This policy is a step to prevent spread of the infection of the COVID-19 variant Omicron that continues to show an upward trend in terms of the number of cases in various countries, including Indonesia.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Speaker Bambang Soesatyo, nicknamed Bamsoet, backs the Indonesian Government's policy banning visits by foreigners from 14 countries in accordance with the COVID-19 Handling Task Force Circular Letter No. 1 of 2022.

"This policy is a step to prevent spread of the infection of the COVID-19 variant Omicron that continues to show an upward trend in terms of the number of cases in various countries, including Indonesia," Soesatyo noted through his statement here on Friday.

The speaker urged the government, specifically the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to coordinate to deliver a detailed explanation on the policy to the people.

Related news: Indonesia urged to intensify contact tracing to check Omicron spread

This information should specifically be disseminated to foreigners keen on visiting Indonesia, and the explanation should be provided clearly from one article to another.

Soesatyo also requested that the government and COVID-19 Handling Task Force continue to monitor the discipline of officers on duty during the quarantine process for international travelers, specifically foreign nationals.

This aims to realize effective implementation of the COVID-19 Handling Task Force Circular Letter No. 1 of 2022 on Health Protocols for Overseas Travel during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The speaker also called on the government to continue to monitor the developments of Omicron in various countries in order to issue a more effective policy to prevent the variant from spreading through international travel.

Soesatyo deemed this step as crucial since international travelers constituted 95 percent of the Omicron cases in Jakarta.

He also urged international travelers to fully comply with the regulation set by the government, such as implementing health protocols.

They should also be heedful of the regulations and policies set by the government, specifically concerning the quarantine process.

Related news: Indonesia temporarily closes entry of nationals from 14 countries

Translator: Imam B, Fadhli Ruhman
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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