People might get too excited with the easing of travel requirements
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The COVID-19 Handling Task Force has emphasized that the relaxation of domestic and international travel requirements must not lead to any laxity in health protocol implementation.

"People might get too excited with the easing of travel requirements. We emphasize that it does not in line with an easing in health protocols implementation," head of the health support sub-division of the COVID-19 Task Force, Brigadier General (Ret.) Alexander K. Ginting, said during an online seminar on Saturday.

The central government recently revoked the requirement for carrying a negative RT-PCR or antigen test result for fully vaccinated domestic travelers. It also cut down the quarantine period for foreign travelers to just one day.

Ginting said that the previous relaxations in travel rules for domestic and foreign travelers, laid down in several COVID-19 Task Force Circulars such as Numbers 11 and 12 of 2022, are slowly being implemented by the government since the COVID-19 vaccination coverage in a number of regions has reached 80 percent and booster vaccinations are being accelerated rapidly.

Therefore, the government has also decided to lower the level of community activity restrictions (PPKM) in several regions.

"The government's decision is based on the vaccination coverage. But, do not forget to always implement the health protocols. Please wear a mask, wash your hands, and maintain distance with others," Ginting said.

He emphasized that the easing of policies must not be interpreted by the community as an elimination of the health protocols. For the easing to continue, health protocols such as wearing masks, washing hands, and maintaining distance should be strengthened.

This includes receiving at least two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to protect the community from the worst risks of COVID-19.

Besides the 3Ms, people have been asked to fill out the eHAC (Electronic Health Alert Card) feature in the PeduliLindungi application when traveling by plane so their mobility can be digitally monitored.

Meanwhile, local governments have been asked to administer COVID-19 vaccinations as well as strengthen case tracking through testing, tracing, and treatment (3Ts) to reduce the potential for transmission.

Ginting said that all the variants currently circulating or mutating in society are COVID-19. Therefore, health protocols need to become daily behaviors that are applied in everyday life regardless of the conditions.

"So, these improvements should not be translated as ignoring compliance with the 3Ms. Instead, the 3Ms should be a part of our daily behavior," he added.

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Translator: Hreeoloita Dharma S, Resinta S
Editor: Sri Haryati
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