As if restrictions regarding traveling during the Christmas and New Year holidays didn’t already seem rushed, the COVID-19 Task Force has issued regulations on screening travelers for the disease on the very same day the restrictions were enforced.
Last week, under instruction from the central government, administrations of provinces in Java, including Jakarta, imposed a rule requiring travelers to present negative rapid antigen test results when entering their respective regions between Dec. 18 and Jan. 8. None of the administrations determined the validity of the test results even as Dec. 18 was fast approaching.
On Dec. 19, the National COVID-19 Task Force issued a circular announcing that the rapid antigen test results are valid for three days on all forms of public and private transportation. The rule applies to all trips into and within Java and Bali, with one notable exception being that air travelers heading to the Island of the Gods must present a negative PCR test result, which is valid for seven days.
The circular also slightly moved back the Christmas and New Year break period to begin on Dec. 19 instead of Dec. 18, while it’s set to still end on Jan. 8.
Children under the age of 12 who are traveling with their parents are not required to undergo any COVID-19 screening. All travelers are required to electronically fill in the Health Alert Card (eHAC).
Travel requirements may have to be presented to officers at all airports, train stations, sea ports, and toll roads (especially rest stops) throughout Java during the holiday period.
The antigen rapid test, also known as antigen swab test, is conducted by taking samples of secretions from the nose and throat to detect the presence of certain viral antigens that indicate a current viral infection. The antigen swab test, which is widely available for around IDR250K (US$17.61), is more expensive than the antibody rapid test, but it’s cheaper than the PCR swab test and is said to be able to detect the coronavirus in just 15 minutes. In general, however, the test is not considered to be as accurate as the PCR swab test.
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