Indonesia introduces new COVID test for travelers

Indonesian travelers visiting Bali can soon make their trip to the island, as the Indonesian government has allowed the use of the GeNose COVID detector to fulfill test requirements for travelers starting in April, Report informs, referring to Coconuts Bali.

Previously, Indonesia’s COVID-19 task force said that all travelers visiting Bali with any mode of transportation are required to present a negative test result from either a PCR test or an antigen rapid test obtained within two days of entering the province. This time around, however, travelers have the option to take a GeNose COVID-19 test at the airport, harbor, or terminals before their departure, a negative result from which is needed to continue their journey.

GeNose was developed by Yogyakarta’s Gadjah Mada University (UGM) and was approved for distribution by the Health Ministry late last year, after months of development. With the help of artificial intelligence, the device is said to be capable of detecting possible coronavirus infection through human breath.

A single GeNose test currently costs about $2.08, compared to around $17.32 for an antigen rapid test or $62.35 for a PCR test.

All travelers are still required to fill in the Health Alert Card (eHAC), while children below five years of age are not required to present any test results.

However, should anyone with a negative result from any of the tests exhibit COVID-19 symptoms, the task force said they will not be permitted to carry on with their journey, and will be required to take a PCR test and self-isolate while waiting for the results.

The GeNose detector cannot yet be used for international flights. In the future, if tourist corridors between Bali and other countries are opened, the test results can be accepted by foreign carriers as well.