Vice President.

Referring to the cleric from Banten, Sheikh Nawawi, the vice president said keeping yourself and others from the dangers that will come is mandatory. While COVID-19 is no longer mazmumah (good habits), but it has been believed and confirmed the danger of the virus.

"If we must avoid it, then COVID-19 is no longer mazmunah but believed, it is certainly the case. Therefore, of course, the obligation is higher", he said.

The vice president also asked religious leaders to convey the important message of protecting themselves and others from the transmission of COVID-19, so that people are asked not to go home.

"We must put more important than important. Here the importance of us inviting the community, delivering religious messages to keep the community from the possibility of covid-19 re-rise because we can not keep it", said Ma'ruf.

The government prohibits The Eid al-Fitr 2021 homecoming activities through the Circular letter of the Head of the Task Force on Handling COVID-19 Number 13 of 2021 concerning the Elimination of Homecoming in Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr in 1442 Hijri during May 6-17, 2021. The ban is enforced for land, sea, air, and rail transportation modes.

Homecoming trips are excluded for ASN official travel, BUMN/BUMD employees, Police, TNI, and private employees with a letter of duty; sick family visits, funeral visits of deceased families, and emergency health services.

Travel during this period can also be done by the heads of state high institutions, members of the TNI / Police who are serving, vehicles operational service toll road officers, firefighters, ambulances, hearse cars, as well as goods cars without passengers.