Foreigners Enter Indonesia From January 1 To 14, 2021

Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi virtual press conference, Monday, 28 December. (Diah Ayu wardani / VOI)

JAKARTA - Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said the government decided to prohibit foreign nationals (WNA) from entering Indonesia for two weeks in early 2021.

Retno said this decision was based on a limited meeting chaired by President Joko Widodo along with the line ministries and the COVID-19 Handling Task Force.

"The limited cabinet meeting on December 28, 2020 decided to temporarily close from January 1 to January 14, 2021, the entry of foreign nationals or foreigners from all countries to Indonesia," said Retno in a YouTube broadcast of the Presidential Secretariat, Monday, December 28.

Meanwhile, foreigners who arrived in Indonesia from December 28 to December 31 are still allowed to enter Indonesia with strict health protocol provisions.

First, foreigners arriving until December 31st are required to show negative results through the RT-PCR test in the country of origin which is valid a maximum of 2x24 hours before departure time. Also, attach an international Indonesian electronic health alert card (eHAC) during the medical examination.

Upon arrival in Indonesia, the foreigner is required to re-examine the RT-PCR. If it shows a negative result, the foreigner will carry out mandatory quarantine for 5 days from the date of arrival.

"After the 5-day quarantine, re-check the RT PCR and if the results are negative, visitors are allowed to continue their journey," said Retno.

As previously reported, in South Wales, England a new variant of COVID-19 has been found. The government hopes that this new virus will not worsen the development of handling COVID-19 in Indonesia.

Currently, the new virus has also attacked other countries such as Singapore, Nigeria, France, and South Korea.