COVID-19 Task Force Issues Circular on Domestic Travel Requirements

In an attempt to carry out supervision, control, and evaluation to avoid the potential spike in COVID-19 cases, the Government continues to ensure the implementation of health protocols for domestic travelers.

To that end, Head of the COVID-19 Task Force Ganip Warsito on Wednesday (20/10) signed Circular Number 21 of 2021 on Provisions for Domestic Travel during COVID-19 Pandemic that will be effective starting 21 October 2021.

According to the Circular, health protocols will be implemented for travelers using all modes of transport in all over Indonesia.

Several provisions in the Circular are as follows:

1. Every person who wants to travel must observe and comply with the 3M health protocols: wearing face masks, maintaining physical distance and avoiding crowds, and washing hands with soap or applying hand sanitizer.
2. The provision on the tightening of health protocols implementation for travelers including:
3. face masks have to be worn properly; nose and mouth must be well covered;
4. types of face masks that must be worn by travelers are three-layer fabric mask or medical mask;
5. travelers are not allowed to speak or talk by phone during travel using all modes of public transport including land, air, water, river and rail transports.
6. travelers are not allowed to eat and drink during travel using air transport that takes less than two hours, except for a person who is obliged to take medicine for his/her medical treatment, should the person does not take the medicine, it could endanger the person’s safety and health.
7. Travelers must comply with these following provisions:
8. every person who wants to travel using private and public transports must be responsible for their own health and comply with the applicable provisions in the Circular;
9. every domestic traveler is obliged to install/use PeduliLindungi application as a travel requirement;
10. travelers using air transport who want to travel from and to regions in Java and Bali islands as well as regencies/cities that impose public activity restrictions (PPKM) Level 4 and Level 3 as regulated in the Instruction of Home Affairs Minister are required to show proof of at least one vaccine shot and a negative RT-PCR test result which test is taken two days (2×24 hours) before departure;
11. travelers using public and private transports who want to travel from and to regions in Java and Bali islands as well as regencies/cities that impose PPKM Level 4 and Level 3 as regulated in the Instruction of Home Affairs Minister are required to show proof of at least one vaccine shot and a negative RT-PCR test result which test is taken two days (2×24 hours) before departure or a negative Antigen test result which test is taken one day (1×24 hours) before departure;
12. travelers using public and private transports who want to travel from and to regions in Java and Bali islands as well as regencies/cities that impose PPKM Level 2 and Level 1 as regulated in the Instruction of Home Minister are required to show proof of at least one vaccine shot and a negative RT-PCR test result which test is taken two days (2×24 hours) before departure or a negative Antigen test result which test is taken one day (1×24 hours) before departure;
13. daily routine travel using public and private transports in one agglomeration area is excluded from the travel requirements as stipulated in letters d and e;
14. the provisions on domestic logistics and goods transports in Java and Bali islands are as follows:

• drivers and crews are obliged to show a certificate having received a complete dose of COVID-19 vaccine and a negative Antigen test result which test taken 14×24 hours (maximally) before departure;
• drivers and crews are required to show proof of at least one vaccine shot and a negative Antigen test result which test taken 7×24 hours (maximally) before departure; or
• if the drivers and crews have been not vaccinated yet, they are obliged to show a negative Antigen test result which test taken one day (1×24 hours) before departure;

1. obligation to show a certificate of vaccination does not apply to:

• travelers under 12 years old;
• drivers and crews for logistics and goods transport who travel outside Java and Bali islands;
• travelers with special health condition or comorbid diseases that make them unable to receive vaccine are required to show a medical certificate from government hospitals stating that they have not and/or cannot get COVID-19

4. Provisions in number three are excluded for pioneer flights (penerbangan perintis) and water transport in remote areas of Indonesia.
5. Public transportation providers are obliged to use PeduliLindungi application to check passengers’ RT-PCR or Antigen test result and vaccination certificate during check-in.
6. Ministries/Agencies and regional governments that will impose special criteria and requirements for traveling in the regions can issue another legal instrument that is in accordance with this Circular.
7. Other legal instruments regulating special criteria and requirements as mentioned in number 6 are an integral part of this Circular.

Furthermore, the Circular also regulates supervision, control, and evaluation to avoid the potential spike in COVID-19 cases. They are as follows:

1. Regional COVID-19 Task Force supported by public transportation providers will jointly carry out control for domestic travel and public transportations that are safe from COVID-19 by establishing an Integrated Security Post;
2. Theauthority,managers,and providers ofpublictransportations must carry out supervisionduringthe operational time;
3. Ministries/institutions, the Indonesian National Defense Force (TNI)/ the National Police (Polri), and regional governments have the right to stop and/or ban travelers based on regulations in this Circular, but it must not be contrary to law.
4. Authorities as mentioned in number 3 must ensure the implementations of health protocols and law enforcement are in accordance with law.
5. Public transportation providers/officers who check passengers’ RT-PCR and Antigen test results must recheck the originality of the test result certificate based on the list of COVID-19 laboratory network and health facilities registered in Health Ministry in order to avoid fake result certificate;
6. Sanctions will be imposed to parties falsifying RT-PCR or Rapid Antigen test results, medical certificate, and other travel certificates.(COVID-19 Task Force/UN) (AP/MMB)