Preventing People From Traveling On Christmas and New Year Holidays In The Midst Of A Pandemic, Coordinating Minister For Human Development And Culture Asks For A Massive Campaign

Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Muhadjir Effendy (Photo: Irfan Meidianto)

JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture (Menko PMK) Muhadjir Effendy, asked for a massive campaign or appeal to prevent people from traveling during Christmas and New Year (Nataru) holidays next December.

This massive campaign can be carried out by the police, transportation services and the mass media so that the public is aware of the conditions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and does not dare to violate it.

"I ask that later there will be a large-scale campaign to urge people not to travel, not to return to their hometown, or to travel for non-primary purposes," said Muhadjir in his written statement quoted on Wednesday, October 27.

In addition to the appeal, the previous government has also regulated the reduction of collective leave on December 24 through the Joint Decree (SKB) of the Three Ministers Number 712 of 2021, Number 1 of 2021, Number 3 of 2021 regarding national holidays and joint leave of 2021.

Not only that, there is a prohibition on taking leave by taking advantage of the momentum of a national holiday for the State Civil Apparatus (ASN). This is regulated in the Circular Letter of the Minister of PAN-RB Number 13 of 2021 concerning restrictions on traveling outside the region and/or leave for ASN during the 2021 national holidays.

"We are trying to suppress as little as possible those who will travel. And this has been given a barrier fence. Starting from the absence of joint leave holidays. Then we will ban them from taking leave," he said.

Even if people are forced to travel on holidays, stricter inspections must be carried out. "So that later we hope the number of those who will travel can be limited and also controlled," said Muhadjir.

"Especially in the supervision of avoiding the possibility of secondary symptoms, namely they go back and forth carrying COVID-19 souvenirs," he added.

Furthermore, tightening and monitoring of health protocols will also be carried out in a number of locations that are predicted to be visited by many people, such as churches which are the venues for Christmas celebrations, shopping areas, and local tourist destinations.

Finally, Muhadjir also requested that the use of the Care Protect application be maximized in public places that have the potential to create large crowds of people. This is important in order to monitor and carry out tracking in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic but does not interfere with the running of the economy.

"What we have to consider is true, no matter how strict, conservatively we apply various provisions in order to inhibit and prevent the transmission of COVID-19, but our economy must continue to move," he said.

"Our society must also be guaranteed freedom. It does not create panic, nor does it cause negative energy which then has a bad impact on social-economic life and society," he concluded.