Govt Pleads Indonesians to Avoid Traveling during Christmas, Year-End Holidays

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – The government has pleaded with Indonesians to avoid nonessential travel to their hometowns or other places during Christmas and year-end holidays to prevent another Covid-19 surge.

Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Muhadjir Effendy stressed the need to encourage people not to travel during the holidays.

“A large-scale campaign to urge people not to travel must be done. People should avoid nonessential travel to their hometowns [during Christmas and year-end holidays,” said Muhadjir in a statement after the transportation coordination meeting for Christmas and New Year holidays on Wednesday, October 27.

Also read: Jokowi Calls for Cut in Covid PCR Test Cost to Rp300K

The minister said the plan aims to minimize the number of people’s mobility at the end of the year to prevent the Covid-19 surge following the Christmas and New Year holidays. But, if travel is unavoidable, travelers must apply and comply with stricter health protocols. This includes at least the first dose of Covid-19 vaccination, a negative result of Covid-19 PCR test for air travelers, and antigen test for land travelers. It is hoped that the number of travelers can be controlled.

“This is to prevent people from getting Covid-19 symptoms during traveling,” Muhadjir said.

One of the government’s efforts to prevent the increasing number of Covid-19 cases is to cut the number of collective leave days at the end of this year as stated in a joint ministerial decree on collective leaves this year. Besides, civil servants are prohibited from taking leaves.

“This policy is done to limit the increasing number of people’s mobility ahead of the year-end holidays,” he said, adding that the public must be well-informed about the policy and follow the rules and regulations.

(Writer: Deti Mega Purnamasari | Editor: Diamanty Meiliana)

Source: https://nasional.kompas.com/read/2021/10/27/12243041/pemerintah-imbau-masyarakat-tak-pulang-kampung-pada-libur-akhir-tahun?page=all#page2.