"The government is strongly considering to lengthen the quarantine period to 14 days if the Omicron variant becomes more widespread. So, I beg all of us to refrain, we do not want to repeat the very grim period in July this year," the minister said at an online press conference on public activity restrictions (PPKM) here on Monday.
The government has started to witness an increase in travelers arriving from abroad (PPLN) at some of Indonesia's entrance gates, Pandjaitan, who is also the Java-Bali PPKM coordinator, added.
Therefore, he said, the government will tighten the entry points to Indonesia via air, land, and sea.
"We keep urging the people not to travel abroad if it is not essential. I repeat, the government urges people not to travel overseas because of the world's current situation regarding Omicron," he stressed.
In anticipation of a surge in the number of travelers arriving in Indonesia, the government will prepare new quarantine locations to keep their return conducive and in accordance with the existing protocols, he added.
"The head of BNPB (National Disaster Mitigation Agency) is readying the Surabaya Juanda Airport as a new entrance for travelers who will return to the country," he informed.
Furthermore, he assured that COVID-19 cases in Indonesia have remained low after the first Omicron case was confirmed in Indonesia.
As of Monday, Indonesia has passed 157 days since the peak of the Delta variant wave, he noted. Since then, the number of new cases, active cases, and patients being treated in hospitals in Java-Bali has shown a decreasing trend, meaning that the COVID-19 pandemic has been under control, Pandjaitan highlighted.
Meanwhile, the vaccination coverage among the general public and elders has been increasing, he said. However, the government has continued to encourage some regions in Java-Bali where first dose vaccinations are still under 50 percent, he said.
"Although cases are under control at a low level, the government will continue to closely monitor case developments and anticipate spikes due to the Omicron variant. The government will still use PPKM levels as a basis for restricting communities activities," Pandjaitan remarked.
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Translator: Ade J, Kenzu T
Editor: Sri Haryati
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