Hong Kong Bans Flights From Indonesia During the Covid-19 Pandemic

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – Indonesia’s runaway surge in Covid-19 cases is starting to hurt the country’s standing overseas, not least in Hong Kong.

The territory announced that it will ban passenger flights from Indonesia starting Friday, on grounds that arrivals from the latter pose an “extremely high risk” for the coronavirus.

The Hong Kong administration designated Indonesia as an A1 country, or countries that are at high risk of Covid-19 transmission.

“The number of imported COVID-19 cases from Indonesia crossed thresholds set [by Hongkong],” said the Hong Kong government Wednesday of its decision to ban passenger flights from Indonesia.

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Indonesia is the latest country to experience this ban after India, Nepal, Pakistan and the Philippines.

According to the Reuters news agency, the ban is based on a flight suspension rule.

'[The rule] is activated when five or more passengers who test positive for one of the variant COVID-19 cases on arrival, or if 10 or more passengers were found to have the strain of the disease while in quarantine," the agency reported.

The Indonesian Foreign Ministry confirmed the ban. “Hong Kong has designated Indonesia’s status as an ‘A1’ country...starting on June 25,” the ministry said in a press release.

“This means all airline arrivals from Indonesian are not allowed to enter Hong Kong…however, this policy is temporary and subject to periodic reviews.”

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“[Indonesian] migrant workers affected by the new regulation should contact their employers and agents. The Indonesian Consulate General in Hong Kong will ensure that the rights of Indonesian migrant workers will be met.

Hong Kong employs thousands of migrant workers from Indonesia, the Philippines and other countries.

The Chinese special administrative region has recorded over 11,800 cases and 210 deaths due to the coronavirus. Most of the city's recent cases over the past month have been imported.

In contrast, Indonesia has a total of 2,053,995 cases, after the country recorded the largest single day rate of Covid-19 cases at 20,574. 355 people died of Covid-19, bringing the death toll up to 55,949.