The Ministry Of Home Affairs Asks The Governor To Prevent COVID-19 At Tourist Attractions Ahead Of Long Holidays

Illustration / Tanjung Bira Beach, Bulukumba, South Sulawesi (Ferdinand / VOI)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Home Affairs will make a circular to all governors in Indonesia to manage health protocols at tourist attractions during the long holiday at the end of October.

This was conveyed by the Head of the Task Force for Handling COVID-19 Doni Monardo. Doni said the Ministry of Home Affairs' orders to local governments were made so as not to become a source of transmission of COVID-19, reflecting on the spike in cases during the long holiday last August.

"The Ministry of Home Affairs will make a circular to all governors, asking them to control and manage all tourist attractions which are the destinations of tourists," Doni said during a discussion at Graha BNPB, East Jakarta, Wednesday, August 21.

According to Doni, the local government must ensure that tourist attractions that will be visited by many people cannot accommodate a capacity of more than 50 percent to avoid crowds.

"If we comply with this, we can reduce the crowd, we can maintain our distance, then a safe and comfortable holiday, God willing, can be achieved," he said.

In addition, the community is also encouraged to visit places that have gone through the internal certification process from each district / city.

In addition, Doni asked the community not to visit tourist accommodation, where the management paid less attention to the implementation of health protocols. This is because the risk of transmitting COVID-19 in that place is quite high.

"This will greatly help people choose which place is the safest. Over time, we all become aware and know which restaurants and hotels really pay attention to health protocols," explained Doni.

Doni admitted, the government was caught off guard when it faced a spike in COVID-19 cases due to the long weekend on 16-22 August.

In mid-August, many people, especially those in big cities, go on vacation to the regions because they get joint leave in the momentum of Indonesian Independence Day.

In fact, the government also gave discounts on long-distance train tickets during the long holiday. As a result, the number of COVID-19 cases jumped up after the next one to two weeks.

"Yes, we were complacent. Maybe we are also not very alert for socialization. On the third week of holiday in August, cases have increased in late August and early September," he said.