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RI denies entry to 239 foreigners during COVID-19 pandemic
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Caution: Immigration officers screen arriving visitors to contain the spread of COVID-19.
T
he Directorate General of Immigration has released the latest data on the ban on visitors from entering Indonesian territory during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Public Relations and Public Affairs Head Arvin Gumilang revealed that 239 foreigners had been denied entry at Immigration Checkpoints (TPI) at airports, seaports and border crossings from Feb. 6 to April 19.
TPI Soekarno Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, Banten, accounted for the highest number of rejections,namely 128 people, followed by TPI Ngurah Rai International Airport in Denpasar, Bali, with 89 people and TPI Kualanamu International Airport in Medan, North Sumatra, with 11 people.
"Most of the foreigners denied entry were from China with 89 people,[while] 15 were from Malaysia and 12 from Russia,"Arvin explained.
Arvin said the reasons for immigration officials denyingthe foreigners entry to Indonesia included a travelhistoryin areas affected by COVID-19 in the past 14 days, a body temperature above 38 degrees Celsius, lack of a health certificate and refusal to be examined by airport health authorities.
"Immigration officers are in the second lineof screening upon entrance to Indonesian territory, after the Port Health Authorities (KKP). If the results of the health check are not good, the KKP will recommend entry bans,” he said.
The government of Indonesia through the Ministry of Law and Human Rights has issued Ministerial Regulation No. 11/2020 concerning a temporarily ban on visitors entering Indonesia in an effort to stem the spread of COVID-19.
In addition, Arvin added, the government had implemented a COVID-19 handling protocol at the checkpoints by administering medical screening of arrivals before visitors undergo immigration checks.
"All passengers, both foreigners and Indonesian citizens, are required to fill in a health alert card and undergo a health inspection by KKP officers. If they pass, they will proceed to immigration checks," he added.
The entry protocol issued by the Presidential Staff Office also states that arriving visitors must wear masks and wash their hands with soap or hand sanitizer upon entering the terminals.
