Indonesia has banned all citizens from traveling to their hometowns for Eid al-Fitr celebrations in an effort to contain the spread of novel coronavirus, the country’s President Joko Widodo said Tuesday.

"I have decided on banning the 'mudik' (Eid al-Fitr exodus) tradition for all citizens," Widodo said after a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, according to the state-run Antara news agency.

Millions of people normally go back to their hometowns to see their families every year in a homecoming tradition known as "mudik," the report said.

Jokowi did not provide specifics on how the ban will be enforced.

The President also said the decision was taken to curb travel after a recent government study showed the majority of the population did not intend to return home for the festival. However, around 24% of Indonesians were still planning to make the journey, Antara reported.

Indonesia has recorded more than 7,000 coronavirus cases and at least 616 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University.

This post was updated to reflect that Jokowi did not provide specifics on enforcement of the ban.