National Police Chief Asks For Tighter Quarantine Control For International Travelers

National Police Chief General Sigit Listyo Prabowo/Polri Public Relations DOK

JAKARTA - National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo asked the COVID-19 Handling Task Force and the TNI-Polri to tighten quarantine surveillance for international travelers (PPI).

The goal is to protect the Indonesian people from the threat of widespread transmission of COVID-19, including the Omicron variant.

"I ask all the joint teams in charge of the Sagtas, TNI-Polri to really carry out monitoring the inspection and quarantine processes are going well, please process any existing violations," said National Police Chief Sigit, quoted by Antara, Friday, December 24.

This request was conveyed by National Police Chief Sigit when checking the enforcement of health protocols for PPI at Soekarno-Hatta Airport, Tangerang, Banten, Friday with Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin, Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi, and Head of BNPB Lt. Gen. TNI Suharyanto and Kasum TNI Lt. Gen. Eko Margiyono.

The National Police Chief said he received viral public reports related to the implementation of health protocols for the PPI at Soetta Airport such as long queues, long hours, the existence of a hotel mafia and hotel prices were not transparent.

Therefore, said Sigit, he wanted to make sure of this by checking directly on the H-1 of Christmas. From the results of these checks, it is known that there are 14 stages that must be passed by the PPI when entering Indonesia through Soetta Airport.

"This process starts from the inspection to carry out a mandatory quarantine period of 10 days," said Sigit.

The National Police Chief emphasized to all officers or related parties, in addition to manual supervision, there must be the use of information technology applications related to this matter. That way it can be ensured that people who are international travelers do not leave the quarantine place for 10 days.

"The use of applications and information technology plus manual checks will be enforced. So that the public or international travelers remain in place," said the former Police Criminal Investigation Officer.

Sigit emphasized that strong enforcement of the quarantine process for PPI is very important, as an effort or anticipation to prevent the growth rate of COVID-19 and the entry of new variants of Omicron in Indonesia. This also prevents a spike in active cases of the Corona virus in the country after Christmas and New Year celebrations.

"This is important. Because a new variant of Omicron is currently being developed and from the Ministry of Health's information, there are already eight cases, which on average come from abroad," said Sigit.

Sigit invites all parties to maintain the current improving conditions for controlling COVID-19 by disciplining health protocols, including for PPI.

"We will maintain this condition so that it can be handled properly during the quarantine period," said the National Police Chief.

For this reason, Sigit asked TNI-Polri personnel, the COVID-19 Task Force, airport officers and other parties involved, to work optimally and professionally in monitoring and supervising the quarantine process for the PPI in accordance with applicable regulations.

Sigit ensured that anyone who violates the rules related to this quarantine period will be given strict sanctions. In the interest of the safety of the Indonesian people from COVID-19.

"This is for other health purposes. The new variant of Omicron develops at a rate of five times and can be transmitted to people who have been vaccinated," said Sigit.

In addition, Sigit ensures that every line of staff pays attention to the steps that must be carried out properly. And ask the public to understand if this protective measure causes inconvenience.

"People are uncomfortable but we have to do it because people's safety is the highest law," said Sigit.