Indonesia: Authorities to ban entry of foreign nationals Jan. 1-14, 2021 /update 58

Event

Indonesia will suspend the entry of foreign citizens Jan. 1-14, 2021 to prevent the spread of a new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) strain. Officials said exemptions are in place only for high-level state visits. Authorities currently bar most foreign nationals from entering and transiting the country, with limited exceptions. A nationwide public health emergency remains in effect until further notice.

Enhanced testing requirements for domestic travel remain in effect through Jan. 8, 2021. All air, rail, and sea passengers aged above 12 years old must produce negative results of a rapid antigen or polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for COVID-19 within a specified duration when undertaking select domestic trips. Other passengers may continue traveling with a rapid antigen test result taken no longer than 14 days before travel. 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 are ongoing in the following areas:

• Bali: Entrants via sea routes, as well as private or public vehicles, must produce negative results of a rapid antigen test taken within two days before departure. Air passengers must submit results of a reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) COVID-19 test taken within 48 hours prior to departure.

• Jakarta: Passengers entering or departing Jakarta via air, rail, sea, and land public transport must produce negative results of a rapid antigen test for COVID-19 taken within 72 hours before departure.

• Java Island: Those traveling to, from, or within regions on Java Island must produce negative results of a COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours before the trips. Testing may be availed at train stations including Cirebon Prujakan, Gambir, Kiaracondong, Pasar Senen, Semarang Tawang, Surabaya Gubeng, Surabaya Pasar Turi, Tegal, and Yogyakarta.

Authorities require planes and public land transport to operate at 70-percent capacity and private-hire vehicles and taxis at 50-percent capacity. There is no capacity limit for sea transport, though other protocols are in place. While central authorities have instructed local officials nationwide to implement health protocols such as distancing controls, the central and local governments' enforcement level is unclear. Officials may revise measures at short notice.

Officials continue to impose large-scale social-distancing measures, known as PSBB, in several localities to stem the spread of COVID-19 as of Dec. 28. Areas with significant COVID-19 activity can apply to the central government to enact large-scale social distancing rules. While controls vary by location, common restrictions in these areas include suspending schools and closing or limiting workplaces' operating hours. As of Dec. 28, large-scale social-distancing curbs are in place in the following areas:

• Jakarta: Protocols are ongoing through at least Jan. 3, 2021. Nonessential industries can operate on-site with a maximum of half the workforce; essential sectors and civil servants can continue working on-site. Food establishments can serve dine-in customers 0600-2100 daily to a maximum of 50 percent of seating capacity. Shopping malls, markets, places of worship, and indoor sporting facilities can host activities at a maximum of 50-percent capacity. Cinemas, fitness centers, and recreational parks may open at a 25-percent capacity. Public transport may run with reduced passenger capacities and operating hours. Schools remain closed. Officials continue to encourage locals to wear facemasks and observe social distancing when in public.

• Banten Province: Restrictions are in effect through Jan. 18, 2021. Authorities have set up checkpoints to ensure that vehicle passengers adhere to health controls. However, measures vary across the province. Greater Tangerang limits public transport's operating hours to 0500-1800 daily with social-distancing protocols. Shopping centers can open until 2000 daily. Serang has set up eight checkpoints to conduct health screening of arrivals and requires shopping malls to close by 1800.

• Bekasi, Bogor, and Depok, West Java Province: Officials have extended controls in Bekasi, Bogor, and Depok cities and Bekasi and Bogor regencies through Jan. 20, 2021. Employees who can work on-site must bring an identification card, company letter, and a document stating they have tested negative for COVID-19. Factory workers in Bekasi Regency must record their daily movements. Bogor and Depok cities have shortened the operating hours of public facilities like shopping malls, while people must be home by 2100 daily.

While some localities have lifted large-scale social-distancing restrictions, localized controls, such as the suspension of night entertainment venues and schools, are in effect in several areas without large-scale distancing rules. Additionally, the central government has ordered localities with high COVID-19 activity to allow 75 percent of civil servants to telecommute.

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
Cross-border travel arrangements for business and official purposes are in place with mainland China, Singapore, South Korea, and the United Arab Emirates. People entering Indonesia under the scheme must have a sponsoring Indonesian entity, test negative for COVID-19 within 72 hours before departure, and receive another test upon arrival. Indonesia has set up a similar scheme with Japan, though the start date is unclear. Officials also require people leaving Indonesia to produce certificates stating they do not carry COVID-19.

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, 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