People must still wear masks in their private vehicles, especially if the vehicle is fully loaded
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Transportation has asked Eid homecoming travelers who plan to use private vehicles to wear masks and comply with the COVID-19 health protocols.

"People must still wear masks in their private vehicles, especially if the vehicle is fully loaded," Transportation Minister's expert staff for communication Thonthowi Djauhari said at a webinar on the 2022 Eid homecoming exodus on Monday.

The community's understanding and awareness will determine safe and healthy homecoming implementation. The enforcement of health protocols by travelers using private vehicles will be a challenge because there will be no screening for them, unlike for people using public transportation.

For example, travelers taking airplanes will be asked to use the PeduliLindungi application and get the necessary documents checked, such as vaccine certificates and negative antigen or PCR test certificates.

Speaking at the webinar, the head of behavior change at the COVID-19 Handling Task Force, Sonny Harry B. Harmadi, informed that random COVID-19 testing will be conducted on travelers using private vehicles at several locations during the Eid exodus period. Those who test positive will be referred to the nearest isolation center.

In addition to the health protocols, the Ministry of Transportation has also asked prospective homecomers who plan to use private vehicles to prepare their vehicles before traveling.

Taking note of the improvement in the COVID-19 situation, the Indonesian government has allowed people to travel to their hometowns to celebrate Eid this year.

The trips will be allowed as long as prospective homecomers complete their primary and booster vaccinations. However, those who have not received the booster dose will need to show a negative COVID-19 test result.

According to a survey conducted by the Ministry of Transportation, 85.5 million citizens are expected to take part in the Eid homecoming exodus, and 47 percent of them are projected to use land transportation, this year.

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Translator: Natisha Andarningtyas, Raka Ad
Editor: Sri Haryati
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