At least they (should) have been vaccinated two timesYogyakarta (ANTARA) - An epidemiologist from Gadjah Mada University Bayu Satria Wiratama has voiced his support for the government's decision to lift the regulation requiring domestic travelers to carry a negative COVID-19 test result.
"I personally think it should have been lifted since a long time ago," he said here on Tuesday.
The policy requiring people to show COVID-19 test results is not effective for domestic travel because, according to research, a one-time test still allows people who are infected with COVID-19 to pass, Wiratama explained.
Moreover, the PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test results for travelers have a validity period of up to three days, he added.
However, the policy is still relevant for international travelers since they have to undergo several examinations when departing, after arriving at the destination country, and after quarantine, he said.
Currently, many countries no longer require domestic travelers to show a negative COVID-19 test result before traveling, he added.
Nevertheless, he advised that vaccination and the use of the PeduliLindungi application should continue to be a part of the requirements for domestic travelers.
"At least they (should) have been vaccinated two times," he said.
The Indonesian government has scrapped the requirement for a negative PCR and antigen test result for domestic travelers who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, or those who have received the complete dose of the vaccine.
The decision was made during the Limited Meeting on Evaluation of the Public Activity Restrictions (PPKM), which President Joko Widodo chaired on Monday (March 7, 2022).
The provisions are stipulated in the Circular Letter of the Head of the COVID-19 Task Force Number 11 of 2022 on Provisions for Domestic Travel during the COVID-19 Pandemic published as of March 8, 2022.
The new policy applies to domestic travelers using air, sea, and land transportation.
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Translator: Luqman Hakim, Raka Adji
Editor: Sri Haryati
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