Task Force: Lifting The Ban On Entry Of Foreigners To Maintain Relations And The Economy

ILLUSTRATION/PHOTO VIA BETWEEN

JAKARTA - Head of the Task Force for Handling COVID-19, Lt. Gen. Suharyanto, said that the reopening of domestic arrival gates for travelers from a number of countries affected by Omicron was to maintain relations and economic stability.

"The Omicron virus has spread to more than 150 countries, so if you only close 14 countries, there will be protests, injustice," said Suharyanto, quoted by Antara, Monday, January 17.

He said the policy was also accompanied by the implementation of strict health protocols (prokes). "Currently it is not restricted (overseas arrivals), but still a seven-day quarantine," he said.

Suharyanto said the quarantine period was set for a week for foreign arrivals, because experts said the incubation period for Omicron was 3-6 days. "In fact, in the United States, five days is considered cured," he said.

He said the reopening of foreign arrivals is one way to maintain health and the economy and maintain good relations with other countries.

Suharyanto added that the positive number of COVID-19 in Indonesia since Christmas 2021 and New Year's 2022 continues to move up and is still dominated by Foreign Travel Actors (PPLN).

PPLN treated at the Wisma Atlet COVID-19 Emergency Hospital, Jakarta reached 89 percent. "So, we remain vigilant, but there is no need to panic, because cases in Indonesia do not occur as in the UK and the United States," he said.

The government lifted the entry ban for foreign nationals (WNA) from 14 countries by transmitting the Omicron community. The decision was taken based on the results of a mutual agreement in a limited meeting on January 10, 2022 and stated in the Circular Letter of the COVID-19 Task Force No 02/2022 concerning Health Protocols for Overseas Travel during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The countries in question are those that have confirmed community transmission of the Omicron variant, such as South Africa, Botswana, Norway, France.

In addition, countries that are geographically close to the four countries above, such as Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Eswatini, and Lesotho, as well as countries where the number of Omicron cases exceeds 10,000 cases, such as the UK and Denmark.