Pelni Ships Have Not Been Allowed To Enter Agats Asmat Port, Regency Government Officials Are Still Evaluating

Asmat Regent Elisa Kambu (ANTARA)

ASMAT - The Government of Asmat Regency, Papua Province has not yet allowed passenger ships belonging to PT Pelni (Persero) to dock at Agats Port since the COVID-19 pandemic broke out in the region in 2020.

Asmat Regent Elisa Kambu said his staff planned to reopen PT Pelni passenger ship shipping to Asmat in 2022 by observing the development of COVID-19 transmission.

"We have agreed that in 2022 we will reopen for PT Pelni passenger ships. Now they are only allowed to transport cargo (goods)," said Regent Kambu when contacted by Antara from Timika, Friday, December 3.

According to him, the Asmat Regency Government will conduct a thorough evaluation before the operation of the PT Pelni passenger ship to the Agats Port.

The goal is that passenger entry and exit activities, especially from outside the region, do not trigger a spike in COVID-19 cases in the Asmat area.

"We will see developments until February 2022. If COVID-19 cases continue to decline, we will definitely reopen," said the number one person in Asmat Regency.

Regarding the development of COVID-19 cases in Asmat Regency, the Regent of Kambu said that currently it had decreased drastically, in fact there were almost no new cases found.

"Nowadays there are almost no more, maybe there are one or two people who are positive, but it is very rare. However, all people must remain vigilant, especially with the increased mobility of people from outside to Asmat. Especially now that there is a new variant of COVID-19 which spreads very quickly. It must really be anticipated, "said the Regent of Kambu.

Like other regions, the Asmat Regency Government is ready to implement the Level III Community Activity Restriction (PPKM) policy from 24 December to 2 January 2022.