Indonesia to tighten COVID-19 curbs as infections climb

FILE PHOTO: Garuda Indonesia aircraft flight GA881 carrying passengers from Narita, Japan, is sprayed with water upon its arrival at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International airport, as Bali welcomes its first direct flight carrying foreign tourists in nearly two years, after it was closed for foreign visitors due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, in Badung, Bali, Indonesia February 3, 2022. Courtesy of Garuda Indonesia/Handout via REUTERS

Indonesia will tighten social restrictions in Jakarta and Bali, as well as in two other cities on Java island, in a bid to contain a spike in coronavirus infections, a senior cabinet minister said on Monday.

Separately, the transport ministry clarified that overseas tourists would still be able to enter the country through the capital Jakarta, after the ministry indicated otherwise in a statement issued on Sunday.