April 20, 2021
Vaccination certificate not valid for entering Bali, antigen test still required at Gilimanuk Port + Hotel bookings for Eid holiday on the rise + 6 Badung tourist sites to get GeNose test + more!
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Weather & Waves
Today’s Weather for Southern Bali
Today’s Tides
Meteorology, Climatology & Geophysics Council (Link)
Tide table from Tide-forecast.com.
Local Covid Numbers
*Note: there was a drop in new Covid cases in Bali yesterday (154) after Sunday's 172, bringing the 7-day average down to 147. Fatalities dropped slightly (8). We often see a dip in new cases at the start of the week due to the "Weekend Effect," where reduced testing capacity may result in reduced reporting of cases.
Click here to see the national numbers infographic and a Regency-by-Regency breakdown of yesterday’s local numbers. And in case you missed it, check out Sunday’s update for a summary of last week’s overall totals, with perspective on how they stack up against previous weeks + detailed breakdowns of the virus’ spread on a Regency-by-Regency level.
The Big News
"Vaccine Certificate is Not Valid for Entering Bali" from Antara Bali (Indonesian): Travelers must continue to take a rapid antigen test, even though they have received complete vaccination, said Jembrana Covid-19 Task Force spokesperson Dr. I Gusti Agung Putu Arisantha. The mandatory rapid antigen test to enter Bali has been questioned by travelers who have received complete vaccination. Agus Sunar, from Jember Regency in East Java, said, “When I was about to enter Bali in Gilimanuk, I was not the only one who was forced to take a rapid antigen test even though I had been fully vaccinated. Several other people received the same treatment. We are surprised that central and local government regulations can be different, confusing the community.”
"Ahead of Eid Holidays, Tourists Start Booking Hotels in Bali" from Bisnis Bali (Indonesian): Chairman of the Association of Indonesian Hotels and Restaurants (PHRI) Badung Regency, I Gusti Agung Ngurah Rai Suryawijaya, said several PHRI members had started accepting hotel bookings, especially tourists from Jakarta. "The number of bookings is not significant, but it is already more than 5% of the total occupancy," he said. Prior to the prohibition of travel from May 6-17, 2021, his party predicted that there would be 10,000 tourists visiting Bali every day during the Eid holidays, so the hotel occupancy rate could reach 40%. "With these restrictions, it is estimated that the number of visits is only up to 6,000 people per day. With an average occupancy rate of 25%," he said.
"Badung Targets to Install GeNose in These Six Tourism Objects" from Bali Post (Indonesian): The Acting Head of the Badung Tourism Office, Cokorda Raka Darmawan, said that the tool would be aimed at tourists, both foreign and domestic. The six tourism objects that will become pilot projects are Uluwatu Temple, Pandawa Beach, Labuan Sait Beach, Taman Ayun Temple, Sangeh, and Nungnung Waterfall. "Later we will also cooperate with the Health Office to follow up on the reactive tourists," he said. "Using this tool in the future will need maintenance which of course requires a fee. However, whether fees in addition to the entrance ticket will be charged has not been determined yet."
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Other Headlines
"The Council Supports the Proposal of the Provincial Government to Allow Eid Holidays, Suwandhi: For Bali There Must Be Tolerance" from Tribun Bali (Indonesian): The Bali Provincial Government's proposal to the central government requesting that they continue to allow travel, especially to Bali during the implementation of the Lebaran homecoming ban, received support from the Bali DPRD. Bali DPRD Commission II member, Ketut Suwandhi said the central government should have tolerated Bali regarding this matter, given that Bali's current economic condition is very badly affected by the decline in the tourism sector due to the pandemic. In addition, according to him, Bali is ready to accept both domestic and foreign tourists due to the incessant vaccination process carried out through the banjar system.
Context: Bali’s Regional Police Force has begun preparations for implementing the travel ban by disseminating information in Denpasar. Director of Bali's Traffic Police, Kombes Indra, said they have coordinated with several related parties to block the homecoming routes, including customary security officers (pecalang) in traditional villages in Bali.
