Complete Explanation On The Obligation Of Rapid Antigen Test For Travel During Christmas And New Year Holidays

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JAKARTA - The Ministry of Transportation has issued a circular (SE) regarding the implementation instructions (operational guidelines) for people's travel by transportation during the Christmas and New Year holidays during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The SE Ministry of Transportation, one of which requires the requirements for rapid antigen test results on a number of public transportation during the Christmas and New Year 2021 holiday season, takes effect today.

"The validity period of the SE Ministry of Transportation for sea, air and rail transportation is valid from December 22, 2020 to January 8, 2021 and for land transportation, it is from December 19 to January 8, 2021," said Ministry of Transportation spokesperson Adita Irawati on Monday, December 21.

In general, the health requirements in the form of a rapid antigen test, PCR swab, or antibody rapid test do not apply to children under 12 years of age. Then, all travelers are required to fill out the Electronic Health Alert Card (e-HAC) from the official website of the Ministry of Health.

Air Transport

Air transportation operators must show a negative result of the rapid antigen examination 3x24 hours before departure for flights between airports in Java.

Especially for flights to I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport, Denpasar, Bali, travelers are required to show a negative result certificate using a PCR swab no later than 7x24 hours before departure.

Meanwhile, flights from overseas are required to show a negative result of the PCR swab test which is valid 3x24 hours before departure. For airports other than Java and Bali, prospective passengers can still use the non-reactive antibody rapid test results no later than 14x24 hours before departure.

A number of airports provide rapid antigen test services for passengers at a rate of IDR 200 thousand.

Rail transportation

Actors of long-distance train trips must show a certificate of the results of the rapid antigen test stating negative for COVID-19, valid no later than 3x24 hours before the date of departure. This condition only applies in Java Island.

For train trips other than Java, the traveler must show a non-reactive result from the antibody rapid test or negative from the PCR swab test, valid no later than 14 days before departure.

PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI) provides an antigen rapid test service at long-distance train stations at the station for IDR 105,000.

Water transportation

Passengers traveling on sea transportation to and from the port on the island of Bali are required to show an antigen rapid test certificate with a negative result no later than 3x24 hours before departure.

Travel using sea transportation modes outside Bali still follows the Minister of Transportation's SE policy Number 16 of 2020. Passengers are required to show a non-reactive rapid test antibody or negative PCR swab letter no later than 14 days after the letter was issued.

Meanwhile, routine travel on Java Island by sea transportation mode which aims to serve limited inter-island or inter-domestic port locations within an agglomeration area or by land transportation within an urban agglomeration area (Jabodetabek) is not required to show a result of a rapid antigen test as a condition of travel.

Land transportation

Actors traveling by land are not required to have a rapid antigen test result, but may use an antibody rapid test no later than 14 days before departure.

The government only urges land travelers to use a rapid antigen test 3x24 hours before departure and fill out an Electronic Health Alert Card (e-HAC).

Especially for land trips to the island of Bali, passengers are required to show a negative result of the antigen rapid test, no later than 3x24 hours.

However, the Ministry of Transportation will conduct a random antigen rapid test for travelers on land routes.

This random test attempt is carried out on all land transportation players, such as intercity inter-provincial bus (AKAP) passengers, private vehicles, and crossing transportation.

Supervision of random antigen rapid tests is carried out at passenger terminals, ports for rivers and crossings, rest areas on toll roads, temporary rest areas, and highways.

If the traveler's rapid antigen test results show non-reactive results but show symptoms, the traveler may not continue the trip and are required to carry out RT-PCR tests and self-isolation.