“The circular is aimed at increasing the implementation of COVID-19 health protocols during the 2020 Christmas and the 2021 New Year holidays, which come with surveillance, control and evaluation in order to prevent a surge in COVID-19 transmission,” reads the task force’s circular No. 3/2020 on health protocols for travelers during the holidays.

The circular, a copy of which was obtained by The Jakarta Post on Monday, was issued by task force chief Doni Monardo on Dec. 19.

Among the requirements is Point 3(c), which stipulates that travelers using air transportation or trains to, from or within Java Island are required to provide officers with negative rapid antigen test results that are valid for three days prior to departure. 

“Travelers using land transportation, both with public and private vehicles, are encouraged to take rapid antigen tests that are valid for three days as part of the travel requirements. 

“Filling the Indonesia e-HAC [electronic health alert card] is mandatory for all travelers using all kinds of transportation, except for trains,” the circular says.

A different rule applies to those traveling to Bali. Air travelers must provide a negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test result that is valid for a maximum of seven days, while sea and land travelers are required to carry with them negative rapid antigen test results that are valid for three days.

Children under 12 years old are not obliged to take PCR or rapid antigen tests.

Health protocols for year-end holiday travelers. (JP/Swi Handono)

Local COVID-19 task force officers are permitted to conduct random rapid antigen or PCR tests if needed.

Those who show symptoms prior to departure are not allowed to continue their trip and are required to take a PCR test, even if they have tested negative for COVID-19. They are obliged to self-isolate while waiting for the PCR test result.

Overseas travelers are required to provide officers with a negative PCR test result from their country of origin, valid for three days upon arrival. They will also have to take another PCR test when they reach Indonesia. 

Indonesian travelers are required to stay in a quarantine facility provided by the government while waiting for the PCR test result, while foreign travelers are required to quarantine in a facility using their personal expenses. They must stay in hotels or hostels that are approved by the government.

Rapid antigen tests are not mandatory for those traveling within certain clusters, such as regions in Greater Jakarta. However, local authorities are permitted to conduct random checks. 

Meanwhile, starting Monday and through to Jan. 4, 2021, the National Police’s Traffic Corps are to roll Operasi Lilin 2020 (Operation Candle) in which they will provide security for the year-end holidays, as well as conduct random rapid antigen tests for travelers in several road access points.

“Starting from Banten to Cikampek, we will [also] perform random antigen tests to protocol offenders in around 70 rest area sites,” traffic corps head Istiono said Friday as quoted by kompas.com. 

He said the police would deploy over 123,000 personnel across the nation for the operation to disperse crowds. (nkn)