Vaccination Update
Nation: "10.96 Million Indonesians Vaccinated Against Covid-19 So Far" from Antara (Indonesian)
Nation: "Vaccination Aids in Bolstering Recovery of Creative Economy: Uno" from Antara
Nation: "Nusantara Vaccine Controversy: Finally Kasad, Minister of Health and Head of BPOM Sign a Research MOU" from Nusa Bali (Indonesian)
Badung: "I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport Staff Vaccination for Covid-19 Phase Two" from Antara Bali (Indonesian)
Denpasar: "Targeting Traders, Denpasar Holds Mass Vaccination Again" from Bali Express (Indonesian)
Health Protocols (Prokes) & Patrols
"Mikro PPKM is Claimed to Succeed in Reducing Active Cases, Extended and Expanded Again" from Bali Post (Indonesian): Airlangga Hartarto, Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Chairperson of the Committee for Handling COVID-19 and National Economic Recovery, said that the central government will continue the 6th extension of Mikro PPKM, from April 20 to May 3. In addition, based on the parameter of the number of active cases, it was expanded to 5 provinces, namely West Sumatra, Jambi, Bangka Belitung Islands, Lampung, and West Kalimantan.
Context: On March 22 Bali's provincial government implemented Mikro PPKM (Restrictions on Community Activities) for an indefinite period. Regarding the central government’s recent extension, Head of the Bali Province Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), I Made Rentin, said that there were no significant changes to this policy, just additional coverage for several other provinces
Economy & Infrastructure
"Three Tons of Processed Organic Chocolate Exported to Qatar" from Bali Express (Indonesian)
"Able to Survive the Pandemic, Micro Businesses in Bali are Tapping Bank Loans" from Bisnis Bali (Indonesian)
"Pests and Price Fluctuations Become the Scourge of Nusa Penida Seaweed Cultivation" from Radar Bali (Indonesian)
"Tourism Can No Longer Be Relied On, This is How Badung Survives in the Midst of a Pandemic" from Bali Post (Indonesian)
"Pandemic Hits Franchise Businesses in Indonesia, Dozens of Outlets Close" from Bali Post (Indonesian)
"Gilimanuk-Mengwi Toll Road Project: 19 Villages in Tabanan Affected, Land Owners Rush to Manage Building Permits" from Radar Bali (Indonesian)
"16 Villages in Gianyar Preparing to Build Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Waste Disposal Sites" from Bali Express (Indonesian)
"Water Use Increased During the Covid-19 Pandemic" from Bali Post (Indonesian)
"Ministry of Transportation: There Are No Sanctions for Eid Homecoming Outside the May 6-17 Prohibition Period" from Kumpuran (Indonesian): The Ministry of Transportation (Kemenhub) will impose a ban on going home for the Eid holiday [known locally as mudik] from May 6-17, 2021. "We are in a pandemic situation recognizing the 5M protocol. Even though it is outside the period of the homecoming ban, we hope that the community will limit their mobility before May 6. The community is advised if it is not urgent, they do not carry out mobility," said spokesperson for the Ministry of Transportation, Adita Irawati.
"Bali Drivers Will Soon Be Subject to Electronic Traffic Law Enforcement, Police Say" from Coconuts Bali: Head of Traffic Directorate at the Bali Police, Indra, said that police have installed traffic cameras at the Buagan intersection in Denpasar. Preparations are currently ongoing for police to start implementing Electronic Traffic Law Enforcement (ETLE) as soon as the end of this month. ETLE allows police to utilize CCTV cameras to catch and review various traffic violations, such as expired plate numbers, speeding, and driving without helmets. In Bali, the new system will be implemented in phases, starting with the main roads of Denpasar.
Of Interest
"Hugs, Tears as New Zealand-Australia Travel Bubble Opens" from Agence France-Presse
"In Memoriam: Daisy Hadmoko, Pioneer in Indonesian Travel Journalism" from The Jakarta Post
"17 Belitung Sites Get UNESCO Global Geopark Status" from Antara
"3 Things You Need to Know About Kuningan Day" from Tribun Bali (Indonesian)
"The 250th Anniversary of Gianyar, the Regent Inaugurates the Town Square" from Antara Bali (Indonesian)
"Prone to Rabies, Dozens of Stray Dogs on Kuta Beach Vaccinated" from Radar Bali (Indonesian)
"On the First Day of Cashless Payment, There Was Congestion at the Toll Gate Exiting Ngurah Rai Airport" from Tribun Bali (Indonesian)
"Jembrana Police Dismantle Green Turtle Trade Syndicate" from Antara Bali (Indonesian)
"Depressed Over a Breakup, a Russian Citizen in Bali Gets Drunk Then Steals Helmets" from Kumpuran (Indonesian)
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.
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