Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin has announced that children and adolescents aged below 18 years, who have not received the booster vaccine yet, can join the Eid al-Fitr exodus without taking a COVID-19 test.
“Finally, it has been decided by the President that children and adolescents who want to join the Eid exodus and have not received the booster shot are allowed (to join the exodus); no need to undergo an antigen test,” he said in a press statement regarding the results of a limited meeting on the evaluation of public activity restrictions (PPKM), which was led by President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) at the State Palace in Jakarta on Monday.
Sadikin revealed that the President decided to give permission after hearing about some problems faced by people who wanted to join the homecoming exodus.
With the policy being implemented, children and adolescents aged below 18 years have been allowed to join their parents in the exodus, but they must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
“This is a gift from him (the President) to children whose families want to enjoy the Eid homecoming exodus,” the minister said.
He then appealed to people to keep complying with the health protocols during Eid exodus activities and only travel within the country to prevent COVID-19 transmission and to keep the economy running.
Earlier, President Widodo had emphasized that people would be allowed to join the Eid al-Fitr exodus if they completed the primary and booster vaccinations.
The President also advised that every exodus activity be conducted with strict adherence to the COVID-19 health protocols.
The Transportation Ministry has projected that 85.5 million citizens, or 31.6 percent of the total population, will take part in the 2022 Eid homecoming exodus.
Source: Antara News