Jakarta (ANTARA) - People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) speaker Bambang Soesatyo welcomed the government's decision to scrap the COVID-19 testing requirement for fully vaccinated domestic travelers.

"The government must offer an explanation and disseminate information on the policy, so that its implementation will not create misunderstandings that result in harm to the community, such as during mass gatherings," Soesatyo noted in his statement received here on Tuesday.

Soesatyo also urged the government to be firm in implementing the policy and ensuring that people continue to comply with health protocols during travel.

According to the MPR speaker, it is important for the government to ensure that checks or screening are conducted for requirements, such as proof of a valid COVID-19 vaccine certificate.

The government must take precautionary measures to prevent people from misusing the opportunity, for instance, by selling fake vaccine certificates.

To this end, it is crucial for officials to ensure that travelers have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

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On the same occasion, the MPR speaker also advised the government to disseminate information on travel requirements for people, who have not been fully vaccinated or those who have not been vaccinated due to several health reasons.

"The government must provide policies that are fair for the community regarding the travel requirements," he remarked.

The Indonesian government has done away with the requirement for a negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and antigen test result for domestic travelers, who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or those who have received two doses of the vaccine.

The decision was made during a limited meeting on evaluation of the Public Activity Restrictions (PPKM), which President Joko Widodo had 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.

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Translator: Putu Indah, Raka Adji
Editor: Suharto
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