Head of Disease Prevention and Control at the West Java Provincial Health Office, Ryan Bayusantika Ristandi, noted in the office's press release received here on Thursday that the Government of Saudi Arabia had necessitated Hajj pilgrims to be free of COVID-19 based on the result of an RT-PCR test taken no more than 72 hours prior to departure.
Moreover, the pilgrims must not be older than 65 years of age and should have received two COVID-19 vaccine injections.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health's Hajj Health Center has made it mandatory for pilgrims to show a negative result of a PCR test taken one day prior to departure, he remarked.
In order to minimize the risk of prospective pilgrims failing to depart for Hajj due to having tested positive for COVID-19 before the day of departure, the West Java Provincial Health Office has provided free RT-PCR test services for pilgrims from 10 to 14 days before departure.
"We want to ensure that the prospective pilgrims from West Java undergo a PCR test from 10 to 14 days before departure, and it can be done in their respective regions," he stated.
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He explained that the Health Office provided free RT-PCR test services 10-14 days before the scheduled departure, so that the pilgrims, who tested positive for COVID-19, would still have time to undergo quarantine and recover.
"This is a form of anticipation far before (the departure). When another PCR test is conducted one day before departure, it is hoped that the result will be negative," he stated.
Ristandi affirmed that the policy of providing free PCR test services to the pilgrims had been discussed with the district and city governments, and they welcomed the policy.
For the 2022 Hajj pilgrimage, Indonesia has been allotted a quota of 100,051 people. Meanwhile, the quota for West Java pilgrims is 17,566.
Related news: E Java Governor asks prospective Hajj pilgrims to complete vaccination
Translator: Ajat Sudrajat, Raka Adji
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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