April 2, 2021
Health Ministry now says India's AstraZeneca embargo will delay vaccination schedule + Bali has 3 of country's 5 remaining red zones + GeNose test rollout in Bali delayed + more!
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Weather & Waves
Today’s Weather for Southern Bali
Today’s Tides
Surf Outlook
Weather forecast from Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology & Geophysics Council (Link)
Tide table from Tide-forecast.com.
Surf outlook via Windy.com.
Local Covid Numbers
Click here to see the national numbers infographic and a Regency-by-Regency breakdown of yesterday’s local numbers.
The Big News
"India’s Embargo Affects Phase III Vaccination Schedule" from Bali Post (Indonesian): The Ministry of Health is considering the possibility of implementing the third phase of the COVID-19 vaccination in June or July 2021. This is due to the effect of the embargo on AstraZeneca vaccine products in India. "If it is in accordance with the technical instructions for handling COVID-19 as of February 18, then the third phase would start in May 2021. However, due to the decision of an embargo from India on the AstraZeneca vaccine in April 2021, the implementation of the third phase of vaccination in Indonesia [scheduled for] May 2021, may only take place in June 2021,” said the spokesperson for the COVID-19 vaccination at the Ministry of Health, Siti Nadia Tarmizi. The stock of Corona AstraZeneca vaccine of around 10 million doses for Indonesia had to be postponed due to this situation.
"3 Out of Indonesia’s Remaining 5 Covid-19 Red Zones Are in Bali: Task Force" from Coconuts: Indonesia this week reported a notable decrease in the number of high-risk “red zones” for COVID-19 across the country. And three out of the remaining five regions are in Bali. COVID-19 Task Force spokesman Wiku Adisasmito said that per March 28 data, regions with the highest risk of COVID-19 transmission in Indonesia are Buleleng, Tabanan, and Denpasar in Bali, as well as Kupang City in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) and Palangkaraya City in Central Kalimantan. The Southeast Asian country categorizes COVID-19 risks across its 314 regencies and cities into four zones, identified as red, orange, yellow, and green ?- each color corresponding to different risks of transmission, namely high-risk, medium-risk, low-risk, to those reporting zero cases, respectively.
"Not Starting April 1, This is the Schedule for the GeNose Services at Ngurah Rai Airport" from Bali Post (Indonesian): Regulations for Domestic Travel Actors (PPDB) and in particular for GeNose C-19 services, were implemented on April 1, 2021. However, specifically for I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport Bali, this service will not be carried out starting today because it is still in the preparation stage. "Currently, preparations are being made, such as the procurement of the GeNose C-19 machine, the availability of blown plastic, and the GeNose C-19 service location," said Stakeholder Relation Manager, Ngurah Rai Airport, Taufan Yudhistira. At Ngurah Rai Airport, [GeNose testing] is planned for the second week of April 2021. The GeNose C-19 trial will be carried out, as well as the official start of the GeNose C-19 service, on 7-8 April 2021.
Context: While a PCR test result is valid if it is taken within 3 days prior to departure, the GeNose test result will only be valid if it is taken within 24 hours.
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Other Headlines
"Cases Down, State Hospital Shuts Down Covid-19 Isolation Room" from Radar Bali (Indonesian): The decline in Covid-19 cases in Jembrana in recent days has meant isolation rooms are unused. As in the State Hospital, of the total two rooms that have been used for isolation of patients confirmed positive with symptoms, currently only one room is used, so one room has begun to be temporarily closed. Acting Director of the State Hospital Ni Putu Eka Indrawati said, "Because cases have decreased, we are closing one room. This is only temporary, if later [cases] go up again, we will need isolation rooms to open again.”
