A PPKM (Public Activity Restriction) evaluation meeting is routinely held every week. Hence, the policy is based on the latest development in each weekJakarta (ANTARA) - The government's decision to lower the price of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests and make antigen tests mandatory for travelers is in accordance with the latest data and people's will, the Presidential Staff Office (KSP) said.
"A PPKM (public activity restrictions) evaluation meeting is routinely held every week. Hence, the policy is based on the latest development in each week," KSP official Abraham Wirotomo noted in an official statement released here on Wednesday.
The new policies concerning PCR do not actually change the government's goal, namely to control the COVID-19 pandemic and to expedite economic recovery, he explained.
"The government is aware that economic recovery would not happen if COVID-19 is not yet controlled," he elaborated.
Wirotomo highlighted that currently there are still challenges to handling COVID-19 cases due to the rising cases in several regions.
"Last week (the fourth week of October 2021) there were 105 districts or cities that experienced a spike in cases. This week, there are 131 districts or cities," he pointed out.
"The government does not want more districts or cities to experience a rise in cases," he affirmed.
Earlier, the government, through the Health Ministry, had set the maximum price for Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) examinations at Rp275 thousand for Java-Bali and Rp300 thousand for regions outside Java-Bali.
In addition, the government has also rolled out the latest policy concerning long travel through Circulation Letter No. 94 of 2021 on Domestic Traveling with Land Transportation Guideline during the Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).
As per the letter, domestic travelers using private and public vehicles to travel in and out of Java-Bali regions, with PPKM category of Level 3 to Level 1, are obligated to show antigen test results from the previous 1x24 hours. They also need to have taken the first vaccine shot and carry a vaccine card.
Travelers also need to install the PeduliLindungi application.
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Translator: Indra Pribadi, Fadhli Ruhman
Editor: Sri Haryati
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