Omicron Enters Indonesia, Luhut Considers Extending Quarantine Period To 14 Days

Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut Pandjaitan/DOK VIA ANTARA

JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, said the government was considering extending the quarantine duration for travelers from abroad to 14 days.

The opportunity to extend the quarantine period to two weeks, said Luhut, is in line with the increase in the number of countries that have found transmission of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 in their territory, including Indonesia.

"The government is seriously considering increasing the quarantine period to 14 days if the spread of the Omicron variant expands", Luhut said in a virtual press conference, Monday, December 20.

Luhut also appealed to the public not to travel abroad unless there was an urgent need, such as a vacation.

Then, to anticipate the surge in Overseas Election Committee (PPLN) arriving in Indonesia, the Government will also again prepare new quarantine places or guesthouses to maintain conducive conditions for their return and according to the existing protocol.

"The government will also review the readiness of Juanda Airport in Surabaya as a new entrance for PPLN who will return to their homeland", he said.

For information, the government is currently implementing obligations for Indonesian citizens and foreigners who come to Indonesia from international trips to quarantine for 10x24 hours.

However, the government gave stricter policies to 13 countries because they had a fairly high Omicron spread.

These countries include South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Angola, Namibia, England, Norway, and Denmark.

For Indonesian citizens and special foreigners arriving from these 13 countries, they are required to quarantine for 14 days. However, for other foreigners, the government prohibits them from entering Indonesia at this time.