Governor Koster Issues New Rules, Anyone Who Is Coming To Bali By Plane Must Bring PCR Test Results

Governor of Bali I Wayan Koster (DOK Bali Provincial Government)

DENPASAR - The entrance to the island of Bali will be tightened following the increasing number of COVID-19 cases outside the region.

Bali Governor Wayan Koster said there was an increase in domestic tourists to the island of Bali even though COVID-19 cases soared.

"Even though the cases have increased in the last week, it turns out that domestic travelers (PPDN) via air transportation are still in the range of 8 (to) 9 thousand per day", said Koster in the plenary session of the Bali Regional Representative Council (DPRD), Monday, June 28.

Meanwhile, for people who enter through Gilimanuk Port, Bali, there are around 10 thousand people per day. People outside Bali who will enter Bali are required to pass through land and air before being required to bring a COVID-19 free letter based on a rapid antigen test.

"We hope, because outside Bali there is a huge increase in cases, so today, we are issuing a new circular letter according to the direction of the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs, the Minister of Health, and also the Minister of Transportation, so that Bali, which has good achievements, will not be damaged again", he said.

"So, we are tightening the entrance to Bali, the requirement to enter Bali via air transportation must use a PCR-based swab test, no longer use GeNose", he explained.

Koster emphasized that for PPDN passing by land, a minimum must use a rapid antigen test.

"If the PCR-based swab is even better, but the GeNose one is no longer enforced and a QR Code is also applied to ensure that the certificate is a negative result of the PCR swab test or the rapid antigen test is not fake", he said.

"Because, there are also many fake, paid certificates. So they bring a letter, but actually, they didn't undergo a swab or rapid antigen test. That's the condition we are currently facing, so there is a slight increase in cases", he said

Although there is an increase in COVID-19 cases, Koster does not want community activities in Bali to be shackled.

"But we can't shackle community activities because of this increase in cases, the community's economic activities must, of course, run well, normally, but we must be disciplined in implementing health protocols", said Koster.