JAKARTA, 28 Dec 2020:
Starting from Jan 1, Indonesia will again reinstate a curb on the entry of foreigners into the republic to check the spread of Covid-19.
Indonesian foreign minister Retno Marsudi said the rule applied to all foreign nationals effective until Jan 14.
“Those (foreigners) who arrive in Indonesia today until Dec 31 are required to have a swab test or PCR test letter from the country of origin.
‘’Upon their arrival at Jakarta Airport, they need to once again undergo PCR and quarantine for 5 (five) days,”he said in a post on the official YouTube channel of the Presidential Secretariat, today.
During this period, he said Indonesian citizens abroad are allowed to return to Indonesia by complying with prescribed Covid-19 health rules such as undergoing a swab, PCR testing and quarantine.
However, Retno said ministers and leaders from foreign countries on official visits are allowed into the country during this period – but they still had to comply with stipulated Covid-19 health procedures.
Indonesia has previously opened its borders to foreign nationals, especially to revitalise the tourism sector as on the island of Bali. However, since lately, new positive cases of Covid-19 in the republic had continued to increase.
Based on data posted on the official twitter page of the Indonesian National Disaster Management Agency @BNPB_Indonesia today, the overall positive cases in Indonesia increased to 719,219 cases, with a cumulative death of 21,452 people. A total of 5,854 new cases were recorded within 24 hours, with another 215 deaths.
In BANGKOK, Thai deputy prime minister Anutin Charnvirakul is undergoing home quarantine for 14 days because he attended a meeting with a provincial governor – who later tested positive for Covid-19.
Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration spokesman Thaweesilp Wissanuyothin confirmed the Samut Sakhon governor Weerasak Wijitsaengsri, had tested positive for the deadly virus today.
Anutin, who is also public health minister, attended the meeting at Samut Sakhon Hospital yesterday – where Weerasak was also present.
Samut Sakhon has recorded a surge in Covid-19 cases since mid-December following an outbreak at a shrimp market.
To date, more than 1,300 Covid-19 cases recorded have been linked to the seafood market, with the majority of those infected being Myanmar migrant workers.
Deputy public health minister Satit Pitutacha said Anutin’s Covid-19 swab test result came back negative. “However, he will undergo self-quarantine for 14 days starting today. Another Covid-19 test will be conducted in the next three days.”
Meanwhile, Disease Control Department director-general Dr Opas Karnkawinpong said all senior officials who attended the meeting and visited Samut Sakhon with Anutin also tested negative for Covid-19.
He said the authorities have steeped up contact tracing after the governor of Samut Sakhon tested positive.
Over the last 24 hours, Thailand recorded 144 new Covid cases comprising 115 locally transmitted infections, 14 from active case detection in Samut Sakhon province and 15 imported cases. To date, Thailand has recorded 6,285 cases and 60 fatalities.
Meanwhile, Thaweesilp said the new cases originated from two major clusters – the seafood market in Samut Sakhon and an illegal gambling den in the eastern province of Rayong.
– Bernama
You must be logged in to post a comment.