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JAKARTA: Thousands of travelers queued on Thursday (May 14) at an airport terminal in the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, ignoring regulations on social distancing and despite an official closure scheduled for early June.
The photos posted on social media, days after the government announced that several airlines could conditionally resume operations, showed passengers queuing to enter the airport and crowding inside the terminal.
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One traveler, who asked to remain anonymous, said confusion reigned when officials tried to ensure that all airline passengers undergo health checks and the flight approval letters were sealed.
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“Once I entered Terminal 2E, there was no clarity,” said the 27-year-old, who was traveling for work, one of the designated travel exceptions. “The crowd even made it to the front door without implementing any physical distancing measures.”
According to the guidelines issued by the transport ministry, airport operators must implement health protocols such as temperature controls and control physical distance to avoid crowds and queues.
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In a statement, the operator of Angkasa Pura state airport said the lines had been cut in the afternoon and that efforts were being made to ensure physical distance.
But the scenes have raised fears that the coronavirus is not sufficiently contained.
“This is troubling because people can carry this virus to the regions, especially villages, and this will prolong our misery and our fight against COVID-19,” said Alvin Lie of the office of the ombudsman, who is investigating the complaints. about government agencies.
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Despite social restrictions and a ban on the annual home visit of millions of Indonesians at the end of the Muslim fasting month, the government announced last week that returning migrant workers and people in select industries could fly.
The Islamic holy month of Ramadan ends on May 23 with the Eid al-Fitr festival.
The director general of aviation at the transport ministry said the airlines would be penalized if they did not respect social distancing rules or if they exceeded the 50 percent seating capacity limitations on flights.
Travelers must provide a clean health statement and a letter from their employer stating the purpose of the trip in order to board a plane.
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The movements have been described as risky and premature by health experts, at a time when the coronavirus case load in Indonesia continues to rise.
On Thursday, the Southeast Asian nation reported 568 new infections, bringing the total number to 16,006.
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