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

Head of COVID-19 Task Force Suharyanto on January 4, 2022 signed Decree Number 2 of 2022 on Entry Points, Quarantine Facilities, and Mandatory RT-PCR Tests for Indonesian Citizens Returning from Abroad.

The issuance of the Decree aims to follow up on the latest development of COVID-19 pandemic and provide control mechanism for international travel.

“The Decree of COVID-19 Task Force Number 1 of 2022 on Entry Points, Quarantine Facilities, and Mandatory RT-PCR Tests for Indonesian Citizens Returning from Abroad is no longer suitable to COVID-19 handling, so it needs to be revoked and replaced with a new one,” Suharyanto said.

As stated in the First Dictum, Head of the Task Force determines nine entry points to the territory of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI) for Indonesian citizens returning from abroad.

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

The Second Dictum of the Decree states that Indonesian citizens returning from abroad must conduct self-quarantine. The 10-day quarantine period applies to Indonesian citizens returning from the country/region with three criteria, namely having confirmed community transmission of the new SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.529 variant; geographically adjacent to the country with community transmission of cases of the new variant of SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.529; and having the number of confirmed cases of SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.529 more than 10,000 cases.

Indonesian citizens returning from countries/regions other than the aforementioned criteria must conduct self-quarantine for a period of 7 days.

“The quarantine as referred to in the Second Dictum is stipulated by a Circular issued by the COVID-19 Task Force,” Suharyanto said.

The Fourth Dictum stipulates that traveler returning from abroad must conduct self-quarantine in centralized quarantine facilities with lodging, transportation, meals, and RT-PCR test facilities.

In the Fifth Dictum, the Head of the Task Force determines the quarantine facilities for each entry point as follows:

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

The Sixth Dictum stipulates that the centralized quarantine facilities for Indonesian citizens returning from abroad as referred to in the Fourth Dictum and Fifth Dictum only apply for Indonesian citizens with the following criteria:

1. Indonesian Migrant Workers (PMI) returning to Indonesia to stay at least fourteen days in Indonesia;
2. Students returning to Indonesia after completing study or carrying out study assignments abroad;
3. Government employees returning to Indonesia after carrying out international business trips; 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 quarantine in any facility determined by the National/Regional COVID-19 Handling Task Force, the quarantine must be carried out in a centralized quarantine hotel determined by the National/Regional COVID-19 Handling Task Force, with the cost borne by the traveler or by other legitimate sources of financing,” the Seventh Dictum reads.

With the issuance of the Decree, Decree of Head of COVID-19 Handling Task Force Number 1 of 2022 on Entry Points, Quarantine Places, and Mandatory RT-PCR Tests for Indonesian Citizens Returning from Abroad is revoked and declared null and void.

“The Decree shall come into force on the date of its signing until December 31, 2022. In the event that an error is found in the decree, it will be corrected accordingly,” the Decree reads. (COVID-19 TASK FORCE/UN) (RI/MUR)