Jakarta (ANTARA) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) will undergo a self-quarantine at the Presidential Palace in Bogor, West Java, upon arriving in Indonesia after completing his working visit to Europe and the Middle East, a top official has said.

"President Jokowi will conduct his self-quarantine in the most proper way possible," Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko told journalists in Jakarta on Friday.

The President is aware of the importance of regulation enforcement, hence his commitment to abide by quarantine regulations, he said.

"President Jokowi will comply with enforced regulations during his quarantine period as he had put utmost concern on regulation enforcement during past cabinet meetings," Moeldoko informed.

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Responding to public questions regarding the absence of officials welcoming the President in Jakarta on Friday morning -- slight deviance from convention -- the Presidential Secretariat Office head Heru Budi Hartono confirmed this was done at the President's request as he was to immediately leave for the Presidential Palace in Bogor to commence self-quarantine upon arrival.

"President Jokowi requested that no officials are required to welcome him on arrival, as he would promptly depart for the Presidential Palace in Bogor with existing apparatus," Hartono said.

The President will stay at a different location during his self-quarantine period, isolated from his family that is staying at Bayurini House within the Presidential compound, the secretariat office head informed.

Meanwhile, the National COVID-19 Handling Task Force chairperson, Ganip Warsito, informed that the President can perform self-quarantine.

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"The COVID-19 Task Force has granted discretion to high-ranking officials to perform self-quarantine," Warsito said.

However, the President will still need to undergo a COVID-19 PCR test on the first and third day of the quarantine and comply with health protocol regulations, such as wearing a mask and avoiding face-to-face activities, the task force head affirmed.

The President has been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and therefore, he will need to self-quarantine for 3x24 hours, as per Circular No. 20 of 2021 on health protocols on international travel during the COVID-19 pandemic, Warsito said.

"President Jokowi has completed his second vaccine jab, therefore, the required quarantine period is 3x24 hours. If the President's COVID-19 PCR test exhibits a negative result on the third quarantine day, the President would be allowed to leave the quarantine facility and resume his daily activities," he added.

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Translator: Rangga Pandu AJ; Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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