Hotman Siregar & Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Starting on Friday, anyone entering and leaving Jakarta on public transportation must first show a negative rapid antigen test to prevent Covid-19 case surges during the Christmas and New Year's holidays.

"Starting from Dec. 18 to Jan. 8, 2021, everyone purchasing the ticket must show their rapid antigen test results for those traveling by air, sea, or land in bus terminals," Jakarta's transportation department head, Syafrin Liputo, said in the Jakarta Town Hall on Wednesday, as quoted by Jakarta Globe's sister publication, Beritasatu.

According to Syafrin, officers will check on these results in airports, harbors, and terminals in Jakarta. Previously, this policy did not apply to those traveling to and from Jakarta on air, land, or sea transport.

"This policy has already been in place for train passengers since a few months ago," Syafrin said.

The mandatory antigen test is already included in the recently signed 2020 Jakarta governor instruction on Covid-19 prevention during Christmas and New Year's holidays. Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan instructed the Jakarta transportation head to check on the travelers' rapid antigen test and coordinate with the Transportation Ministry.

The instruction also came in pairs with the 2020 governor exclamation.

From Dec. 18 to Jan. 8, offices must slash their capacity by 50 percent and only operate until 7.00 p.m. Shopping centers, cafes, restaurants, movie theaters, and tourist areas have the same capacity cap, but a longer curfew at 9.00 p.m.

Anies also urged people to stay at home during the consecutive day offs except for religious rituals, basic or urgent needs during the consecutive day-offs, namely from Dec. 24 to Dec. 27 and Dec. 31 to Jan. 3. On those dates, business places must close before 7.00 p.m.

"I hope because of this policy and instruction, there will be no case surges. The public should prioritize staying at home and minimizing outdoor activities except for basic or urgent needs. Hopefully, with this, we can move forward to the next stage, which is safe, healthy, and productive people," Anies said in his official statement on Thursday.

Earlier this week, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan obliged people visiting Bali to take a mandatory Covid-19 test. Would-be plane passengers must take a PCR Covid-19 test two days before their flight. Whilst those traveling by land must take a rapid antigen test also two days before departure.

Source: https://jakartaglobe.id/news/entering-and-leaving-jakarta-requires-rapid-antigen-tes