Eid Al-Fitr Homecoming 2022: No COVID-19 Tests If You Have Booster Vaccines And There Are No Insulations On The Streets

Illustration/Photo: Antara

JAKARTA - The government ensures that people can return to their hometowns to welcome this year's Eid even though the COVID-19 pandemic is still happening.

A number of easing were carried out, including allowing residents to travel without being tested for those who have received a complete injection of the COVID-19 vaccine plus a booster and ensure that there are no roadblocks.

Head of the COVID-19 Task Force (Satgas) Suharyanto said people who want to return to their hometowns are welcome. His party has even made the concept of domestic travel arrangements (PPDN) for the 2022 Eid homecoming which will be issued soon.

"People who want to go home for Eid are welcome, it's allowed," said Suharyanto on the Presidential Secretariat's YouTube show on Thursday night, March 31.

You need a booster so you don't need a COVID-19 test

Although it has not been published, Suharyanto then gave a leak of the conditions for people who want to go home to their hometowns. One of them is already getting vaccinations and booster vaccines for COVID-19.

For domestic travelers who have been vaccinated against the third dose, said Suharyanto, they no longer need to do a COVID-19 test. Meanwhile, people who have just received the second dose are required to do an antigen swab test.

"Meanwhile, for the first dose of vaccine, it is mandatory to show 3x24 hour PCR," he explained.

Then for travelers with special health conditions, Suharyanto explained that they are required to include the results of a 3x24 hour PCR test. Not only that, people with special conditions are required to attach a certificate from a general practitioner or a doctor from the local government hospital.

Then what about the children?

Suharyanto said that for children under 6 years old, they do not need to take a test when they are going to travel. However, for children under 6 years, they do not need to do the test.

"For children aged 6-17 years, there is no testing but must show the second dose of vaccination," explained Suharyanto.

No blocking

Two years during the COVID-19 pandemic since 2020, the government has always carried out roadblocks to prevent mobility in the midst of the long holiday season. This step was taken in order to maintain the rate of spread of cases which always increases when people carry out mobility.

However, this year, the government has implemented a different strategy. Suharyanto said that no more partitions would be carried out to prevent mobility.

Instead of blocking, control for travelers will be carried out by random sampling or random checks for drivers and travelers.

"Indeed, there is no isolation element from the National Police, but by random sampling there are service posts that check the status of Care to Protect," said the head of the COVID-19 Task Force, Suharyanto, quoted from the Presidential Secretariat's YouTube show, Friday, April 1.

From this status, Suharyanto said, it is possible to know whether travelers have received the complete COVID-19 vaccine. "There, the booster is clearly visible, the Care to Protect it is visible," he said.

Furthermore, the application of the rules during this year's Eid homecoming will be carried out in a persuasive manner. In addition, Suharyanto ensured that it would be easier for the community to return to their hometowns because there were vaccination services at certain points.

"Points will be placed to carry out vaccinations so that people who are going home can be served regarding their vaccination needs," he said.

The number of travelers this year is predicted to reach 79 million people. The Minister of Transportation, Budi Karya Sumadi, predicts that the number of homecomers will be in Central Java, East Java and West Java.

"The Ministry of Transportation's Balitbang conducted a survey in anticipation of the Lebaran holiday and the number is very high, approximately 79 million who want to go home. Of course this is understandable that after the last two years there have been travel restrictions, many want to go home for Eid," said Budi Karya as quoted by Antara. , Thursday, March 31.

With this high public interest, the Ministry of Transportation will prepare facilities and infrastructure. In addition, the readiness of the fleet will also be a concern to maintain safety and prevent the risk of exposure to COVID-19 to the public.

Budi said his party will ensure all modes of transportation are in good condition to travel. "I ask the directors general to check buses, ships, planes, trains to do a ramp check," said Budi.

In addition, the Ministry of Transportation will also require health checks for drivers of transportation modes, namely pilots, skippers, machinists, and bus drivers. The Ministry of Transportation will prepare health check facilities at airports, terminals, stations and so on.

"We will also instruct operators of infrastructure and transportation facilities to continue to ensure health protocols and that must be a reference that we must do," he concluded.