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Indonesia imposes travel ban over Omicron threat. But experts say more needs to be done
The government has set a travel ban on foreigners with a history of being in South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Mozambique, Eswatini, Malawi, Angola, Zambia and Hong Kong within two weeks before departing to Indonesia.
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The international terminal of I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport is empty of travelers on Oct. 13. Bali reopened its borders to international visitors on Oct. 14 to lackluster fanfare. (JP/Ni Komang Erviani)
I
ndonesia has joined a growing list of countries tightening their borders amid the looming threat of the new Omicron COVID-19 variant, but experts say travel bans will only delay the inevitable arrival of this variant.
The B.1.1.529 variant was first reported to the World Health Organization from South Africa on Wednesday, then was officially listed as a WHO Variant of Concern (VOC) on Friday under the name Omicron, which is suspected of driving a spike in new infections in South Africa.
Little is known about Omicron, but scientists fear it has mutations that could make it more infectious and might render certain COVID-19 treatments and immune defenses — either from vaccines or prior infections — less effective.
It has been detected in at least seven other countries or territories ever since, including Australia, the United Kingdom, Germany, Israel, Italy, Belgium and Hong Kong, according to various media reports.
Dozens of countries, from the UK to Indonesia's neighbors Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand have previously either banned or restricted travelers from countries in southern parts of Africa or considered doing so to prevent Omicron from entering their borders.
On Sunday, Indonesia placed a travel ban on foreigners with a history of being in South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Mozambique, Eswatini, Malawi, Angola, Zambia and Hong Kong within two weeks before departing to Indonesia. Meanwhile, Indonesian citizens who have visited these countries will have to go through a 14-day quarantine period upon returning home.
Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said this would be effective indefinitely starting on Monday, depending on how the situation would develop.
