DKI Optimizes To Prevent New Variant Of COVID-19 From Entrance

Jakarta Deputy Governor Ahmad Riza Patria/ANTARA

JAKARTA - The DKI Jakarta Provincial Government has optimized the prevention of the entry of new variants of the corona virus (COVID-19) through more stringent entrances including ports and airports.

"The main thing is of course prevention upstream and at entrances, especially airports, ports and public places," said Deputy Governor of DKI Jakarta Ahmad Riza Patria at the DKI DPRD building, quoted by Antara, Monday, November 29.

The DKI Provincial Government has also intensified coordination with the central government to jointly prevent the entry of a new variant of COVID-19, namely Omicron from a number of countries in Africa.

In addition, the DKI Health Office is also preparing the best efforts in preventing and handling these cases.

Even so, Riza emphasized to the public to be more vigilant and careful about the transmission of COVID-19 and its new variant.

Riza reminded that during the long holiday, there was always an increase in new cases of COVID-19.

"We must not be euphoric, must not slack, be vigilant, ensure discipline is obedient and responsible," said Riza.

The Task Force for Handling COVID-19 issued Circular Letter Number 23 of 2021 concerning International Travel Health Protocols.

The government imposed a temporary closure of entrances to Indonesia by suspending the granting of visas to foreign nationals with travel history in the last 14 days to South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Angola, Namibia and Hong Kong.

This arrangement is exempted for diplomatic and service visa holders, foreign officials at ministerial level and above and entourages who make official/state visits, enter with the "Travel Corridor Arragement" scheme and delegates from G20 member countries.

"This country list can be added if there is confirmation of local transmission in other countries. As a follow-up, this provision will be enforced within the next 24 hours," said the Expert Team Coordinator and Spokesperson for the COVID-19 Handling Task Force Prof. Wiku Adisasmito.

Meanwhile, Indonesian citizens (WNI) who have a history of travel to these countries in the last 14 days are still allowed to return to Indonesia with the obligation to undergo quarantine for 14 days.

Meanwhile, foreigners and Indonesian citizens from other countries not mentioned above are required to adjust the quarantine duration to 7x24 hours.

The increase in quarantine duration from the previous three or five days depending on the vaccination status is a precautionary measure by the government to prevent a potential spike in cases due to the Omicron variant.

In addition to quarantine, other international traveller screening efforts are still being carried out, including administrative screening (vaccine certificates, negative COVID-19 results, and other supporting visas/immigration documents) and re-examination efforts.