The government is set to temporarily ban Indonesians from leaving the country, Vice President Ma’ruf Amin said today, as the country records rising Omicron numbers.
Ma’ruf said the discussion on the ban came up during a recent cabinet meeting as the government brainstormed ways to contain the spread of Omicron in Indonesia.
“We may bar Indonesian citizens from traveling abroad for the time being,” Ma’ruf told reporters today.
The VP did not provide specifics about the possible ban.
Indonesia recorded its first COVID-19 case involving the Omicron variant on Dec. 16. As of Dec. 27, 47 Omicron cases have been confirmed. Only one of them was reported as a locally transmitted case, while the other 46 patients, who have been quarantined, recently arrived in Indonesia from abroad or were in direct contact with a traveler.
Ma’ruf also mentioned that Indonesia may tighten border surveillance and impose stricter quarantine measures. As of today, most international arrivals must be quarantined for 10 days, but that may soon be extended to 14 days.
