Indonesia Bans Air Travel Through June 1 to Limit Virus’s Spread
Indonesia Bans Air Travel Through June 1 to Limit Virus’s Spread
(Bloomberg) -- Indonesia is banning domestic air travel from April 24 through June 1 to limit the spread of coronavirus in the Southeast Asian nation.
The ban applies to both scheduled services as well as chartered and private flights, Novie Riyanto, director general of civil aviation, said Thursday. The move comes ahead of a month-long festive season when millions of Indonesians are expected to return to their home town or go on holiday.
The government is stepping up measures to combat the virus, with President Joko Widodo this week banning an annual ritual of citizens traveling in large numbers to celebrate the Muslim festival of Eid al-Fitr.
Public land and sea transport as well the use of private vehicles and motorcycles are also prohibited to carry people to and from areas affected by the virus. The ban doesn’t apply to transportation of goods.
Indonesia extended stringent social distancing rules in Jakarta, home to more than 10 million people, as the capital region continued to remain the epicenter of infections in Southeast Asia’s largest economy.
The country, which reported its first case in March, saw infections more than quadruple to 7,775 since the start of the month. The outbreak has killed 647 people in Indonesia, the most in Asia after China and India, according to Johns Hopkins University data.
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