business people/officials allowed to travel despite "mudik" ban

Covid-19 task force has issued a circular on Wednesday which allows the business community people and government officials that are related to health and essential services to travel regardless of ban and restriction by the government on all passenger related travel.

This exemption is applicable to state officials, private sector workers and state-owned enterprises (SOEs) employees that provide health services, basic necessities, security and defense and vital economic functions.

Repatriated nationals of Indonesia, alongside the people who need immediate health care and emergency medical assistance and the members of the family of a deceased individual are also exempted from the ban as per the document.

Government and state officials are required to obtain an approval permit from their superior officer of at least rank Echelon II. Business Community related people are required to sign a statement letter to notify local officials. Before the travel all travelers are required to show a COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test or rapid test with negative results.

Other individuals that are related to the distribution of test equipment, protective personal equipment, staple food and any one that can help in expediting the Covid-19 testing process are also exempted as per  the task force chief, Doni Monardo, said.

“I’d like to reassert that mudik is still banned,” he said during a televised statement on Wednesday. “We issued this regulation based on the fact that there are logistical hindrances in sending COVID-19 test results, as well as reports on the lack of transportation for medical personnel.”

Business community and other with essential urgencies are not stipulated in the regulation. Minister Budi Karya Sumadi, Transportation Minister said on Wednesday that Ministry is considering to allow public transportation so the operations can be recommenced by Thursday to facilitate the individuals that are exempted from Mudik ban.

“It is possible to allow all types of transportation to get back to operations with one condition: they must comply with the health protocol,” he told lawmakers.