Indonesia suspends all travel throughout Ramadan and Eid

The country with the world's largest Muslim population has banned all travel during the holy month

epa08381261 A passanger wait for their flight schedule at an almost empty departure lounge, at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, Indonesia, 24 April 2020. The Indonesian government has banned commercial air travel from 24 April to 01 June 2020, in an effort to prevent people from returning to their hometowns to celebrate the Muslim Eid al-Fitr holiday during the holy month of Ramadan and spreading= coronavirus. EPA/MAST IRHAM

A passenger at an almost empty departure lounge at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, Indonesia, 24 April 2020. EPA/MAST IRHAM

Hayley Skirka

Apr 25, 2020

Indonesia has banned travel throughout the holy month of Ramadan.

The country with the world's largest Muslim population has put almost all international and domestic travel on hold until June in an attempt to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

The restrictions on travel were announced at the start of Ramadan, the Muslim holy month. They are set to prevent millions of residents living in Indonesia's big cities from travelling throughout the country, or internationally, to be with their families for Eid celebrations.

A street vendor wearing a protective mask sits as he waits for customers, as the government imposed large-scale restrictions to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), during the holy fasting month of Ramadan, in Jakarta, Indonesia, April 25, 2020. REUTERS/Willy Kurniawan — A street vendor in Jakarta, Indonesia, April 25, 2020. Reuters

Air travel is suspended until Monday, June 1, sea travel until Monday, June 8 and all passenger train services are on hold until Monday, June 15.

The ban does not apply to emergency services or cargo.

Indonesia has the highest number of mosques in the world and Ramadan is typically a very important and busy time for them, but this year they will remain quiet as congregational prayers have also been banned.

A deserted Istiqlal Grand Mosque is pictured on the first day of Muslim's holy month of Ramadan during a partial lockdown amid concern to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic in Jakarta on April 24, 2020. Muslims across the world began marking the holy month of Ramadan under unprecedented coronavirus lockdowns on April 24 as the US added another half a trillion dollars to an economic support package and Europe groped towards its own huge rescue plan. / AFP / Bay ISMOYO — A deserted Istiqlal Grand Mosque in Jakarta on the first day of Ramadan. AFP

Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia is at the centre of the country's Covid-19 outbreak. So far 8,607 coronavirus cases have been recorded across the archipelago nation after only 64,000 tests.

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Teenager swinging Over in Tegallalang Ubud. Getty Images — A Muslim traveller in Bali, Indonesia's travel gem where many hotels and resorts have closed due to a lack of visitors in the coronavirus pandemic. . Getty Images

Bali, one of Indonesia's most popular holiday destinations, is struggling to survive without tourists. Bali is the country's tourism gem and the island relies heavily on tourism revenue.