Spike In COVID Cases Emerging From Ship Passengers, Jayapura Immediately Asks For This To Minister Budi Karya

Jayapura Mayor Benhur Tomi Mano

JAKARTA - The Jayapura City Government, Papua, has asked the Ministry of Transportation to reduce the operations of PT Pelni's ships due to the spike in COVID-19 cases.

Jayapura Mayor Benhur Tomi Mano admitted that currently the Jayapura port is served by six ships, so that with the spike in cases, it is requested to reduce it.

The largest spike in COVID-19 cases in Jayapura City was contributed by passengers getting off the ship, so the City Government wrote to request that the ship be reduced from six to three and the number of passengers was also limited.

The city government also hopes that the port of origin tightens supervision of passengers so as not to increase cases in the destination area.

"We have written to the Ministry of Transportation and asked to reduce the number of ships and temporarily not accept passengers from Bau-bau Port, Southeast Sulawesi because passengers from that area contributed the most cases of COVID-19 so that it took firm steps for passengers who did not have a clear identity to be sent home. to the area of origin," said Benhur Tomi Mano as quoted from Antara, Thursday, February 3.

In addition to asking for a reduction in ship operations, the city government also asked for ships to arrive in the morning so that inspections can be maximized. The City Government through the COVID-19 Task Force will conduct a rapid antigen examination.

"Hopefully, with the steps taken, we can put a brake on the rate of COVID-19 cases in Jayapura City," Benhur continued.

The head of PT Pelni Jayapura, Whendy Imkotta, separately admitted that he had written to the management about the Jayapura City Government's request.

What has been requested by the Jayapura City Government has been forwarded to the center, whether it be reducing the number of ships or not carrying passengers from Bau-bau Port, even though currently KM. Cirimai has sailed to Jayapura by carrying passengers.

The ships that stop at Bau-bau Harbor are KM Cirimai and KM Sinabung, while KM Dabonsolo, which also stops at the port, is currently docking.

For passengers from Bau-bau, they may have been transported to KM Cirimai, which left for Jayapura, since Thursday (3/2) morning, explained Whendy Imkotta.