COVID-19 Task Force Issues Circular Number 21 on Domestic Travel During Pandemic

The COVID-19 Handling Task Force has issued Circular Number 21 of 2022 on Provisions for Domestic Travels During Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic.

“This circular is effective from July 17, 2022 to a certain time and will be further evaluated based on the latest developments on the ground or the evaluation results of ministries/government institutions,” Head of the COVID-19 Handling Task Force Suharyanto says in the circular.

The objective of this circular is to enforce health protocols on domestic travelers which aims to prevent spike in COVID-19 transmission.

The followings are health protocol provisions for domestic travelers stipulated in the circular:

1. Every traveler must observe and comply with health protocols by taking the following measures:
   1. Wearing a three-ply cloth mask or a medical mask that covers the nose, the mouth, and the chin in indoor place or the crowds;
   2. Changing the mask regularly every four hours and disposing the used mask in the designated places;
   3. Washing hands regularly using water and soap or hand sanitizer, especially after touching objects that have been touched by others;
   4. Maintaining a distance of minimum 1.5 meters from others and avoiding crowds;
   5. Prohibiting one-way or two-way communication by telephone or directly during travel on land, rail, sea, river, lake, ferry, and air transportation modes;
2. Domestic travelers must comply with the following provisions:
   1. Every individual who travels with private or public vehicle is responsible for his/her own health and is subject to the applicable terms and conditions;
   2. Every domestic traveler is obliged to use PeduliLindungi application as a condition to travel within the country;
   3. Travelers with private or public air, sea, and land transportation modes, ferry, and trains from and to regions across Indonesia are subject to the following provisions:
      1. Domestic travelers who have received the third vaccination dose (booster) are not obligated to show a negative result of RT-PCR or rapid antigen test;
      2. Domestic travelers who have received the second vaccination dose must show a negative result of rapid antigen test taken within 1 x 24 hours or RT-PCR test taken within 3 x 24 hours before departure as a travel requirement and may do the third vaccination dose (booster) on-site upon departure;
      3. Domestic travelers who have received the first vaccination dose must show a negative result of RT-PCR test taken within 3 x 24 hours before departure as a travel requirement;
      4. Domestic travelers with  special  medical  conditions  or comorbidities that prevent them to get vaccinated are exempted from mandatory vaccination requirement; however they must show a negative result of rapid antigen test taken within a maximum period of 1 x 24 hours or RT-PCR test taken within a maximum period of 3 x 24 hours before departure as a travel requirement and are required to show a medical certificate from a government hospital stating that the travelers have not been and/or cannot get vaccinated against COVID-19;
      5. Domestic travelers with the age of 6-17 are obligated to show card/certificate of full dose vaccination without show a negative result of RT-PCR or rapid antigen test; or
      6. Domestic travelers under the age of six are exempted from mandatory vaccination requirement and are not required to show a negative result of RT-PCR or rapid antigen test. However, they must go with a travel companion who has complied with provisions on vaccination and must strictly observe the health protocols.
   4. Routine travels using land transportation with private or public vehicles and trains in one region/urban agglomeration region are exempted from the travel requirements as referred to in letter c.
3. The provisions as referred to in number 2 do not apply to pioneer transportation modes, including in border areas, frontier, outermost, and least developed areas, and to limited sailings according to the situation in their respective areas.
4. Every transportation mode operator is obligated to use PeduliLindungi application to check travel requirements for every domestic traveler.
5. Ministries/Government institutions, provincial/regency/city governments that will impose special criteria and requirements related to travelers in their respective regions may follow up by issuing a legal instrument that is in line with and not against with this Circular.
6. The legal instrument that regulates the special criteria and requirements as referred to in number 5 constitutes an integral part of this Circular.

“As this circular takes effect, Circular of COVID-19 Handling Task Force Number 18 of 2022 on Provisions for Domestic Travels During Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic is revoked and declared null and void,” Suharyanto says. (COVID-19 Handling Task Force/UN) (GWH/LW)