COVID-19 Task Force Issues New Decree for Indonesian Citizens Traveling Abroad

Chairperson of the COVID-19 Handling Task Force Suharyanto, Saturday (01/01), signed Decree Number 1 of 2022 on Entry Points, Quarantine Facilities, and RT-PCR Obligations for Indonesian Citizens Traveling Abroad.

The issuance of this new decree is a follow-up to the development of COVID-19 handling. Thus, the Government deemed it necessary to adjust the control mechanism for international travel.

“The Decree of Chairperson of the COVID-19 Task Force Number 16 of 2021 on Entry Points, Quarantine Facilities, and RT-PCR Obligations for Indonesian Citizens Traveling Abroad is no longer suitable with the needs of COVID-19 handling and therefore needs to be revoked and replaced with a new one,” Suharyanto said.

In the first dictum of the decree, Chairperson of the COVID-19 Handling Task Force sets nine entry points in the territory of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI) for Indonesian citizens traveling abroad by land, sea, or air.

Those nine entry points include Soekarno Hatta Airport in Banten province; Juanda Airport in East Java province; Sam Ratulangi Airport in North Sulawesi province; Batam Port and Tanjungpinang Port in Riau Islands province; Nunukan Port in North Kalimantan province; Aruk and Entikong Cross-border Posts (PLBN) in West Kalimantan province and Motaain Cross-border Post in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) province.

The second dictum of the decree stipulates that Indonesian citizens who have travelled to countries with certain criteria are required to undergo a mandatory quarantine with a duration of 14 x 24 hours.

The criteria include a country that has confirmed community transmission of Omicron variant, a country that is geographically close to significant community transmission of Omicron variant, and a country with more than 10,000 confirmed cases of Omicron variant.

Meanwhile, Indonesian citizens from countries/regions of origin other than the criteria above are required to undergo a mandatory quarantine with a duration of 10 x 24 hours.

“The implementation of mandatory quarantine as referred to in the second dictum is in accordance with the Circular issued by the COVID-19 Task Force,” Suharyanto said.

In the fourth dictum of the decree it is stated that international travelers should undergo centralized quarantine in a quarantine accommodation whose services cover lodging, transportation, meals, and RT-PCR tests.

In the fifth dictum of the decree, the quarantine facilities for each entry point for international travel are as follows:

1. DKI Jakarta province: Pademangan Athlete Village, COVID-19 Emergency Hospital at Kemayoran Athlete Village, Nagrak Low-cost Apartment in Cilincing, and Low-cost Apartment in Pasar Rumput Manggarai;
2. Surabaya, East Java province: Surabaya Embarkation Hajj Dormitory, East Java Quality Assurance Council (LPMP), Education and Surabaya Training Center (Badiklat) of Ministry of Religious Affairs, Vini Vidi Vici Hotel, Surabaya Grand Park Hotel, Sahid Hotel, 88 Embong Malang Hotel, BeSS Mansion Hotel, Zest Jemursari Hotel, Bisanta Bidakara Hotel, Rungkut Fave Hotel, Life Style Hotel, Sidoarjo Delta Sinar Mayang Hotel, Zoom Jemursari Hotel, 88 Kedungsari Hotel, 88 Embong Kenongo Hotel, Pop Kota Station Hotel, Pop Gubeng Hotel, and Cleo Jemursari Hotel;
3. Manado, North Sulawesi province: Tuminting Hajj Dormitory and Maumbi Training Center;
4. Batam, Riau Islands province: BP Batam Low-cost Apartment, Batam City Government Low-cost Apartment, Putra Jaya Low-cost Apartment, Hajj Dormitory, and Post Shelters for the Placement and Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (P4TKI);
5. Tanjung Pinang, Riau Islands province: Tanjung Pinang Trauma Center Protection (RTPC) and Agency for the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (BP2MI) Shelter;
6. Nunukan, North Kalimantan province: Nunukan Regional Government Low-cost Apartment;
7. Entikong, West Kalimantan province: Entikong International Freight Terminal Building (TBI), Indonesian Job Training Unit (ULKI), and Entikong Port Health Office (KKP) Building;
8. Aruk, West Kalimantan province: Regional Personnel Agency (BKD) Training Building, Sambas City Hajj Dormitory, Aruk PLBN, and Mobile Brigade (Brimob) Dormitory;
9. Motaain, East Nusa Tenggara province: Yonif RK 744/SYB Low-cost Apartment; or
10. Other quarantine facilities determined by Chairperson of the COVID-19 Handling Task Force based on recommendations from the COVID-19 Handling Task Force.

The sixth dictum of the decree stipulates that centralized quarantine facilities for Indonesian citizens traveling abroad as referred to in the fourth and fifth dictums are only intended for Indonesian citizens traveling abroad with the requirements as follows:

1. Indonesian Migrant Workers (PMI) who return to Indonesia to stay at least 14 days in the country;
2. Students who return to Indonesia after completing study or carrying out study assignments abroad;
3. Government employees who return to Indonesia after carrying out official business trips abroad; and
4. Indonesian representatives in international competitions or festivals.

“In the event that the Government employee as referred to in the sixth dictum is not willing to undergo a mandatory quarantine in a place that has been determined by the National/Regional COVID-19 Handling Task Force, quarantine must be carried out in a centralized quarantine hotel that has been determined by the National/Regional COVID-19 Handling Task Force with all costs borne independently or through other legitimate sources of financing,” the seventh dictum reads.

With the stipulation of the decree, the Decree of Chairperson of the COVID-19 Task Force Number 16 of 2021 on Entry Points, Quarantine Facilities, and RT-PCR Obligations for Indonesian Citizens Traveling Abroad is revoked and declared invalid.

“The decree will come into effect on the date of signing until 31 December 2022, with a stipulation that if in the future there is a mistake, it will be corrected accordingly,” Suharyanto said in the decree. (COVID-19 Task Force/UN) (RIF/MMB)