Gov’t to Shorten Quarantine for International Travelers

Coordinating Minister for Maritime and Investment Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan (Photo: PR Office of Cabinet Secretariat/Rahmat)

The Government has announced it will shorten quarantine period for international travelers from seven days to five days on condition that they have been fully vaccinated.

This change of strategy was made following the high number of locally transmitted Omicron variant COVID-19 cases that has topped that of imported cases.

“The Government changed the quarantine rule from seven days to five days on condition that Indonesian and foreign citizens entering Indonesia have been fully vaccinated. Indonesian citizens who have only received the first vaccine dose must still undergo quarantine for seven days,” Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said after attending a limited meeting on public activity restrictions evaluation held online, Monday (01/31).

According to Luhut, this policy was made because most of the confirmed COVID-19 cases in international travelers are Omicron variant and various research studies show that the incubation period of this Omicron variant is around three days.

“Measure to shorten quarantine period was also taken in view of the need to reallocate the resources we have. Wisma [Atlet] that was used for international traveler quarantine will be prepared for centralized isolation as the need for centralized isolation facilities is expected to increase for asymptomatic and mild confirmed positive cases,” he said.

Luhut also pointed out that as of February 4, the Government will reopen the international point of entry in Bali to boost the resort island’s economy that has borne the brunt of the pandemic.

“However, we will still reopen it gradually, in stages, and continuously,” he underscored, adding that the border reopening in Bali is only for international travelers who are not Indonesian migrant workers.

Luhut also stated that other regulations are still in accordance with the prevailing circulars, adding that the Government provides two additional quarantine options for international travelers, namely to undergo bubble quarantine at hotels or live-on-board ships.

“Currently, Bali also provides two additional options for international traveler quarantine, namely bubble quarantine at five hotels for now with a total of 447 rooms and on live-on-board ships that have been CHSE-certified by Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy,” he remarked. (DID/AIT/ST) (DH/MUR)