VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Over 2 million people left Jakarta and nearly as many visitors entered the city during the Eid al-Fitr homecoming ban from May 6 to May 15, 2021, Jakarta Vice Governor Ahmad Riza Patria said.

"As per the available data, some 2.2 million people entered Jakarta and some 2.6 million people left Jakarta between May 6 and 15," he disclosed at the Jakarta City Hall on Monday.

To stem transmission of COVID-19 arising from the movement of people in large numbers, the Jakarta provincial government adopted several policies during the homecoming ban period, including temporarily closing tourist destinations, such as Ragunan Zoo, Beautiful Indonesia in Miniature Park (TMII), and Ancol Dream Land.

"We always pray and make efforts that the Eid al-Fitr holidays will not lead to a rise or spike in COVID-19 cases in Jakarta," Patria said.

As per official data, 2,607,688 people left Jakarta using private vehicles while 55 others used inter-provincial buses during the homecoming ban period.

Meanwhile, 2,244,096 people traveled to Jakarta by private vehicles and 174 others used inter-provincial buses.

The data also shows 1,730,463 vehicles left Jakarta, while 1,513,267 vehicles entered the Indonesian capital during the period.

The COVID-19 Handling Task Force issued Circular Number 13 of 2021 on the ‘mudik’ ban to stem coronavirus transmission during the Eid al-Fitr celebrations.

The ban excluded logistics distribution service vehicles and people who needed to travel for non-mudik purposes, specifically for work or business, to visit sick family members, or attend funerals of family members. The ban also excluded pregnant women, who were allowed to be accompanied by one family member, while women traveling for childbirth were allowed to be accompanied by a maximum of two people. (Antaranews)