JAKARTA – After going through a series of trials and tests, the domestically-made Covid-19 screening tool "GeNose" is ready to be used as an alternative to long-distance train passenger travel conditions starting February 5, 2021, at two train stations, namely Pasar Senen Station, Jakarta and Pasar Tugu Station, Yogyakarta.

This statement was confirmed after this morning, February 3, 2021, the Director General of Railways, the Minister of Transportation, and the Minister of Research and Technology conducted a trial review at Pasar Senen Station, Jakarta. This trial aims to see the readiness of the GeNose tool and to socialize the GeNose test to the train user community.

Minister of Transportation Budi Karya explained, "GeNose has received a distribution permit from the Ministry of Health and has been approved by the Covid-19 Task Force with the issuance of a Circular Letter, so we believe this tool has been tested to be used as a Covid-19 screening tool at transportation nodes such as stations ."

"Thank God the trial went well today. Hopefully on February 5, the implementation will also run well and smoothly. I appreciate UGM for carefully conducting research. The advantage of this GeNose is that besides being cheap, it doesn't hurt to use, and it's also made in Indonesia," said the Minister of Transportation. GeNose development in all stations will be carried out in stages. Starting from 2 stations, 5 stations, 10 stations, 20 stations, up to 44 stations with an additional time period of 10 days and referring to the evaluation results.

Minister of Research and Technology, Bambang Brodjonegoro said, “GeNose has been validated with 2000 samples and the accuracy is 90 percent. The more it is used, the more accurate this tool will be because it will always be updated by the team from UGM." Furthermore, Bambang also conveyed the advantages of GeNose such as being comfortable when used, easy to operate, the results obtained are relatively fast, and no less important is the affordable price. affordable for the community.

Bambang also emphasized that the implementation of the GeNose test itself is not to replace the PCR test or rapid antigen test that is currently being carried out, but to become a better screening tool. "With the presence of GeNose at transportation nodes, it is hoped that it can reduce the rate of spread of Covid-19 in Indonesia, in addition to maintaining health protocols, and encouraging economic recovery," said Bambang.

The use of the GeNose test as one of the conditions for long-distance train travel in addition to the rapid antigen test and PCR test, is stated in the Circular (SE) of the Covid-19 Handling Task Force Number 5 of 2021 concerning the Extension of Travel Provisions for Domestic People During the Corona Virus Disease Pandemic. (Covid-19), which was then followed up by the Ministry of Transportation by issuing Circular Letter No. 11 of 2021 concerning the Extension of the Implementation Guidelines for People Traveling by Rail Transportation during the Corona Virus Disease (Covid-19) Pandemic.

In Circular No. 11 it is stated that individuals who will travel using inter-city trains from January 26 to d. February 8, 2021, must show a certificate of the results of the GeNose test or rapid test antigen or RT-PCR test which states negative for Covid-19 whose samples are taken within a maximum period of 3x24 hours before departure for intercity train trips on the islands of Java and Sumatra.

Also attending the event were the President Director of PT KAI Didiek Hartantyo, and the UGM GeNose Team.