Preventing Omicron Variants, Soekarno-Hatta Airport Tightens Supervision Of International Travelers

Illustrations / Antara

JAKARTA - Soekarno-Hatta Airport has tightened supervision of international travellers to prevent cases of importing the new variant of Omicron COVID-19, by implementing the provisions in the Circular Letter of the Minister of Transportation Circular Letter Number 102 of 2021 concerning International Travel Health Protocols During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Director of Operation & Services AP II, Muhamad Wasid said, Circular Letter of Minister of Transportation Number 102 of 2021, among others, regulates the temporary closure of the entry of foreign nationals (foreigners), either directly or in transit in foreign countries, who have lived and/or visited within a certain period of time. 14 days from countries/regions that have confirmed transmission of the Omicron variant, namely South Africa, Botswana, and Hong Kong, as well as countries that are geographically close to the transmission country for the Omicron case community, namely Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Eswatini and Lesotho.

"After coordination between stakeholders, checkpoint points will be added to ensure that the provision for the temporary closure of the entry of foreigners according to the Circular Letter of Minister of Transportation Number 102/2021 can be implemented properly", said Muhamad Wasid in a statement monitored in Jakarta, Friday, December 3.

Wasid said the addition of a checkpoint was an inspection by immigration officers at the forefront after passengers got off the plane.

Previously, when passengers got off the plane, they would meet at a checkpoint for checking health documents by officers from the Port Health Office of the Ministry of Health (KKP Kemenkes).

Now, it will be added with inspection by immigration officers.

"So, when passengers get off the plane, they will see a checkpoint for checking travel documents by immigration officers", he said.

As for the immigration stamp in the passport, it will still be carried out at the existing immigration counter for international travellers who meet the entry requirements to Indonesian territory.

Meanwhile, the Executive General Manager of Soekarno-Hatta Airport Agus Haryadi said inspections by immigration officers at this front point were to ensure closure provisions. while the entry of foreigners from 11 countries according to the Minister of Transportation of Minister of Transportation Number 102/2021 is running effectively.

"Immigration officers are at the front to carry out inspections, and foreigners who are included in the provision of temporary closure to enter Indonesian territory will not process further international arrivals", said Agus Haryadi.

Agus said the inspection by immigration officers at the forefront was also in line with the direction of the Minister of Transportation so that the provision of temporary entry closures for foreigners could run well.

Soekarno-Hatta Airport is also very ready to carry out NAAT/other types of tests or RT-PCR tests for passengers who have just landed, as by the provisions of Minister of Transportation Number 102/2021.

Currently, Soekarno-Hatta Airport has been equipped with a Level-2 Bio Safety Laboratory (BSL-2) laboratory facility with a sample inspection capacity of up to 1,216 samples per hour or around 29,184 per day.

"This BSL-2 facility supports efforts to prevent imported cases of COVID-19", said Agus Haryadi.

Meanwhile, after processing international arrivals at the airport, passengers are required to undergo quarantine at the designated location.

As is known, by the Addendum to the Circular Letter of the COVID-19 Handling Task Force Number 23 of 2021 concerning International Travel Health Protocols During the COVID-19 Pandemic, the quarantine period for international travellers, both Indonesian citizens and foreigners, upon arrival is subject to RT-PCR retesting and required to undergo quarantine for 10 x 24 hours. For Indonesian citizens and foreigners, a second RT-PCR is carried out on the 9th day of quarantine for those who are quarantined with a duration of 10 x 24 hours.

For Indonesian citizens arriving from South Africa, Botswana and Hong Kong, Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Eswatini, and Lesotho, RT-PCR is performed upon arrival, then quarantined for 14 x 24 hours. On day 13, a second RT-PCR was performed.