Indonesia: Authorities to allow domestic travelers to use breathalyzer test results from April 1 due to COVID-19 /update 68

Event

Indonesia will allow domestic air and sea travelers to use results of breathalyzer tests, termed GeNose, to fulfill travel requirements from April 1 to stem the spread of COVID-19. Authorities formerly allowed only rail travelers to use the breathalyzer test results. Specific rules will be in place for the following means of transport from April 1:

• Air travel: Travelers must provide a negative result from a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test taken within 72 hours before departure or a negative result from a rapid antigen test taken within 48 hours before the trips, or a negative GeNose breathalyzer test result taken at the airport of departure.

• Sea travel: Travelers must show a negative RT-PCR or rapid antigen test result within 72 hours before departure or a negative GeNose breathalyzer test result taken at the port of departure. Sea travelers for routes within the Java region are exempted from the requirements, though officials might randomly subject some passengers to tests.

• Rail travel: Intercity rail travelers must show a negative result from an RT-PCR or a rapid antigen test taken within 72 hours before the trips, or a GeNose breathalyzer test negative result taken at the rail station of departure.

• Nonrail land travel: Passengers using nonrail means of land transport are exempt from test requirements, though they are encouraged to take an RT-PCR, a rapid antigen, or a GeNose breathalyzer test before the trips. Authorities may also randomly subject some passengers to tests.

For travel to Bali, passengers using all means of transport must show a negative result from an RT-PCR or a rapid antigen test taken within 48 hours before the trips, or a negative GeNose breathalyzer test result taken at the airport, port, or bus station of departure. All nonrail domestic travelers must also register on the Health Alert Card (eHAC) mobile application before travel and are advised to download the PeduliLindungi contact tracing application. Officials plan to ban intercity travel to hometowns, termed mudik, May 6-17 during the Eid Al-Fitr celebrations. The level of enforcement is unclear and authorities may adjust the rules at short notice.

The public activity restrictions, termed PPKM, remain in effect in parts of the country through April 5. The government allows 50 percent of employees in nonessential industries to work in an office, though there are tighter curbs in areas with higher COVID-19 activity. Shopping centers and food establishments can operate through 21:00 nightly. Schools must remain closed and use distance learning, though tertiary educational institutions can resume on-site activities. Authorities may adjust or further expand the rules to accommodate local conditions. Localities currently enforcing PPKM through April 5 include all parts of Jakarta and Yogyakarta Province; Tangerang and South Tangerang cities and Tangerang Regency in Banten Province; the greater Bandung area, Bogor and Bekasi regencies and Bekasi, Bogor, Cimahi, and Depok cities in West Java Province; the greater Semarang and greater Banyumas regions and Surakarta city in Central Java; greater Surabaya, greater Malang, and greater Madiun regions in East Java Province; Denpasar city and Badung, Gianyar, Klungkung, and Tabanan regencies in Bali Province; and areas of Central Kalimantan, East Kalimantan, East Nusa Tenggara, North Sulawesi, North Sumatra, South Kalimantan, South Sulawesi, and West Nusa Tenggara provinces.

The government also requires local officials in these cities and regencies to enforce varying localized restrictions at the neighborhood (Rukun Tetangga) level, as follows:

• Red zones: Neighborhoods with more than 10 households with a COVID-19 patient in the past seven days must implement restrictions, including suspending public gatherings of more than three people and banning entry and exit from the localities after 2000 nightly.

• Orange zones: Neighborhoods with 6-10 households with a COVID-19 patient can allow only essential facilities to operate.

• Yellow zones: Neighborhoods with 1-5 households with a COVID-19 patient must implement contact tracing.

• Green zones: Neighborhoods without any household with a COVID-19 patient must conduct tests for suspected cases.

Additionally, some localities are also enacting large-scale social distancing rules termed PSBB, which are typically stricter than PPKM. Officials plan to maintain PSBB orders in West Java Province through April 5 and in Banten Province through April 18. While the protocols vary by locality, rules typically include suspending schools and on-site operations of nonessential industries and limiting the capacity or operating hours of sectors that remain open. Areas with significant COVID-19 activity can apply to the central government to enact PSBB. Localities that are not implementing large-scale social distancing restrictions may also implement other curbs, such as suspending schools or entertainment venues.

A nationwide public health emergency remains in effect until further notice. While central authorities have instructed local officials nationwide to enact distancing and other protocols, the central and local governments' enforcement level is unclear. Locals affected by the pandemic and related controls have staged protests across Indonesia and may stage further rallies.

Travel Restrictions
The entry ban for most foreigners remains in effect. Exemptions from the entry ban are in place for high-level state visits and holders of Limited Stay Permit Cards, among others. Returning citizens and foreigners who can still enter Indonesia must present evidence of negative results from RT-PCR tests within 48 hours before departure, register on the eHAC mobile application before the trips, quarantine for five days at designated facilities upon arrival, and obtain a negative result from another RT-PCR test before leaving the quarantine sites. International travelers are also encouraged to download the PeduliLindungi contact-tracing application.

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.

Resources

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