Traveling to Indonesia during the Omicron Surge- My Experience
January 12th, 2022
My newlywed wife and I departed Larnaca airport in Cyprus on January 2nd with negative COVID-19 PCR tests, and feeling fine. Mind you, we had a close contact on the 29th of December, but we were triple-vaxxed with Pfizer and were feeling confident that any infection would be mild and short-lived.
Upon landing at CGK we immediately were swabbed by “rapid PCR” method, which means our results were going to be available within a couple of hours. In the meantime, we met our driver at the arrival halls and were whisked off to the Wyndham Cassablanca Jakarta for our 10x24hr quarantine period. We still felt mostly fine, albeit my wife had a mild dry cough and sore throat (which is easily associated with long-haul airline travel). My PCR test was tolerable, but my wife felt the swabbing was too fast and shallow, and had really made her suspicious of the technique used. She didn’t even have tears in her eyes nor a runny nose after the test.
No sooner had we arrived at the hotel that we were introduced to the true Covid measures in the country. These very detailed regulations were not accessible online, nor even at the airport. They seem to be set on a day-to-day basis, as I’ll demonstrate later in the story. When we arrived at the airport, the regulations were explained:
-PCR upon arrival
-10x24hrs quarantine hotel stay
-PCR on day 9
-If either of the PCR were positive, we were to move to a government designated isolation hotel to start (or re-start) 10 day isolation.
-If the infection is caused by the Omicron strain, we were to be moved to a hospital that specializes in infectious disease control, whether or not we had any symptoms or signs of infection.
-Positive Omicron infection meant a minimum isolation of 10-14 days, with 2 consecutive negative PCR tests to be released (therefore no set end to isolation.).
Now, keep in mind that most governments in the world will strive to avoid sending patients to a hospital, especially during the omicron surge, and also will not compel a follow up PCR test as 15-20% of those who become infected can test with a false positive for up to 90 days.
***All costs to be borne by non-national visitors.***
Had we known these regulations before arriving, we’d likely have stayed in Cyprus for at least a week to isolate and ensure we’d tested negative on home antigen kit before departing. Believe it or not, this would have been far more affordable and safer than what we ended up experiencing.
Within an hour of arriving at our hotel, we received a phone call that I had tested positive, but my wife had tested negative. This compelled me to move to another facility and be separated from my spouse on the third day of our honeymoon. We were confused and distraught as my wife had some symptoms yet tested negative. Likewise, we asked for follow up PCRs to be performed but were refused, which meant we had to front the cost of her staying at the quarantine hotel and me going to the isolation facility at a staggering total of 27,000,000 for 10 days. The hotel Covid coordinator spoke no English, which was especially bewildering considering that mostly foreigners stayed at the quarantine hotels. We went as far as asking what our options were if I refused to go to the isolation facility, which was meant with a threat of arrest and deportation. (I’m not sure how they would deport me with a positive PCR test…) Keep in mind that we were provided no documentation to prove my positive test until well after I arrived at the isolation facility. I signed a contract stating that I’d be in isolation for at least 10 days (10x24 hrs) and that the cost of isolation, along with certain conditions would be satisfied for my stay.
When I arrived at Hotel C’One Pulomas (the isolation facility), my passport became lost in transit/translation, and I had to contact the Canadian embassy. They assured me my passport was still at Wyndham, but when my wife (who speaks Indonesian) called the isolation facility, they insisted they had my passport. In fact, the isolation facility told my wife they didn’t know who I was nor why I was there, nor where I came from.
I was shocked to see what had been accepted as a government certified isolation facility. It was a 2-star motel which appeared to be partially derelict. Anyone who has travelled in Indonesia would recognize this place to be in the 200-250,000rp/night range. The room is 15sqm, the floor was dusty and stained with black shoe prints, the bathroom had mould buildup on the walls, floors and curtain. The toilet and sink had scum and stains, and the air-conditioner struggled to maintain a comfortable temperature, and I basically had to go shirtless for the entire time of my stay. The bedding lacked a duvet or cover sheet, the mattress and pillows had stains. The couch was dirty with food crumbs, and disused tissues and hair littered the floor beneath and behind all furniture. Garbage regularly litters the property, drawing in stray cats and flies.
