Indonesia bans Ramadan mass exodus tradition to curb COVID-19 spread

JAKARTA: Indonesia will ban the mass exodus tradition, locally known as “mudik”, at the end of the Muslim fasting month in May in a bid to curb the spread of COVID-19 in the Southeast Asian country, President Joko Widodo said on Tuesday (Apr 21).

“I have taken the decision that we will ban mudik,” Widodo told a cabinet meeting. “That is why the relevant preparation needs to be done.”

Widodo cited a transport ministry survey that said 24 per cent of Indonesians were insisting on joining the exodus after Ramadan in the world’s biggest Muslim-majority country.

READ: Raincoats and donations: Indonesia’s doctors battle COVID-19 surge

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