Jakarta. A total of 82,604 vehicles, including private cars, buses and motorcycles, have been forced to turn back by the police in 32 days of Idul Fitri exodus, or mudik, ban.

"As of today, we've forced more than 82,000 vehicles that violated the mudik ban to turn back," Insp. Gen. Istiono, the head of the National Traffic Police, said in an online press conference at National Police headquarters on Tuesday.

Istiono said the police turned back 39,962 vehicles in Jakarta, 11,008 in West Java, 5,330 in Central Java, 15,769 in East Java, 8,242 in Banten, 1,500 in Lampung and 783 in Yogyakarta.

He said there was a significant fall in mudik traffic compared to last year.

According to toll road operator Jasa Marga, traffic out of Jakarta decreased by 81 percent on the first day of Idul Fitri on May 24, with 37,878 vehicles leaving the capital city.

Istiono said the police have set up 116 traffic checkpoints from East Java to Lampung to screen vehicles on the mudik return trip. 

The Jakarta provincial government has announced it will turn away visitors and returning residents trying to enter the city without an entry permit after the Idul Fitri holiday

"We've set up 11 checkpoints, some of them on two toll roads, to control the traffic into Jakarta," Istiono said. 

Idul Fitri Operation Extended

National Police Chief Gen. Idham Azis has extended the Idul Fitri security operation, known as "Operasi Ketupat Jaya," to June 7.

"After discussing it with the Covid-19 Task Force yesterday, we've decided to extend and intensify the operation until June 7," Idham said.

The police are expecting a massive wave of people returning from the Idul Fitri holiday.

Idham said travelers should still follow orders to social distance, maintain basic hygiene including washing hands frequently with soap and postpone unnecessary trips.

Istiono pointed out the government still has not lifted its national disaster status for the Covid-19 pandemic

"People who violated the mudik ban to leave Jakarta must postpone their return to curb the spread of Covid-19 in the capital," he said.