Tourists Must Download Mpox Tracing App Before Bali Travel 

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Leaders in Bali are stepping up the Mpox screening process for all international arrivals into I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport.

In the last few weeks, Indonesia has introduced new screening measures, including arrival forms and thermal imaging cameras; now, tourists must download the Ministry of Health’s smartphone app. 

On the 18th of August, the Acting Director General of Disease Prevention and Control at the Ministry of Health, Yudhi Pramono, released a statement to confirm that all international arrivals at all Indonesian airports would be required to fill in a questionnaire form to be submitted at their arrivals terminal.

This was in response to statements issued by the World Health Organisation that declared recent outbreaks of Mpox as a public health emergency of international concern. 

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On the 21st of August, the General Manager of Bali Airport, Handy Heryudhitiawan, confirmed that he had instructed biosecurity teams to install thermal imaging cameras at the arrivals terminals at Bali Airport to help detect any passengers with high temperatures, a possible early symptom of Mpox.

Heryudhitiawan assured passengers that this was a preventative measure and that the thermal screening was not targeting travelers from any particular destination or demographic. 

It has been confirmed by the Ministry of Transportation (Kemenhub) that it is now a travel requirement for overseas travelers to use the SatuSehat application. Sahu means one and sehat means health.

This is the same government health monitoring app that was used in the months following the reopening of borders during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

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The Directorate General of Air Transportation from the Indonesian Ministry of Transportation has issued Circular Letter Number SE 5 DJPU Year 2024 regarding the Use of SATUSEHAT Health Pass for Overseas Travelers, effective from 27th August 2024.

In a written statement published on Wednesday, 28th August, the Director General of Air Transportation, M. Kristi Endah Murni, explained: “The determination of SE 5 DJPU in 2024 is a guide for Air Transport Business Entities and Foreign Air Transport Companies so that every person (flight personnel and passengers) of foreign travelers who fly to Indonesia to fill out an electronic self-declaration form called SATUSEHAT Health Pass, as well as a guide for International Airport Operators to take measures to prevent and handle the transmission of Mpox disease at the airport.”

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He added, “I have ordered the Director of Aviation Safety and the Head of the Airport Authority Office to supervise the implementation of the Circular Letter. All parties are to be able to carry out the work with full responsibility.”

The app can be downloaded from the Apple App Store or the Google Store for Android users. The app is available in English.

Murni has issued further guidance to the aviation and travel industry across Indonesia to help prevent the spread of the virus in the country.

This guidance includes instructions to “Socialize and inform everyone (flight personnel and passengers) who travel abroad who fly to Indonesia to fill out the SATUSEHAT Health Pass electronic self-declaration form on the domain: https://sshp.kemkes.go.id.”

The circular letter also outlines the need for airport and airline staff to supervise tourists by” filling out the SATUSEHAT Health Pass electronic self-declaration form for every person (flight personnel and passengers) who travel abroad, which is done at the departure airport.”

The third and fourth instructions are focused on health professionals and travel operators but are worth noting.

Officials have instructed that authorities must “Coordinate with the Health Quarantine Centre if there is a problem in filling out the electronic self-declaration form SATUSEHAT Health Pass at the arrival airport; and coordinate with the Health Quarantine Center in the framework of efforts to prevent the transmission of Mpox disease in Indonesia.”

The Mpox screening measures for tourists visiting Bali are being implemented particularly quickly since the province is preparing to host the Indonesia-Africa Forum 2024 from the 1st to the 3rd of September. 

In a separate statement, the Deputy Minister of Health, Dante Saksono Harbuwono, explained that the health screening measures are a method of ensuring everything continues to run smoothly for tourists and local communities in the province. 

He explained that plans are in place for every eventuality. Harbuwono shared, “We and the Health Quarantine Center have determined the screening scenario, starting from the placement of screening tools, the PCR (swab test) room, and questionnaires to the process of referring to hospitals.”

He added, “After the scenario that we applied and tried to simulate today, we have determined the place where the swab test will be carried out, where the thermal scanner will be installed, and where the questionnaire is so that all can be identified correctly and not disturb other passengers.”