JAKARTA: Indonesia has suspended domestic air and sea travel for more than a month in another bid to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus, the Transportation Ministry said on Saturday (April 25).
The ban came into force on Saturday (April 25) and runs until May 31, ministry spokeswoman Adita Irawati said.
"Domestic passenger flights will be allowed to operate until today to serve those who have made reservations," she said.
International flights will still be allowed but are limited to serving foreigners who are returning to their countries, she added.
Travel in the greater Jakarta area, a metropolis of 30 million people, is still allowed, but is subject to social distancing measures.
The Indonesian government has banned the annual mass homecoming for the Muslim holiday of Hari Raya Aildifirtri to limit the virus spread.
Aidilfirtri, the festival marking the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, is expected to start on May 23 or 24, depending on the sighting of the new moon
The Indonesian Council of Ulema, the country's semi-authority on Islamic affairs, has urged Muslims not to travel to their hometowns for Eid, saying to do so during a pandemic would be a sin.
Last year, about 15 million Eid revellers travelled from the greater Jakarta region to their hometowns in the world's largest Muslim-majority country.
Indonesia saw its biggest 24-hour jump in Covid-19 cases with 436 new infections reported on Friday, bringing the national tally to 8,211, the country's coronavirus task force said.
The death toll rose to 686, after 42 new deaths were reported, task force spokesman Achmad Yurianto said. - dpa
The ban came into force on Saturday (April 25) and runs until May 31, ministry spokeswoman Adita Irawati said.
"Domestic passenger flights will be allowed to operate until today to serve those who have made reservations," she said.
International flights will still be allowed but are limited to serving foreigners who are returning to their countries, she added.
Travel in the greater Jakarta area, a metropolis of 30 million people, is still allowed, but is subject to social distancing measures.
The Indonesian government has banned the annual mass homecoming for the Muslim holiday of Hari Raya Aildifirtri to limit the virus spread.
Aidilfirtri, the festival marking the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, is expected to start on May 23 or 24, depending on the sighting of the new moon
The Indonesian Council of Ulema, the country's semi-authority on Islamic affairs, has urged Muslims not to travel to their hometowns for Eid, saying to do so during a pandemic would be a sin.
Last year, about 15 million Eid revellers travelled from the greater Jakarta region to their hometowns in the world's largest Muslim-majority country.
Indonesia saw its biggest 24-hour jump in Covid-19 cases with 436 new infections reported on Friday, bringing the national tally to 8,211, the country's coronavirus task force said.
The death toll rose to 686, after 42 new deaths were reported, task force spokesman Achmad Yurianto said. - dpa
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