Indonesia is reopening its borders further, allowing visitors from more countries to enter and imposing a shorter quarantine period.
Southeast Asia’s largest economy will allow arrivals from 18 countries and reduce the minimum quarantine period to five days, from eight previously, said Luhut Panjaitan, coordinating minister for maritime and investment affairs who’s overseeing the pandemic response. He didn’t specify which are the 18 countries.
The country has gradually eased border restrictions, starting with the resumption of offshore visa applications and followed by the reopening of tourist spot Bali to foreign visitors this week. People’s mobility has started to bounce back as cinemas and gyms are reopened, with daily Covid-19 case and fatality numbers continuing to ease to the lowest since June 2020.
The eased rules apply to visitors who are fully vaccinated, has insurance coverage for Covid-19 care and come from countries with positivity rate below 5%. Batam and Bintan islands will be reopened to foreign tourists on Oct 14.
Indonesia is conducting a Covid-19 seroprevalence survey across 100 cities to guide policymakers in turning the pandemic into an endemic situation, said Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin. Just 21% of Indonesians have been fully vaccinated.