The national COVID-19 task force has urged the public to spend the upcoming long weekend at home in order to help prevent a spike in coronavirus transmission amid concerns of a re-emergence of holiday clusters. 

“We strongly urge everyone to avoid going to public places during the holiday. Please stay at home, there will be other holidays in the future,” task force spokesman Wiku Adisasmito said during a press briefing on Tuesday. 

He also pressed regional governments to identify tourist attractions and ensure health protocols are observed in each attraction. 

The upcoming long weekend centers on the public holiday celebrating the birthday of Prophet Muhammad (Maulid) on Thursday, combined with collective leave days from Wednesday to Friday and the ensuing weekend. 

Wiku said vacationers must adhere to mandatory health protocols. 

Local administrations and tourist destinations must also limit the number of visitors to 50 percent capacity to prevent crowds gathering and remain vigilant to prevent new COVID-19 clusters, he added. 

Wiku pointed out that previous long weekends had contributed to spikes in confirmed cases at the national level, referring to record-high in new cases from a long weekend in August. 

“There is no pause for the pandemic. Therefore, the government and the public need to remain cautious and cooperate to prevent new cases.” 

He added that local governments must also ensure health protocols during prayers, festivals and cultural activities commonly held to mark Maulid. 

As of Tuesday, the country has recorded 396,454 COVID-19 infections with 13,512 deaths and 322,248 recoveries. The Health Ministry has so far tested 2.78 million people.

Travel and lifestyle app Traveloka has announced that it would be collaborating with tourism technology company PT Atourin Teknologi Nusantara to hold virtual tours as part of its Online Xperience feature. They comprise 15 destinations across seven provinces.

Currently, visitors can start exploring numerous locations in Bali under certain themes and more destinations will be gradually added, in such locations as East Nusa Tenggara, West Nusa Tenggara, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Maluku and Papua. 

One of the virtual tours in Bali, dubbed Negara: Uniqueness of West Bali, allows visitors to learn about the makepung (water buffalo race), visit Medewi Beach, which is known as a surfers’ paradise, observe the Bunut Bolong, a huge tree with a large hole in its trunk, travel to Ekasari Tourism Village, where its residents adhere to different religions, and explore West Bali National Park. (aly)