"This regulation has passed through study and formulation that we had done with related parties," the task force's health handling head, Alexander K. Ginting, informed here on Wednesday.
One of the considerations for reducing the quarantine period was research from the United States' Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that indicated that Omicron's incubation period is shorter, he said.
The reduction in the quarantine period to five from seven days has been stipulated in the COVID-19 Handling Task Force head's Decision Letter No. 4 of 2022 on International Travelers' Health Protocol during the COVID-19 Pandemic, he added.
The decision letter came into effect on February 1, 2022.
The regulation also stipulates that the seven-day quarantine remains in place for international travelers who have received the first vaccine dose, Ginting said.
It also makes it mandatory for Indonesian and international travelers to show complete dose vaccination cards or certificates, physical or digital, at least 14 days before departure, he informed.
Related news: Quarantine period reduced for international travelers to five days
International travelers who have not been vaccinated overseas will be vaccinated at a quarantine facility as soon as they arrive in Indonesia and test negative in the second RT-PCR examination, he added.
The vaccination policy will only apply to foreigners aged 12–17 years who hold diplomatic residence permits and service residence permits or hold limited residence permits (KITAS) and permanent residence permits (KITAP), he said.
However, several categories of travelers are exempt from carrying COVID-19 vaccination cards or certificates while entering Indonesia, he informed.
They comprise foreigners holding diplomatic visas and service visas who are making an official visit, foreign officials at the level of minister or above, and foreigners entering Indonesia through the Travel Corridor Arrangement, he said.
International travelers aged below 18 years or with special medical conditions or comorbidities that do not allow them to receive vaccines are required to bring a medical certificate from a government hospital at the departure country, he added.
The certificate should state that the travelers have not or cannot receive the COVID-19 vaccine, he said.
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Translator: Andi Firdaus, Fadhli Ruhman
Editor: Suharto
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