Vaccination Update
Island: "Departing End of April, Vaccination [Schedule] of Migrant Workers from Bali Shortened" from Radar Bali (Indonesian)
Buleleng: "One week in the Red Zone, Buleleng Increases Vaccinations" from Nusa Bali (Indonesian)
Denpasar: "On the Ninth Day, Vaccines in Sanur Reach 30,389 Targets" from Bali Express (Indonesian)
Gianyar: "248 Foreigners Vaccinated in Ubud Green Zone" from Bali Express (Indonesian)
Gianyar: "Vaccination in Ubud Reaches 32,828 People" from Nusa Bali (Indonesian)
"In 5 Years, 920 Ha of Agricultural Land in Gianyar Has Become Settlements and Villas" from Radar Bali (Indonesian): During the last five years, most of the green land has been turned into settlements as well as villas. Based on data from the Department of Agriculture, in 2016 the area of agricultural land was 14,376 hectares (Ha); in 2017, 14,320 hectares; in 2018, 13,690 hectares; in 2019, 13,690 hectares; in 2020, 13,474 hectares; then in 2021, the agricultural land area is 13.456 Ha. Head of the Gianyar Regency Agriculture Service, Made Raka, explained that the decline in the amount of agricultural land in Gianyar Regency was almost evenly distributed in all sub-districts. The causes of agricultural function change are caused by several factors. "This includes the increasing population development which requires a place to live. The conversion of agricultural land is also a result of being pressed by the tourism sector," he explained.
Economy News
"Inflation Rises 0.08% in March" from Antara (Indonesian): Indonesia's inflation rose 0.08% in March 2021, bringing the calendar year inflation to 0.44% and year-on-year inflation rate to 1.37% according to Statistics Indonesia (BPS). "March inflation was fueled by bird's eye chili and onion, which contributed 0.04% and 0.02% (respectively, to inflation)," BPS deputy chief for distribution and service statistics, Setianto, said. Pure-bred chicken meat, garlic, fresh fish, preserved fish, and domestic help's wages contributed 0.01% each to the March 2021 inflation rate. However, the prices of several commodities declined, with cars contributing 0.03%, gold jewelry and chili 0.02%, and rice 0.01% to deflation. The foods, beverages, and tobacco group rose 0.40%, contributing 0.10% to inflation. Spending in other groups remained flat and did not contribute to inflation due to its small impact, including the housing, water, electricity, and household fuel groups.
"Bali Province Experienced Inflation of 0.52% on a Month-to-Month Basis" from Tribun Bali (Indonesian): Inflation mainly occurred in two groups of goods, namely volatile food and administered prices with stable core inflation. Denpasar experienced inflation of 0.47% (mtm), while Singaraja experienced inflation of 0.81% (mtm). Meanwhile, on an annual basis or year on year (yoy), Bali experienced inflation of 0.84%, lower than the national inflation of 1.37%. The volatile food category experienced inflation of 2.78% (mtm) compared to the previous month. The increase in prices was seen mainly in the commodities of chili, broiler chicken, preserved fish and shallots. "The increase in inflation is in line with rising demand related to the arrival of Nyepi (Silent Day), accompanied by a decrease in the supply of horticultural crops due to high rainfall," said the Head of Bank Indonesia Representative Office for Bali Province, Trisno Nugroho.
More...
"The Purchasing Power of the Balinese People Improves" from Bali Post (Indonesian)
"Bali Exports Decreased 21.65% in February 2021, This is the Explanation" from Bali Bisnis (Indonesian)
"Easter Holidays 2021, Passenger Traffic at Ngurah Rai Airport is Predicted to Increase" from Tribun Bali (Indonesian)
Of Interest
"UN Human Rights Experts Denounce Indonesia’s MotoGP Tourism Project in Lombok" from Coconuts
"Ministry Reopens Mt Rinjani, Mt Tambora to Public From April" from Antara (Indonesian)
"Firefighters Extinguish Days-long West Java Oil Refinery Inferno" from The Jakarta Post
"No Severe Disruption to Indonesia Trade From Suez Backlog, But Shipping Concerns Loom" from The Jakarta Post
How You Can Help
In response to the collapse of the tourism sector in Bali and the resulting economic crisis, dozens of individuals and organizations have sprung into action, raising funds and distributing badly needed food and everyday essentials to the innumerable families who have suddenly found themselves without any source of income. We've been making an effort to document and raise awareness of these efforts. We will add information on projects in this space as we are able to confirm them. If you'd like to see a list of the efforts that we've featured so far and contribute to them with either time or money, visit our complete list here. You can also see a list of projects that have registered themselves at BaliSolidarity.org. If you know of an effort and would like to have them listed, please send their information to TheBaliBeat@outlanders.global.
About This Newsletter
This newsletter is a product of Migration Media, the hub for stories from and about the international migrant experience.
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