Jakarta (Indonesia Window) – The Indonesian government has announced the temporary closure of entrances for foreign nationals from all countries from January 1 to 14, 2021, due to the threat of a new virus variant of COVID-19.

The regulation exempts foreign state officials at the level of ministers and above, who are required to apply tight protocols to prevent further COVID-19 transmissions, Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi told a virtual press conference here on Monday following a limited cabinet meeting on the same day.

Foreigners who arrive in Indonesia today (Dec 28) till December 31, 2020 are still allowed to enter the country by showing negative results of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests conducted in their countries of origin.

The test results shall be valid for 48 hours since their departures, and there will be re-examination of PCR upon their arrivals in Indonesia.

If proven negative in both the PCR tests, the foreigners are required to do a mandatory quarantine for five days, and after that they must return to undergo PCR tests.

If the tests show negative results, the foreigners are allowed to continue their trips, the minister said.

Meanwhile, all the Indonesian nationals who want to return from abroad are allowed to enter the country by conducting the same PCR tests.

Reporting by Indonesia Window