Air travel during COVID-19 a familiar, yet unsettling experience
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Air travel during COVID-nineteen a familiar, even so unsettling feel
Garuda Republic of indonesia planes on the tarmac of Soekarno-Hatta International Airport. (Photo: Kiki Siregar)
JAKARTA: "What? Why? But flying is unsafe. Are you not agape?"
Such was the response from my family members when they heard about my upcoming flying - the start since COVID-19 hit in Indonesia in March.
Travelling by air is role and parcel of my job equally a journalist in this huge archipelagic country.
Merely when COVID-nineteen broke out and my hometown Djakarta implemented a partial lockdown to curb the spread of the disease, I had to cease travelling.
In early June, the restrictions were lifted gradually and people started going out again. I, on the other hand, connected to piece of work from home as I was still concerned about the growing number of infections in the capital.
Even so, when the adventure arrived at the end of July to fly to Riau province, just under 2 hours away from Djakarta, I took the chance.
My family was shocked when I informed them near the plan. Their response was understandable, considering the fact that I am the ane who constantly uses upwardly our paw soap at dwelling thanks to my excessive mitt-washing routine.
Even though I take dined in a eatery one time and went to the mall once after the COVID-19 curbs in Dki jakarta were eased, was I really ready to be upwards in the air with strangers for about two hours?
READ: How COVID-19 is reshaping the way we'll wing
The idea was a bit frightening, to exist honest, merely I analysed the risk - Riau, different Djakarta, is not a COVID-19 hotbed.
Also, if I made proper preparations, information technology should not be that scary.
PREPARATION IS Primal
To gear up for the flight, I started by researching the health requirements to wing to Riau'due south capital Pekanbaru because every airport in Indonesia has slightly different requirements.
Generally, if a person wants to fly out of Indonesia, one has to undergo a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test or a rapid test to prove that she or he is about likely COVID-19 gratuitous.
For those who just want to travel domestically, a rapid examination would suffice.
In Republic of indonesia, it takes a few days for the PCR test result to be out. Priced between 1.5 1000000 (United states$103) and 3 million rupiah, it is a fleck expensive for most people.
A rapid examination, on the other paw, is more affordable and widely available in health clinics and hospitals in Dki jakarta. The test outcome will be known in minutes.
I decided to take a drive-through rapid exam at a clinic for 150,000 rupiah.
An employee of the clinic stuck a needle in my finger, took a sample of my blood and 15 minutes afterward informed me that my exam issue is non-reactive, meaning my claret sample did not brandish symptoms of COVID-19.
Since I was planning to be away for just three days, I only needed to take the rapid exam in Jakarta considering Pekanbaru's airport accepts a rapid test result obtained within 14 days.
Afterwards taking my rapid test result, I took a self-assessment screening test equally required past the Djakarta government.
The Corona Likelihood Metric (CLM) is available online and assesses a person's likelihood of being infected with COVID-nineteen based on the health-related answers of the respondent.
My self-cess indicated I belong to the category "Level ane depression risk" of having COVID-19, with a score of 28.5 per cent which is valid for a calendar week.
READ: Indonesian carriers pledge to observe health protocols every bit domestic travel opens up
I and so filled in the Health Alert Carte du jour, another self-assessment e-class, which has to be presented at the airport of destination. This is mandatory for all passengers travelling within Indonesia and arriving from abroad.
On superlative of these, I also followed the government's recommendation and downloaded its tracing app.
THE Large Day
Having been fully prepared for the big day, I felt at ease if not a fleck excited to get on a plane again subsequently a 5-month hiatus.
On the twenty-four hours of my flight, I showed upwardly at the airdrome wearing a N95 mask, a pair of goggles and a face up shield.
Even though it meant I could potentially offend the fashion police, I wanted to minimise the take a chance of me communicable the virus past covering my face fully.
National carrier Garuda has only one flight daily from Dki jakarta to Pekanbaru at 8:25am, and travellers are advised to get in at the airport three hours before the flight.
Hence, I arrived at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport at the break of dawn.
I was happy to run across the airdrome over again, though this time it was non the usual sight.
When I travel domestically from Dki jakarta, I usually have the showtime flight and despite the early hours, I would encounter crowds.
This time, it was different. The airdrome felt deserted. In that location were non a lot of people.
Upon inbound the airdrome, I had to go my rapid test result checked. It was done very quickly, in about five minutes including queuing time.
Since I already checked-in online, I proceeded to the security cheque counters.
As I strolled through the airport, I noticed the repose atmosphere.
The boutiques were still closed, and only a scattering of restaurants and cafes were serving customers.
It has just been an 60 minutes, just I could not carry it further and proceeded to switch my N95 mask out for a surgical mask as I had difficulties breathing. I besides took off my goggles but maintained my face shield.
I arrived at my boarding gate two hours before my flight and the waiting room was still empty.
I took the opportunity to just gaze at the airplanes parking, cherishing the moment I initially idea would not happen this year.
It felt a bit surreal upon entering the aircraft. The crew members who greeted me all had surgical masks and plastic gloves on.
For our row of three seats, I sat by the window while a man took the aisle seat. The middle seat was left empty to attach to social distancing protocols.
The airplane was virtually 50 per cent empty, even though aircraft are allowed to fly with up to 70 per cent of its capacity. I cannot recall when I was terminal in such an empty airplane.
I buckled my seat belt, sat back and tried to relax.
READ: Garuda Indonesia says talking to Airbus to filibuster 2022 deliveries
Gear up FOR MORE FLIGHTS Amid PANDEMIC
Equally the plane started to take off, I was suddenly overcome by emotions.
I was happy I could wing once more and grateful that I was however alive amid the pandemic, yet sad that COVID-xix has striking the airline and travel industry and at that place is no sign of a full recovery in the well-nigh time to come.
I looked at other passengers. Only a few wore face shields, and nigh seemed relaxed, breathing through their textile or surgical masks.
I normally like to savor the in-flight entertainment while flying, but this time I refrained from it since I want to avert touching shared surfaces as much equally possible.
When the plane finally landed in Pekanbaru, I felt relieved that everything went smoothly.
My return flight to Jakarta two days later was even emptier and I was definitely more relaxed.
To exist on the safe side, I will become another COVID-xix examination in Djakarta in two weeks' fourth dimension.
With this experience, next time when duty calls, I will worry less virtually flying amid the ongoing pandemic.
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Source: https://cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com/asia/indonesia-air-travel-covid-19-familiar-yet-unsettling-experience-243541
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