There Is No Prohibition On Lebaran Homecoming From The Government

President Joko Widodo (Photo: setkab.go.id)

JAKARTA - The government ensures that it will not issue a ban for people who are going home to celebrate Eid Al-Fitr 2020. The discourse on the ban on going home appears to stop the spread of the coronavirus or COVID-19 in various regions in Indonesia.

Although there is no prohibition, those who still choose to go home must carry out independent isolation after arriving at their hometown for a period of 14 days as recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).

"President Joko Widodo emphasized that there is no official prohibition for Eid Idul Fitri 2020 M / 1441 H travelers. However, travelers are required to be self-isolated for 14 days and have the status of People Under Monitoring (ODP)," said Fadjroel in a written statement to reporters, Thursday, 2 April.

Supervision of travelers with ODP status must also be carried out by the local government and are deemed to be in accordance with Government Regulation Number 21/2020 concerning Large-Scale Social Restrictions (PSBB) to accelerate the handling of COVID-19.

Although it has not issued a ban, the government will carry out a comprehensive campaign so that people do not go home. This campaign, said Fadjroel, will involve community leaders, religious leaders and public figures.

It is believed, this kind of campaign will prevent people from carrying out homecoming so that the spread of the corona virus does not occur massively. Given, from the Ministry of Home Affairs data in 2019, the number of travelers in Indonesia reached 20,118,531 people and the most destinations were Central Java, West Java, East Java and other areas.

"President Joko Widodo also reminded the destination regional governments to make special policies related to these travelers according to WHO health protocols very strictly," he said.

The Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment who also doubles as Plt. Minister of Transportation (Menhub) Luhut Binsar Panjaitan said the government had only issued an appeal rather than prohibiting it because they believed that people would still go home.

"Even if people are prohibited, they want to go home, go home," said Luhut in an online press conference broadcast on YouTube, the Presidential Secretariat, Thursday, April 2.

So, according to him, instead of issuing a ban, an appeal is sufficient for people who want to return to their hometowns.

"When you go home, you will definitely carry the disease. Almost certainly you will carry the disease. And if you bring the disease in the area you can die. Can your family, we recommend that you do not go home," he said.

To smooth this appeal, said Luhut, social assistance will be given to reduce the flow of homecoming. Especially from the capital city of DKI Jakarta, which is the epicenter of the spread of COVID-19.

In addition, this appeal was also issued in order to maintain economic rotation in Indonesia. "We suggest to the president and the president to be clearer to see if this is done then the impact that will hit the bottom of society the most," he concluded.