Bali’s domestic travelers can no longer use the GeNose COVID screening test, effective Wednesday, 30 June 2021.
NusaBali.com reports that a memo issued by Bali’s Governor on Monday, 28 June 2021, has declared the inexpensive and Indonesian-made GeNose COVID-19 screening test as no longer accepted as proof of a negative result for travelers through Bali’s airport or seaports.
The reason given for the change disqualifying the GeNose Test is the sudden dramatic increase in new cases of COVID-19 across Indonesia.
The GeNose Test was the least expensive COVID-19 test method available on the market at Rp. 40,000 per test and was available with instant results at Bali’s Ngurah Rai Airport. Meanwhile, the cost of a Rapid Antigen Test is around Rp. 170,000 and a PCR Swab Test costs between Rp. 850,000 and Rp. 1 million.
Passengers arriving in Bali must now present a “negative” test result for PCR Swab or Rapid Antigen Test performed 2 x 24 hours before their departure for Bali.
The GeNose Test remains available on a limited basis at Bali’s Airport as there are still several areas in Indonesia that will still accept the GeNose Test result from inbound domestic travelers.
There has been criticism in the media that the GeNose screening test was often inaccurate.