Worried That COVID-19 Will Increase, The DPR Criticizes The Conditions For Going Home For Eid So That There Are No Blocking Posts

Illustration (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - Chairman of the House of Representatives Commission V Lasarus criticized the conditions for going home for Eid al-Fitr as stated in the Circular (SE) of the COVID-19 Handling Task Force Number 16 of 2022 concerning Provisions for Traveling Domestic People during the COVID-19 Pandemic Period which took effect on April 2, 2022.

According to him, SE was impressed made in a hurry. This is because the conditions for going home for Eid are not binding and do not have to be implemented. So worrying that it has the potential to make the COVID-19 trend increase.

"Yesterday, SE apologizes for being in a hurry. Making rules can't be implemented. If you can't implement them, why make them? Not being obeyed is also okay," said Lasarus to reporters, Friday, April 8. "As a representative of the people, I must care when COVID increases," he continued.

The PDIP politician also highlighted the regulation of the Ministry of Transportation (Kemenhub) which does not impose isolation and only provides service posts at a number of homecoming flow points. He said, there was no barrier, it was feared that the homecoming flow could not be controlled.

"The SE is actually sufficient, but there are some things that can't be implemented. How do we check for travelers with private cars and motorbikes? Earlier, the Ministry of Transportation said there was no partition, only service posts. Thus, this is a los," said Lasarus. It is known, the Task Force for Handling COVID-19 issued Circular Letter (SE) Number 16 of 2022 concerning Provisions for Travel of Domestic People During the Corona Virus Disease 2019 Pandemic, which is effective from April 2, 2022.

The head of the COVID-19 Handling Task Force Lt. Gen. Suharyanto said this latest SE had followed up on President Joko Widodo's directive, that people who had boosters could go home, as a form of government trust in people who were considered obedient and obedient in carrying out health protocols. But on the other hand, the Ministry of Transportation stated that he would not block the implementation of the Lebaran 1443 Hijri homecoming. However, the Ministry of Transportation will prepare a vaccination service post for travelers.

This is in line with the conditions for the homecoming trip, which is having a complete or booster dose of vaccination.

"This blocking is a term in the last two years, where if there are travelers or drivers then they are subject to random checking, if they don't meet the requirements, we ask for a return. This year we don't do that, what is there is a service post," said the spokesperson. The Ministry of Transportation, Adita Irawati, in her statement, Wednesday, April 6.

He said the service posts would later be placed at rest area points up to the main road for homecoming. For the implementation of the vaccination service post, the Ministry of Transportation will cooperate with the National Police.

"There will be several service posts at rest area points on arterial roads and on main roads," said Adita.

In the service post, he continued, travelers will still be checked whether they meet the travel requirements or not. If not, said Adita, travelers will be assisted to vaccinate at the post.

"We will do random checking, if later we find that there are drivers who do not meet the requirements, they will be assisted to carry out vaccinations at that place, which will be carried out," he explained.

Domestic Travel Actors (PPDN) must comply with the following provisions:

1. Everyone who travels by private or public vehicle is responsible for his/her own health, and is subject to and complies with the applicable terms and conditions;

2. Every PPDN is required to use the PeduliLindung application as a condition for traveling domestically.

3. PPDN with modes of air, sea, land transportation using private or public vehicles, crossings, and intercity trains from and to regions throughout Indonesia, the following provisions apply:

1) PPDN that has received the third dose of vaccination (booster) is not required to show a negative result of the RT-PCR test or rapid antigen test;

2) PPDN that has received the second dose of vaccination is required to show a negative result of the rapid antigen test whose sample is taken within 1 x 24 hours, or a negative result of the RT-PCR test whose sample is taken within 3 x 24 hours before departure as a condition of travel;

3) PPDN that has received the first dose of vaccination must show a negative result of the RT-PCR test whose sample is taken within 3 x 24 hours before departure as a condition of travel;

4) PPDN with special health conditions or comorbid diseases, which causes travelers to be unable to receive vaccinations, must show a negative result of the RT-PCR test whose sample is taken within a maximum period of 3 x 24 hours before departure as a travel requirement. PPDN with comorbidities also attaches a doctor's certificate from a Government Hospital stating that the person concerned has not and/or cannot take the Covid-19 vaccination as a mandatory requirement;

5) PPDNs under the age of six are exempt from vaccination provisions and are not required to show a negative result of the RT-PCR test or rapid antigen test, but must travel with a travel companion who has complied with the provisions for vaccination and Covid-19 examination and applies strict health protocols .

4. Specifically for routine trips using land transportation modes using private or public vehicles, and trains in urban agglomeration areas are excluded from the travel requirements as regulated in letter c.

5. The provisions as referred to in point 3 are excluded for pioneering modes of transportation including in border areas, 3T areas (lagging, leading, outermost), and limited shipping according to the conditions of each area.

6. Every transportation mode operator is required to use the PeduliLindung application to check the travel requirements for each PPDN.

7. Ministries/Institutions, Provincial/Regency/City Governments that will apply special criteria and requirements regarding travel agents in their area, may follow up by issuing other legal instruments that are in line with and do not conflict with this Circular Letter.

8. Other legal instruments that regulate the specific criteria and requirements as referred to in number 6 are an integral part of this circular letter.