Indonesia Extends Mandatory Quarantine Times to 7 Days for All Arrivals over Omicron Variant

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – All arrivals from abroad are required to undergo a quarantine period of seven days compared to three days previously due to the new Omicron Covid-19 variant first detected in South Africa.

Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno said on Monday, November 29 that the policy was made by the government to halt the spread of the new and potentially more infectious Omicron variant.

“This measure was taken to prevent the spread of the new Omicron coronavirus variant,” said Sandiaga during the weekly press briefing on Monday, November 29.

Sandiaga said the government continues to review various quarantine policies, which still allow foreign tourists to enter the country. However, he said, the government also continues to monitor the development of new coronavirus variants, including Omicron (B 1.1529) which is detected in some countries.

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“The government will prioritize the health and safety of the Indonesian people and prevent a spike in the Covid-19 cases as previously happened in July this year,” the minister said.

He further added that the ministry continues to monitor the implementation of strict health protocols among the domestic tourists as the government will reimpose alert level 3, the moderate alert in the four-tiered Covid-19 restrictions on public activities, throughout the country.

The implementation of the stricter Covid-19 measures is scheduled to take place from December 24, 2021, to January 2, 2022, to halt coronavirus resurgence during the year-end holiday.

Under the policy in conjunction with the Christmas and New Year holidays, various pulling-crowd activities such as fireworks and parades will be banned. The implementation of Christmas services, tourism activities, and shopping center operations will refer to the Home Affairs Ministry instruction.

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He urged the tourism operators to remain vigilant due to the new Omicron variant as it is potentially more infectious than the Delta variant according to some references.

Sandiaga ensured that he will work closely with the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to evaluate the opening of borders for foreign tourists regularly.

“The number of foreign countries will be evaluated weekly because some countries experience a spike in Covid-19 cases before and during the spread of Omicron variant,” he said.

(Writer: Kiki Safitri | Editor: Erlangga Djumena)

Source: https://money.kompas.com/read/2021/11/30/065142326/durasi-karantina-diperpanjang-sandiaga-uno-pemerintah-utamakan-kesehatan.