JAKARTA - Deputy Chairman of Indonesia Regional Representative Council Sultan B. Najamudin asked the Ministry of Health to extend the quarantine period for 135 Indian citizens who had just come to Indonesia for 2 weeks.

According to Sultan, this incident shows that the government is not serious in its efforts to control the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia.

"We have to be vigilant, this is proof that Indonesia is not really serious in controlling the COVID-19 epidemic from abroad. We have the potential to be conceded again", said the Sultan to reporters at Parliament, Jakarta, Friday, April 23.

Senator from Bengkulu regretted the government's attitude which had so far been seen as being very serious and firm in its efforts to control the COVID-19 epidemic in the country so that it had to limit the tradition of going home for the community.

But on the one hand, the Government has even provided space for foreigners whose countries are experiencing a surge in pandemic cases. Sultan said, is very counterproductive to the national mission of tackling COVID-19.

"Besides, the vaccination process is still in a small scope", added Sultan.

According to him, the government must firmly impose limits on the arrival of foreigners from certain countries who are deemed to endanger the safety of Indonesian citizens.

"The principle of 'Salus Populi Suprema Lex Esto or people's safety is the highest law' must be upheld by the government. Let's not mess with the safety of citizens, while the willingness and vaccination process has not been able to promise to break the chain of the COVID-19 epidemic", said Sultan. Najamudin.

Meanwhile, Wiku Adisasmito, spokesman for the COVID-19 Task Force, said the government would tighten up travelers from India. Because currently, the COVID-19 cases in India are soaring sharply.

The head of the Committee for Handling COVID-19 and National Economic Recovery Airlangga Hartato will convey this trip tightening this afternoon.

"It will be further regulated by the government to tighten travelers who may come from India, pass through India, or transit in India", said Wiku when met by VOI at Graha BNPB, Central Jakarta, Friday, April 23.

Wiku said that the tightening of these restrictions was carried out so that Indonesia did not miss foreign travelers who brought the coronavirus to Indonesia, even though they had brought negative test results from their place of origin.

This is because, on Wednesday, April 21, 135 Indian citizens entered Indonesia using charter planes from India to land at Soekarno-Hatta Airport.

Then, the foreigner was subjected to another RT PCR examination and the results were 9 positive people. "Currently, the positive Indian foreigners are in isolation", said Wiku.


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