Jakarta (ANTARA) - Travelers within Indonesia (PPDN) of foreign nationals aged 18 years or above are now required to have complete or two doses of COVID-19 vaccine, the Task Force announced.
The Task Force implements the obligation as it was stated in its Circulation Letter No. 24 of 2022 on PPDN during the COVID-19 pandemic, issued on August 25.
The circulation, which was received here on Friday, said on Point 3b that complete vaccination is mandatory for foreign nationals, aged 18 years and above, undertaking travel within Indonesia.
The letter also lays down an additional requirement, described in Point 3c, which states that domestic travelers aged 6–17 years returning from international travel will be exempt from the vaccination mandate.
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The task force will also slap a penalty in accordance with the law on those who forge medical certificates, which are a requirement for travel.
The Circulation Letter came into effect on August 25, and will remain in place until a time determined that will be later. It will be further assessed based on the latest developments on the field or evaluations by ministries or institutions.
With the release of the new Circulation Letter, the COVID-19 Handling Task Force Circulation No. 23 of 2022 on PPDN requirements during the COVID-19 pandemic stands revoked.
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On a separate occasion, COVID-19 Handling Task Force spokesperson Wiku Adisasmito said that the vaccination policy is one of the three main layers of public protection for preventing COVID-19 infections.
The first layer involves the 3Ms or maintaining distance, washing hands, and wearing masks. The second concerns the 3Ts or tracing, testing, and treatment. Meanwhile, the third is vaccination.
The pandemic is not over yet and there is not enough scientific evidence that shows that vaccination is enough to realize immunity, therefore, the three layers will be implemented at the same time, Adisasmito informed.
This will be done to protect public health and safety so that people can remain productive and safe, he added.
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