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A truck moves on the Salatiga-Solo toll road section in Central Java on Friday (May 7, 2021). As a result of the homecoming travel ban, the number of vehicles departing from Jakarta to other cities in Java has dropped by 53 percent. (ANTARA FOTO/Aloysius Jarot Nugroho/foc) - 

The Indonesian police turned back 23,573 vehicles from 381 checkpoints across the country on the first day of the Eid-al-Fitr homecoming travel ban on Thursday.

The vehicles comprised 12,267 cars, 7,352 motorcycles, 2,148 passenger cars, and 1,768 cargo cars, chief of the public relations division of the National Police, Inspector General Argo Yuwono, revealed in a written statement released on Friday.

"The total number of vehicles turned around on the first day for alleged homecoming trip is 23,573," he said.

The homecoming travel ban, which will remain in force till May 17, 2021, has been imposed at 381 checkpoints stretching from Lampung province to Bali province.

The ban applies to not just private cars and buses, but also other kinds of passenger cars.

As a result of the homecoming travel ban, the number of vehicles departing from Jakarta to other cities in Java has dropped by 53 percent, Argo said.

"At the Cikampek main toll gate, the number of vehicles was recorded at 8,732 compared to 19,338 during the normal situation," he added.

The COVID-19 Handling Task Force has issued Circular Number 13 of 2021 on the homecoming travel ban to stem virus transmission during Eid al-Fitr celebrations.

The ban excludes logistics distribution service vehicles and travelers who need to travel urgently for non-homecoming purposes, specifically for work or business, to visit sick family members, or attend funerals of family members.

Pregnant women are allowed to be accompanied by one family member, and for childbirth purposes, accompanied by a maximum of two people, as per the circular//ANT