When I called the front desk staff, they had absolutely no grasp of the English language, and when I showed them the issues, they inferred I was being either impatient or too picky. They brought a soggy mop to “clean” the floors. Other than that, I had to supply my own cleaning supplies. Furthermore, there was no kettle, no towels, no fridge, no closet space, so real storage of any kind. So you will be living out of your suitcase (which is hard to open given the limited floor space left in the room).
Part of the astronomical cost of staying at C’One Pulomas was access to on-call medical staff, and daily check-ups. The “24 hr on-call” doctor and medical team never answered their phones, never followed up on requests or inquiries (despite speaking English very well) and really had no idea how the process at the hotel worked. My daily check-ups consisted of being told my blood pressure was high (maximum 125/75) and that my temperature was a fever (maximum 37 deg C) on several occasions. (I work in medicine and these numbers are textbook normal for a 40 year old male). The medical staff seem ill-prepared and ill-informed.
The meals are included for the stay at C’One Pulomas, but I feel it hardly needs to be stated that they were inadequate on every level. Each meal consisted mostly of rice with a shred of meat and a tablespoon of either veggies, tempe or tofu. I would estimate that each meal would have a total of 400-500 calories, which is insufficient for even a child. The snacks were always cheap junk food like buns filled with cheese or chocolate. Luckily, you can order outside food using touchless payment through apps like Grab and Gojeck.
Imel is the coordinator for the movement and allocation of visitors to isolation facilities. She initially contacted me in English via WhatsApp and sent me misleading brochures about the isolation facilities. She told me that she was there to assist me when needed. Subsequently, whenever I needed help she was tardy to reply, and then (all of sudden) didn’t speak English and would not answer my phone calls for the entire duration of my stay.
The silver lining of staying at C’One Pulomas is that all the visitors are allowed to roam the small compound grounds, so you can walk, jog or sit outside for an unlimited amount of time. This was about the only good part of staying at the isolation facility.
My wife was tested after 6 days of quarantine at Wyndham, (since quarantine time had been reduced the day we arrived but not yet approved until her 5th day of quarantine…complicated, I know). Inevitably, she tested positive, and was given just a short amount of time to pack. She was going to be sent to the Wisma Atlet facility for Indonesian citizens (which is a much worse situation than mine).
Thanks to some negotiation skills on her part (and us paying ANOTHER isolation hotel fee) she secured a room at the same facility as me so we could be together during our isolation). On the drive over to C’One Pulomas, the drivers were teasing her about our honeymoon being spent in isolation, which was unprofessional and insensitive.
As is customary in this story, her contract with the isolation facility stated different terms and cost than mine. She was to stay at least 11 days, but the cost was somehow reduced to 12.5 million…. All very confusing, to which Imel (the isolation coordinator) stated “this is the new regulations” despite not being able to provide any proof or documentation to back this up. Needless to say we were quite happy to be reunited, as this makes a big difference mentally when compared to being separated during isolation.
Let me clarify that both of us felt totally fine, and our (non)daily check ups revealed no abnormal signs or symptoms. Even the doctors were amazed at how good we felt. (Albeit, no one I met this facility seemed sick at all, with most others in isolation were out daily enjoying walking around and socializing).
I check into the isolation facility on January 3rd at 3pm, so my 10th day started January 12th at 3pm. By that evening, we had been waiting all day for either Imel or the medical staff on site to respond to my request for a PCR test. It takes 12 hrs for a result, so if it was taken that night, I would be able to check out by the end of my 10th day.
However, we were now informed that the first day in isolation is “day zero” (whatever that means) and from here on the logic of any of the conversations between us and the staff was at an all-time low, with them insisting that my 10th day was the 13th, despite me providing a diagram to show how to count days on a calendar. It was like arguing with a child, and that no matter how you explain basic counting skills, they insisted that (despite the contract) that we’d be test on 11th day, and with results coming in on the 12th day (their version of day 10 and 11). Of course, I’d be incurring the cost of an extra night at the isolation facility (1,400,000rp) because they lacked the ability to both properly count to 10, and the plan ahead 12 hours to ensure a timely check out. When we pointed out how this was victimizing and cheating those in isolation, they insisted that it was not the case but offered no resolution and stuck to their faulty logic.
