Angkasa Pura

Efforts to Prevent COVID-19 Omicron Variant, Soekarno-Hatta Airport Tightens Supervision of International Travelers

Jakarta - Soekarno-Hatta Airport stakeholders coordinate closely in supporting international travel control as an effort to protect Indonesian citizens from imported cases of COVID-19, including the new variant of Omicron.

In line with this, Soekarno-Hatta Airport applies the provisions in the Circular Letter of the Minister of Transportation Number SE 102 of 2021 concerning International Travel Health Protocols During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The Commander of the Air Task Force for COVID-19 at Soekarno-Hatta Airport, Lt. Col. Agus Listiono, said that intensive coordination was carried out by various stakeholders so that international travel health protocols could be implemented properly at Soekarno-Hatta Airport.

Head of Soekarno-Hatta Class I Port Health Office (KKP Ministry of Health) dr. Darmawali Handoko said passengers on international routes, both Indonesian citizens and foreigners who landed at Soekarno-Hatta Airport, had to show a vaccination card as well as the results of a PCR test whose samples were taken a maximum of 3x24 hours before departure.

The SE Minister of Transportation Number 102 of 2021, among others, also regulates the temporary closure of the entry of foreigners, either directly or in transit in foreign countries, who have lived and/or visited within 14 days from countries/regions that have confirmed the transmission of the Omicron variant, namely Africa. South, Botswana and Hong Kong, as well as countries that are geographically close to the transmission countries for the community of Omicor cases, namely Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Eswatini and Lesotho.

Director of Operation & Services AP II Muhamad Wasid said that along with the temporary closure of the entry of foreigners, Soekarno-Hatta Airport stakeholders increased supervision of international travelers.

"After coordination between stakeholders, checkpoint points will be added to ensure that the provision for temporary closure of the entry of foreigners according to the SE Minister of Transportation Number 102/2021 can be implemented properly."

The addition of a checkpoint is an inspection by an immigration officer at the forefront after a passenger gets off the plane.

"Previously, when passengers got off the plane, they would see a checkpoint for checking health documents by the Port Health Office of the Ministry of Health (KKP Kemenkes). Now, it will be added with inspection by immigration officers. So, when passengers get off the plane, they will meet a checkpoint for checking travel documents by immigration officers," explained Muhamad Wasid.

As for the immigration stamp stamp in the passport, it will still be carried out at the existing immigration counter for international travelers who meet the entry requirements to Indonesian territory.

Soekarno-Hatta Airport Executive General Manager Agus Haryadi said the inspection by immigration officers at the forefront was to ensure that the provision for the temporary closure of the entry of foreigners from 11 countries according to the Minister of Transportation's Decree Number 102/2021 was effective.

"Immigration officers are at the front to carry out inspections, and foreigners who are included in the provision of temporary closure to enter Indonesian territory will not process further international arrivals," said Agus Haryadi.

The inspection by immigration officers at the forefront is also in line with the direction of the Minister of Transportation so that the provision of temporary entry closures for foreigners can run well.

Agus Haryadi added that Soekarno-Hatta Airport is also very ready to carry out NAAT/other types of tests or RT-PCR tests for passengers who have just landed, as in accordance with the provisions of SE Minister of Transportation Number 102/2021.

Currently Soekarno-Hatta Airport has been equipped with a Level-2 Bio Safety Laboratory (BSL-2) laboratory facility with a sample inspection capacity of up to 1,216 samples per hour or around 29,184 per day.

"This BSL-2 facility supports efforts to prevent imported cases of COVID-19," explained Agus Haryadi.

Meanwhile, after processing international arrivals at the airport, passengers are required to undergo quarantine at the designated location.

In accordance with the Addendum to the Circular Letter of the COVID-19 Handling Task Force Number 23 of 2021 concerning International Travel Health Protocols During the COVID-19 Pandemic, the quarantine period for international travelers, both Indonesian citizens and foreigners, upon arrival will be re-tested by RT-PCR and required to undergo quarantine for 10 x 24 hours. For Indonesian citizens and foreigners, a second RT-PCR is carried out on the 9th day of quarantine for those who are quarantined with a duration of 10 x 24 hours.

For Indonesian citizens arriving from South Africa, Botswana and Hong Kong, Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Eswatini and Lesotho, RT-PCR is performed upon arrival, then quarantined for 14 x 24 hours. On day 13, a second RT-PCR was performed.