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Indonesia is extending its ban on foreign arrivals for at least another two weeks, an official said, alongside extended tighter restrictions in the country’s worst affected regions.
“It has been decided that there will be a two-week extension and so it will continue from Jan. 26 to Feb. 8. This also covers the ban on foreign nationals from entering Indonesia,” Coordinating Economic Affairs Minister Airlangga Hartarto said yesterday during a live press conference.
Indonesia first closed its borders to all foreign arrivals for two weeks starting on Jan. 1, 2021 in its bid to prevent an outbreak of a new, more infectious strain of the coronavirus first discovered in the UK. One exception to the rule is the arrival of top foreign officials. It’s likely the border closure will continue to be extended on a biweekly basis as cases continue to surge in the country.
The central government’s Enforcement of Restrictions on Public Activities (PPKM), which amounts to a partial lockdown, was initially imposed for two weeks beginning Jan. 11 in the worst affected cities and regencies across Java and Bali.
However, as infection rates of COVID-19 have yet to slow down significantly, PPKM will now be implemented until at least Feb. 8.
As of yesterday, Indonesia has officially reported 951,651 COVID-19 cases.
Related — Malls and restaurants may open until 8pm under latest PPKM extension
