Indonesia: Officials extended entry ban for foreigners, domestic travel rules through Jan. 25 /update 61

Event

Indonesia has extended the entry ban for most foreigners and the rules for domestic travel through Jan. 25 to stem the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19). All international or non-rail domestic travelers must register on the Health Alert Card (eHAC) mobile application before travel and are advised to download the PeduliLindungi contact-tracing application. Specific rules for domestic travel are ongoing in the following areas:

• Java: People arriving in or leaving Java or traveling within Java by air must present a negative result from an RT-PCR test within 72 hours before departure or a rapid antigen test taken within 48 hours before departure. Passengers arriving in or leaving Java or traveling within Java by land or sea must present a negative result from an RT-PCR test or a rapid antigen test taken within 72 hours before departure.

• Bali: Passengers entering Bali via air travel must present a negative result from a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) taken within 48 hours before departure or a rapid antigen test taken within 24 hours before departure. Entrants by land or sea routes must present a negative result from an RT-PCR test or a rapid antigen test taken within 72 hours before departure.

• Other regions: People traveling to Java or Bali to other parts of Indonesia by air must present a negative result from an RT-PCR test within 72 hours before departure or a rapid antigen test taken within 48 hours before departure. Passengers traveling by sea must present a negative result from an RT-PCR test or a rapid antigen test taken within 72 hours before departure.

Officials are also enforcing tightened restrictions in Java and Bali islands through Jan. 25 due to the continued high levels of COVID-19 activity in the areas. Nonessential industries must implement telecommuting for 75 percent of the employees, while essential sectors can continue operating on-site with full capacity. Schools must close and use distance learning. Food establishments can serve dine-in customers up to 25 percent of the seating capacity, while places of worship can open with 50-percent capacity. Shopping centers can operate only until 1900 nightly. Reduced operating hours for public transport are likely, though the measures may differ across the islands. Officials may modify or expand the protocols at short notice.

While central authorities have instructed local officials nationwide to implement health rules such as distancing controls, the central and local governments' enforcement level is unclear. Areas with significant COVID-19 activity can apply to the central government to enact large-scale social distancing rules known as PSBB, which typically include suspending schools and closing or limiting workplaces' operating hours. Localities that are not implementing large-scale social distancing restrictions may also enforce other curbs, such as suspending schools or entertainment venues. A nationwide public health emergency remains in effect until further notice.

Locals affected by the pandemic and related controls have staged protests across Indonesia. Further rallies are possible, especially if officials do not provide sufficient assistance to affected groups of people.

Travel Restrictions
Exemptions from the foreigners' entry ban are in place for high-level state visits and holders of Limited Stay Permit Cards, among others; the government's level of enforcement is unclear. Returning Indonesian citizens and foreigners who can still enter the country must present evidence that they have tested negative for COVID-19 within 48 hours before departure, quarantine for five days at designated facilities upon arrival, and obtain a negative result from another COVID-19 test before leaving the isolation premises.

Context

COVID-19 is a viral respiratory disease caused by infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus (previously known as 2019-nCoV). Symptoms occur 1-14 days following exposure (average of 3-7 days). These symptoms include fever, fatigue, cough, difficulty breathing, sometimes worsening to pneumonia and kidney failure - especially in those with underlying medical conditions. On March 11, 2020, the WHO declared the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic.

Advice

Follow all official instructions. Abide by national health and safety measures. Reconfirm all travel arrangements. Consider delaying traveling if experiencing symptoms associated with COVID-19, as they may prompt increased scrutiny and delays. Liaise with trusted contacts for further updates and guidance. Maintain contact with your diplomatic representation. Ensure contingency plans account for further disruptive measures or extensions of current restrictions. Reconsider and reconfirm nonemergency health appointments. Plan for queues and delays at available shopping centers.

Exercise basic health precautions, especially frequent handwashing with soap and water, or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are unavailable. Practice good coughing/sneezing etiquette (i.e., covering coughs and sneezes with disposable tissue, maintaining distance from others, and washing hands). There is no evidence that the influenza vaccine, antibiotics, or antiviral medications will prevent this disease, highlighting the importance of diligent basic health precautions.

Resources

State COVID-19 Portal
World Health Organization (WHO)
PeduliLindungi application
eHac application