Then, at the “magic hour” of 10pm, after my 10 days had elapsed, low and behold my Covid test had come back positive for Omicron. Now I’d have to be referred to a hospital despite being 100% healthy and ready to leave and being forced to stay behind in the isolation facility. The doctor on site even agreed that is was ludicrous to be getting the results so late, and that also agreed that it was inappropriate to send me to a hospital as I was healthy. However, “those are the regulations” was a phrase we’d heard a lot during our stay. He visited me the next morning to have me sign another contract, which was open-ended in both terms of timeline and cost. He presented me a list of rooms that were entirely in Indonesian, and the costs per day ranged from 400,000 to 1,750,000. My wife read it to determine that my cost was at the high end, which again is very expensive.
At this point, we noticed that there was an option to “DISAGREE” with the terms of the contract and refuse to be referred to the hospital. I asked the doctor if I could exercise this right, and he said I was free to do so, and that I would incur no penalty or repercussions from a legal perspective. Furthermore, I would be allowed to stay at the isolation facility with my wife. SO, I emphatically declined to agree and then re-iterated the need for a PCR test. He said that since my result was positive for Omicron that I’d need 2 consecutive negative tests. At first, he stated on day 11 and 14, but then clarified they only had to be 24 hours apart, so I asked to be scheduled for one test immediately and the next day.
So, for now, our fate rests in the balance of whether or not this doctor will follow through and advocate for us. Stay tuned for updates...
January 13th, 2022
The silver lining of the last 24 hours is that both myself and several other guests at the isolation hotel who all tested positive for Omicron unanimously refused to be referred to the hospital. Indeed, we have since been left alone about this situation, and I believe it is within your right to refuse this referral without being reprimanded.
Likewise, I was out for a run when I happened upon a rather social setting of many other guests, all of whom are experiencing different degrees of frustration and dead ends in this saga. Most importantly, I was advised to follow @matmar10 on Instagram. He is an American expat living in Jakarta who documented not only his experience at C'One Hotel Pulomas in isolation, but many others. His videos are in Bahasa Indonesia, but it was strangely comforting to know that we weren't the only ones being targeted. His videos have gone viral and have helped alert government officials to the corruption and extortion being perpetrated by SmartLab and C'One Hotel Pulomas.
January 14th, 2022
At half past midnight tonight, they finally came knocking on our hotel room door to test me. They collected both NP and OP swabs (nose and mouth, respectively) and once again the swabbing in my nose was so gentle I could have sworn the swab was only inserted a few millimetres.
Upon waking up this morning, I can see one of my batch mates packed and leaving for his final destination. This gave me great hope, as he had arrived the same day as me, and now was finally free. In any case, another batch mate who arrived the same time also got some bad news: Still positive. I am devastated for him, as I can see the despair on his face, even with an mask covering most of his visage. In any case, I feel confident and start hounding the administrative staff for my results.
About 30 minutes later, I get my results: Positive!(?). Not only positive, but my viral load is purportedly HIGHER than it was on my arrival to Jakarta. Of course, Imel and the on-call medical team are incommunicado, and even the lab who is doing the testing (SMARTLab) won't answer any questions, referring us only back to Imel. We explain that she is unresponsive and not helpful at best, to which they offer little apology nor alternatives.
I called an different lab here in Jakarta, Medilab and explained my plight through WhatsApp (+62 811-1202-0333). they explained that a Ct of 40 was actually not common in Indonesia. While there is no set standard, he explained that a Ct of 35 is the best practice in Indonesia for the most part, and they stated that a Ct of 40 was going to give positive results with a clinically insignificant amount of viral load.
I later confirmed with my neighbour that the management of the isolation program would accept results from outside labs, so long as the test was administered no less than 24 hrs after the last. The cost of having them come to your room is 275,000rp total. The results would be registered via WhatsApp or email within 6 hours.
Having said that, the advice that MediLab gave me was that it was typical that Omicron infections take 14-20 (on average) to clear from PCR results. So, despite them being able to profit from me, they actually recommended that I wait until the 14th day to hire their outside services. I have to say this was a breath of fresh air, and really renewed my faith that not all the people involved in this process were unscrupulous.
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