Mudik (Homecoming) For Eid Al-Fitr 2021 is Allowed Amid The Emergence Of The New B117 Virus

Tangerang - Although pandemic Covid-19 hasn’t ended, coupled with the emergence of a new variant SARS-CoV-2 B117 which is more contagious, mudik (homecoming) during Eid al-Fitr holiday season won’t be prohibited. This was conveyed directly by the Minister of Transportation, Budi Karya Sumadi in a joint meeting with Commission house-ofrepresentatives DPR, Tuesday (16/3). 

 

"In principle, the government through the Ministry of Transportation doesn’t prohibit (homecoming)," he said as quoted by kompas.com on Tuesday (16/3). 

 

However, there are conditions to be obeyed during homecoming. Travelers must adhere to carry out strict health protocols. In addition, there will be a strict health protocol mechanism prepared with the Covid-19 Handling Task Force Team to prevent the spread of the virus during homecoming. 

 

Furthermore, Budi stated that the Ministry of Transportation and the Covid-19 Handling Task Force Team would coordinate in terms of tracing the travelers especially because there are several factors that increase people's desire to come home.

 

One of which, is the Covid-19 vaccination program that is already running. The vaccine makes people feel safe for homecoming. In addition, cheap genose testing also makes people want to come home by train or bus. Finally, the relaxation of 0% sales tax on luxury goods also increases people's interest in buying car as a transportation for going home. 

 

Budi realized that these three factors would increase public interest in going home. "Therefore, we are making efforts to suppress Covid-19, which is still a lot in the community, by implementing health protocols. And people also have to adapt," he said. 

 

But it is feared that homecoming could lead to a higher case spike, especially because there is new variant B117 virus and others that haven’t been detected. 

 

Therefore, cited by pikiran-rakyat.com, Dicky Budiman, epidemiologist from Australia's Griffith University, asked the government to continue to ban people from going home (mudik). 

 

According to Dicky, the pandemic situation in Indonesia is still quite serious because the B117 variant is transmitted more quickly than other variants of the Covid-19 virus, whereas on the other hand the detection capacity in Indonesia is still minimal. 

 

“Appeal alone isn’t enough, it must be accompanied by regulations that support movement restrictions, not regulations that support easing. Because this is a very serious problem for new strains, besides the pandemic in us still out of control,” he added.