Indonesia cuts quarantine to 5 days as borders reopen further

[JAKARTA] Indonesia is reopening its borders further, allowing visitors from more countries to enter and imposing a shorter quarantine period.

South-east Asia's largest economy will allow arrivals from 18 countries and reduce the minimum quarantine period from eight to five days, said Mr Luhut Panjaitan, coordinating minister for maritime and investment affairs who is overseeing the pandemic response. He did not list 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 reopen, 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, have insurance coverage for Covid-19 care and come from countries with positivity rate below 5 per cent. Batam and Bintan islands will reopen to foreign tourists on Thursday (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.

Only 21 per cent of Indonesians have been fully vaccinated.

BLOOMBERG