Indonesia and Thailand COVID-19 updates: Wider travel restrictions, 1.9tn baht stimulus package

Indonesia has imposed a temporary ban on foreigners entering the country, in efforts to control the spread of COVID-19 in the country.

According to The Jakarta Post, this ban, which is detailed in the new Law and Human Rights Ministry Regulation No. 11/2020, on the temporary prohibition of foreigners from entering the country, has already taken effect. At the same time, transit within the country is also not allowed.

While the ban is in place, the following groups of foreigners will still be able to enter or transit within Indonesia:

1. Foreigners who are Indonesia Temporary Stay Permit holders, or Permanent Stay Permit holders;
2. Foreigners who hold Indonesian Diplomatic Visas or Service Visas;
3. Foreigners who hold Indonesian Diplomatic Stay Permits or Service Stay Permits;
4. Medical, food and humanitarian aid support workers;
5. Transport crews; and
6. People travelling for essential work for national strategic project such as infrastructure or construction.

These groups must provide the following requirements to enter or transit within the country:

1. An certificate of health, in English, issued by the local health authority;
2. They must have stayed in areas not affected by the outbreak for 14 days before entering, evidenced by an immigration stamp or boarding pass; and
3. They should provide a statement of willingness to enter a 14-day quarantine in facilities provided by the Indonesian government.

On top of the above, with regard to foreigners already staying in Indonesia, those holding a Visitor Stay Permit that has expired and/or can’t be extended will automatically be granted an Emergency Stay Permit with no charges, without needing to apply.

Further, those holding a Temporary Stay Permit or Permanent Stay Permit that has expired and/or can’t be extended, will have their permit deferred. Similarly, they will automatically be granted an Emergency Stay Permit with no charges, without needing to apply.

Apart from these restrictions, Jakarta has also stated that from 10 April (Friday), gatherings of more than five people will be banned, and the number of passengers on public transport will be limited to 50%.

Operating hours of these transport services will also be restricted to within 6am to 6pm, under a large-scale social restriction (PSBB) granted by the Health Ministry, a separate The Jakarta Post article reported. The details of this restriction were also shared on the Law and Human Rights Ministry’s Facebook page on Monday (6 April).

While essential services will still be in operation, restrictions will apply to public facilities and events, with public celebrations being forbidden.

In similar news, Thailand has extended its travel ban on all international flights entering the country, from 6 April 2020 to 18 April 2020. All flight permits granted to international passenger flights will be cancelled, the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand said on Monday.

This ban, however, will not apply to:

1. State or military aircraft;
2. Aircraft requesting emergency landing;
3. Aircraft making technical landings without disembarkation;
4. Flights providing humanitarian aid and medical relief;
5. Repatriation flights; and
6. Cargo flights

Further, passengers who were on board any flight which entered before the ban took effect will need to be quarantined for 14 days under the infectious diseases act and the Emergency Decree on State of Emergency B.E. 2548.

In other measures relating to COVID-19, Thailand has on 7 April (Tuesday) approved a 1.9tn baht stimulus package to mitigate the outbreak’s impact on the economy. This will be the country’s third stimulus package. This was reported by Bernama.

Cited in the article, Finance Minister Uttama Savanayana said the package would include a law to borrow 1tn baht through bond issuance and central bank measures of 900bn baht, “to provide soft loans and corporate bonds.”

Of this 1tn, 600bn baht is expected to be used for public health measures.

“The government is expected to take the loan in early May with a deadline (for completion) in September next year,” the Minister said.

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