Center Cancels PPKM At Christmas And New Year, Prokes In Riau Islands Still Mandatory

Spokesperson for the Riau Islands COVID-19 Handling Task Force, Tjetjep Yudiana/ Antara

TANJUNGPINANG - The Riau Islands Province COVID-19 Task Force said it would continue to require health protocols for all residents even though the central government canceled PPKM level 3 from 24 December 2021 to 2 January 2022.

Spokesperson for the Riau Islands COVID-19 Handling Task Force, Tjetjep Yudiana, said that people can carry out their activities as usual, but they are not euphoric because the COVID-19 condition is under control.

In Riau Islands, there are only 6 active cases of COVID-19, 5 of which are spread in Batam City and one in Karimun Regency. Meanwhile in Lingga, Natuna, Anambas, and Tanjungpinang, there were no active cases of COVID-19.

"Even though active cases of COVID-19 have drastically decreased, there should not be a 2022 New Year's party that causes crowds of people," he said in Tanjungpinang, Tuesday, December 7.

Tjetjep explained that efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19 are still being carried out by the government, especially now that Omicron has reached Singapore, a neighboring country bordering the Riau Islands. Disease 2019 at Christmas in 2021 and New Year in 2022.

These regulations include, among others, the requirements for domestic long-distance travel during Christmas and New Year's 2022. Everyone who travels to other areas or between islands is required to have complete vaccinations and negative antigen results a maximum of a day before departure.

Adults who have not received a complete COVID-19 vaccination or cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons are not allowed to travel long distances.

For children, he said, they can still travel with stricter conditions. The condition is that they have carried out PCR which is valid for three days for air travel or a day for antigens for land or sea travel.

"We urge residents to continue to obey health protocols when traveling outside the area," he said.