Indonesia bans travel through Jakarta airport as Omicron numbers rise
Due to a spike in cases of the Omicron variant COVID-19 in Indonesia on February 7, 2022, the country imposed new restrictions and travel restrictions. The Southeast Asian country has issued a statement temporarily banning foreign tourists from passing through Jakarta’s airport.
Indonesia travel restrictions so far
Who will be affected?
The travel ban applies to all foreigners visiting the country, as well as Indonesian citizens who have recently vacationed abroad.
according to ReutersNovie Riyanto, head of the ministry’s civil aviation agency, said the decision to “temporarily restrict the entry of tourists” was made to contain the growing number of Omicron cases in the country. However, there is no information on how long the restrictions will be in place.
Travel options to Indonesia
The news comes two days after Bali welcomed its first international flight in nearly two years. However, tourists can still travel to Indonesia and arrive at Bali Airport, Batam Airport and Tanjung Pinang Airport in the Riau Islands near Singapore.
Bali officially opened its doors to tourists from 19 countries in October 2021, but the lack of cargo-free flights to the resort island has limited the inflow of tourists. On February 3, 2022, a flight from Tokyo carrying 6 foreigners came to the island to check whether the island was ready to receive tourists.
COVID-19 Cases in Indonesia
On February 6, 2022, the number of cases in Indonesia surged to more than 36,000, and the capital’s hospital bed occupancy rate reached a staggering 63%.
other restrictions
In addition to checks on travel, more restrictions have been put in place to control the rise in cases.
Police have imposed a midnight to 4am curfew to restrict movement.
(Main and featured image credit: Aldrin Rachman Pradana / @aldrinrachmanpradana / Unsplash)