Member of Commission V of the Indonesian House—overseeing matters relating to transportation—Novita Wijayanti urged the Ministry of Transportation along with the airport authority and airliners to strictly implement health protocols after thousands of travellers were seen swarming a Soekarno-Hatta International (Soetta) Airport terminal during the large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) to contain the spread of COVID-19 on Thursday (12/5/2020).  

“Airport authority and airliners should use technology to verify passengers’ document requirements. Snaking queues at the airport would only amplify transmission of the coronavirus disease as people ignored physical distancing rules in such situation,” Wijayanti told Parlementaria in a written statement on Friday (15/5/2020).  

Wijayanti said that with the use of technology, the administrative requirements can be sent online by passengers before the trip, thus preventing the congestion of passengers for document verification at the airport. Special screeners/CCTV can also be used to detect the body temperature of all passengers. 

Furthermore, the Gerindra Party politician also highlighted the document verification process of passengers who are going to travel. She urged that the negative COVID-19 health certificate for those who are traveling during the restriction period be given through proper COVID-19 testing procedure and appropriate certification standards. 

“Therefore I’m urging the government to evaluate the implementation of the Large Scale Social Restriction immediately. And I also urge the government to take the pandemic mitigation measures seriously by implementing stern PSBB procedures. Tighter restrictions should be put in place until we are past the peak of the COVID-19 outbreak, which is yet to come. Moreover, based on official government data, the number of new positive cases is still increasing,” the leader of the Household Committee expressed, closing her statement. (pun/sf)