VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Jakarta. The government is preventing the entry of Indian citizens and travelers from India to Indonesia starting Saturday, April 24, 2021 in an effort to prevent the COVID-19 case in Indonesia from being like in India.

Director General of Immigration Jhoni Ginting in a press statement received in Jakarta, Monday, said that visa services for Indian citizens had also been stopped since Thursday, April 23, 2021.

He explained that the policy was to respond to the latest dynamics of the spike in daily COVID-19 cases in India. He added that the refusal to enter applies to all foreigners who have a history of travel from Indian territory within 14 days before entering Indonesian territory.

"Apart from refusing entry to foreigners, we have also temporarily suspended the issuance of visas for Indian citizens," said Jhoni.

In addition, the Government of Indonesia limits the entry points at several Immigration Checkpoints (TPI).

The entry point for Indonesian citizens who will return to Indonesia is only through TPI Soekarno-Hatta Airport, Juanda Airport, Kualanamu Airport, Sam Ratulangi Airport, Batam Center Seaport, Sri Bintan Pura Sea Port, and Dumai Sea Port.

"For Indonesian citizens who enter, of course, they still have to follow strict health protocols according to the rules of the COVID-19 Handling Task Force," he said.

The government has indeed made various policies to control COVID-19 cases. Recently, the COVID-19 Task Force made a Lebaran 2021 homecoming circular which regulates people if they want to leave the city before and after Lebaran 2021.

The COVID-2021 Task Force circular letter is an addendum to SE 13/2021 concerning the Elimination of the Idul Fitri 1442 Hijriah Homecoming and Efforts to Control the Spread of Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) During the Holy Month of Ramadan 1442 Hijriah.

The addendum, which was signed on April 21, 2021, regulates the extension of time for domestic travelers, namely D-14 prohibiting homecoming or April 22-May 5 2021 and on D + 7 the prohibition of going home 18-24 May 2021

Member of Commission IX DPR RI Rahmad Handoyo hopes that the government's decision to tighten, then eliminating homecoming can prevent the COVID-19 tsunami like in India.

"With the tightening, people will rethink when they want to travel," he said.

Meanwhile, MUI Secretary General Buya Amirsyah Tambunan invited the public to take the COVID-19 tsunami in India as a lesson. People in the red zone must make concrete efforts, for example, praying at home is more comprehensive.

"India must be used as a valuable lesson not to be repeated in RI. Precious lessons should be kept in mind so that it will not be repeated. Ramadan's gentle momentum must be maintained," said Buya Amirsyah Tambunan. (Antaranews)