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‘Mudik’ banned – again
The government has banned the Idul Fitri tradition of mudik (exodus) for the second consecutive year to curb the spread of COVID-19.
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Motorists pass over the Suramadu Bridge in Bangkalan, East Java, on July 30, 2020. The bridge, which connects the islands of Java and Madura, was crowded with homebound travelers for the Idul Adha holiday. (Antara/Zabur Karuru)
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he government has banned the Idul Fitri tradition of mudik (exodus) for the second consecutive year to curb the spread of COVID-19, which has spiked after major public holidays in the past.
Coordinating Human Development and Culture Minister Muhadjir Effendy said the ban intended to prevent a spike in COVID-19 transmission and deaths after the holiday. Such an increase was observed early this year, after Christmas and New Year.
“Following a coordination meeting among ministers on March 23, it was decided that the government will ban mudik in 2021,” said Muhadjir during a virtual press briefing on Friday. “The ban is effective for civil servants, the military, the police and the general public.”
This year, Idul Fitri will begin on May 12 or 13, depending on the sighting of the moon. Under normal circumstances, some 20 million people in Greater Jakarta travel to their hometowns during the holiday.
Muhadjir said the ban would be in effect from May 6 to 17. He urged people to avoid nonessential travel outside of their cities of residence during the period to prevent a spike in COVID-19 cases.
As of Friday, health authorities had recorded nearly 1.5 million cumulative COVID-19 cases and about 124,000 active cases. The weekly test positivity rate – the number of cases detected out of the number of tests conducted – stood at about 13 percent on Friday.
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