COVID-19 Task Force Issues Circular on Provisions for Domestic Travel During Pandemic

In a bid to curb the COVID-19 transmission, the COVID-19 Handling Task Force has issued Circular Number 12 of 2021 on the Provisions for Domestic Travel during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The Circular, signed by Head of the COVID-19 Handling Task Force Doni Monardo on 26 March, will take effect from 1 April 2021.

The Government will further intensify the use of GeNose C19, a tool designed to detect the virus through breath, on all modes of transportation as an alternative to health screening for domestic travelers.

The Circular defines domestic travel as the movement of people from one area to another based on provincial/regency/city administrative boundaries using private or public transportation modes either by land, railways, sea, rivers, lakes, ferry, or air transport.

The following are the provisions of the health protocols stipulated in the Circular:

1. Every traveler must apply and comply with health protocols, namely: wearing a mask, keeping a safe distance and avoiding crowds, and washing hands with soap or using hand sanitizer.
2. Enforcement of health protocols during travel must be improved in the form of:
3. The mask must properly cover the nose and mouth;
4. The types of masks used by traveler are 3-ply cloth masks or medical masks;
5. It is prohibited during the trip to speak directly or by telephone on land, rail, sea, river, lake, ferry and air transportation modes;
6. It is prohibited to eat and drink during the flight for a trip of less than 2 hours, with the exception of individuals who are required to take medication in the context of treatment that affects the safety and health of the individuals.
7. Domestic traveler must comply with the following conditions:
8. Every individual who travels with a private or public vehicle is responsible for his/her own health, and is subject to the applicable terms and conditions;
9. Traveler using air transportation is required to show a certificate of a negative result of RT-PCR test taken within a maximum period of 3 x 24 hours before departure or a negative result of the rapid antigen test taken within a maximum period of 2 x 24 hours before departure or a negative result of the GeNose C19 test taken at the airport before departure as a travel requirement and fill out Indonesia’s e-HAC;
10. Traveler using sea transportation is required to show a certificate of a negative result of RT-PCR or a negative result of the rapid antigen test taken within a maximum period of 3 x 24 hours before departure or a negative result of the GeNose C19 test taken at the seaport before departure as a travel requirement and fill out Indonesia’s e-HAC;
11. Traveler using ferry is required to show a certificate of a negative result of the rapid antigen test taken within a maximum period of 3 x 24 hours before departure or a negative result of the GeNose C19 test taken at the seaport before departure while waiting for the decision to implement RT-PCR test as a travel requirement and fill out Indonesia’s e-HAC;
12. For routine trips in Java using sea transportation which aims to serve limited inter-island or inter-domestic ports within an agglomeration area, or by land transportation, both private and public within an urban agglomeration area, it is not required to show the test result of RT-PCR/rapid antigen test/GeNose C19 as a travel requirement but random tests will be carried out if needed by the Regional COVID-19 Handling Task Force;
13. Traveler using intercity train is required to show a certificate of a negative result of RT-PCR or a negative result of the rapid antigen test taken within a maximum period of 3 x 24 hours before departure or a negative result of the GeNose C19 test taken at the train station before departure as a travel requirement;
14. Traveler using public land transportation is subject to a random check, rapid antigen test/GeNose C19 test if deemed necessary by the Regional COVID-19 Handling Task Force;
15. Traveler using private land transportation is advised to take a RT-PCR test or rapid antigen test, taken within a maximum period of 3 x 24 hours before departure or a negative result of the GeNose C19 test taken at the rest area as a travel requirement and is subject to a random test if deemed necessary by the Regional COVID-19 Handling Task Force;
16. For trips to Bali using air, sea, and land transportation, both private and public, traveler must show a certificate of a negative result of RT-PCR test or a negative result of the rapid antigen test taken within a maximum period of 2 x 24 hours before departure or a negative result of the GeNose C19 test taken at the airport, seaport, and terminal before departure as a travel requirement and fill out Indonesia’s e-HAC;
17. Traveler using all modes of public and private land transportation is invited to fill out Indonesia’s e-HAC, while air and sea travelers are required to fill out Indonesia’s e-HAC;
18. Children under 5 years of age are not required to take the RT-PCR test/rapid antigen test/GeNose C19 test as a travel requirement;
19. In a case that result of the RT-PCR test/rapid antigen test/GeNose C19 test is negative but the traveler shows symptoms, the traveler is prohibited to travel and required to take RT-PCR test and perform self-isolation during the waiting time for the results of the examination; and
20. Ministries/institutions/regional apparatus that carry out functions related to land/air/rail transportation shall follow up on this Circular by issuing legal instruments with reference to this Circular and the prevailing laws and regulations.
21. The provisions referred to in number 3 do not apply to pioneer transportation modes including in border areas and in 3T areas (frontier, outermost, and least developed).
22. Ministries/Institutions, provincial/regency/city governments that will impose special criteria and requirements related to travelers in their regions, can follow up by issuing legal instruments that are compatible with and not contradictory to this Circular.
23. The Circular that regulates the special criteria and requirements as referred to in number 5 is an integral part of this Circular.

 Furthermore, the Circular also regulates monitoring, control, and evaluation. They are:

1. The Regional COVID-19 Handling Task Force, assisted by the public transportation administration authority, jointly carry out control of people travel and safe public transportation by establishing an Integrated Security Post;
2. The authorities, managers, and administrators of public transportation assign supervision during the operation of public transportation;
3. Ministries/Institutions, the Indonesian National Defense Forces, the National Police, and regional governments have the right to stop and/or prohibit travel of persons on the basis of this Circular and/or the provisions of laws and regulations;
4. Authorized institutions (Ministries/Institutions, the Indonesian National Defense Forces, the National Police, and regional governments) shall impose discipline in the implementation of COVID-19 health protocols and enforce the law in accordance with the provisions of the applicable laws and regulations; and
5. Falsification of the result of the RT-PCR test/rapid antigen test/GeNose C19 test used as a travel requirement will be subject to sanctions in accordance with statutory regulations.

(The COVID-19 Handling Task Force/UN) (FI/MMB)