April 22, 2021
Indonesian submarine with 53 on board missing in Bali waters + Tourism minister denies Bali government's request for mudik ban exemption + Sanctions for mask prank foreigners under review + 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 only a slight drop in new Covid-19 cases in Bali yesterday (198) after Tuesday's 207, pushing the 7-day average up to 166. This figure is just 10 below the 7-day average one month ago. 8 deaths were recorded for the third consecutive day.
Click here to see the national numbers infographic and a Regency-by-Regency breakdown of yesterday’s local numbers.
The Big News
"Indonesian Submarine Confirmed Missing in Bali Waters" from Antara: Submarine KRI Nanggala-402 has gone missing with 53 sailors on board in the waters north of Bali. Contact with the 209/1300-type submarine was reportedly lost around 3 a.m. on Wednesday when it was about 60 miles away from Bali. "The search for the submarine is still underway," Military Commander, Air Chief Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto, said. All vessels equipped with underwater devices have joined the search to locate the missing diesel-electric attack submarine.
Context: By Wednesday evening, Indonesia’s Ministry of Defense had tracked down only one possible sign of the missing vessel: a broad oil slick found in the area where the submarine began its dive. The oil slick could be evidence of the submarine’s distress from a crack in the hull, said a spokesperson for the Indonesian Navy. Indonesia has asked Australia and Singapore to assist in the search.
"Sandiaga Uno: Central Government Prohibits Eid Homecoming Including Travel to Bali" from Tribun Bali (Indonesian): The Bali Provincial Government has proposed to the central government, through the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, to allow travel, especially to Bali, during the Eid mudik (homecoming) ban. "We understand the desire of the Bali Provincial Government to get Bali's economy moving with tourism activities during the holiday season of Eid al-Fitr. However, taking into account the bigger goal of preventing the increase of COVID-19 cases, the central government still prohibits homecoming travel including tourism trips to Bali." Sandiaga Uno emphasized that last year the number of Covid-19 cases increased during mudik by 94% and during the Christmas and New Year holidays by 70%.
"Foreigner Paints Mask on Face to Trick Officers, Bali Immigration Studies Sanctions" from iNews Bali (Indonesian): Bali Immigration Officers have met with a female foreigner who painted her face with a mask to trick security officers when she entered a supermarket. Immigration is reviewing the sanctions that could be imposed on the foreigner. According to Head of the Bali Law and Human Rights Office, Jamaruli, so far no immigration violations have been found. However, that does not mean that the foreigner who received a lot of criticism from Indonesian netizens did not commit other violations. "It is not only the issue of immigration that needs to be enforced, other violations must also be enforced," he said.
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Other Headlines
"Health Office Says Regulations for Using GeNose Have Not Been Discussed" from Bali Express (Indonesian): Regulations on the use of GeNose as an early detection tool for Covid-19 in six tourist attractions in Badung Regency have not been discussed by the Badung Health Office (Diskes). However, the agency will provide assistance when the tools starts to be used. Head of Badung Diskes, Dr. Nyoman Gunarta, emphasized that GeNose was not procured by the Badung Regency Government but by a third party. "Now it's just the procurement process and it hasn't been installed yet. However, we are sure that there will be lots of questions about where reactive visitors will be brought to."
Vaccination Update
"China to Help Coronavirus-hit Indonesia Close Vaccine Divide" from South China Morning Post: China will work with Indonesia to try to close the “vaccination divide” as the Southeast Asian country grapples with delays in shipments of the AstraZeneca vaccine. Chinese President Xi Jinping said China would help Indonesia to build a regional vaccine production centre. Indonesia turned to China and the United States after a surge in cases in India resulted in delays in Indian-made AstraZeneca jabs distributed through the WHO-led Covax facility. China has shipped Indonesia enough raw materials to make 47 million doses of the Chinese-developed Sinovac vaccine. Indonesia also expects to receive more than 20.2 million doses from Chinese state firm Sinopharm and US company Moderna in the coming months.
More...
Nation: "Health Ministry Urges Bio Farma to Boost Vaccine Production Capacity" from Antara
Badung: "Hundreds of Gojek Driver Partners are Vaccinated with Members of the TNI-POLRI" from Tribun Bali (Indonesian)
Badung: "Drive-Thru Vaccination in Kuta Bali, Badung Regency Government Targets 2,000 Residents" from iNews Bali (Indonesian)
Badung: "In Badung, Dozens of Foreigners Received Covid-19 Vaccines" from Bali Post (Indonesian)
Buleleng: "Increased Vaccination Posts in Buleleng" from Radar Bali (Indonesian)
Karangasem: "Tens of Thousands Vaccinated in Karangasem" from Bali Post (Indonesian)
Health Protocols (Prokes) & Patrols
"To Secure the Lebaran Mudik Ban, Padangbai Port Will Not Sell Passenger Ferry Tickets for 12 Days" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian)
"The Yustisi Team Nets 13 Violators of the Covid-19 Prokes at Pemecutan Klod" from Nusa Bali (Indonesian)
Economy & Infrastructure
"Quarter I 2021, Bali's Export Value Dropped Sharply" from Bisnis Bali (Indonesian)
"Bali Export Performance, Snapper Shipments Increase 24%" from Bisnis Bali (Indonesian)
"Continuing to Increase, the Government is Asked to Revise Covid-19 Medical Waste Management" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian)
"Indonesia Seeks to Be World's Largest Ornamental Fish Exporter" from Antara
"Southeast Asia's Largest Glass Industry Planned in Batang: President" from Antara
"This is the Number of Registered Foreign Workers in Bali Until March 2021" from Bali Post: Based on official data submitted by the Ministry of Law and Human Rights in Bali, 4,444 foreign workers have obtained permits through three Immigration Offices in Bali. Of the 4,444 foreign workers, most of them hold Limited Stay Permits (ITAS TKA), the rest are ITAP TKA or Permanent Stay Permits.
"Bank Indonesia is Accelerating the Expansion of QRIS" from Kontan (Indonesian): Bank Indonesia (BI) is accelerating the use of the Indonesian Standard Quick Response Code (QRIS) as a means of payment. BI Governor Perry Warjiyo said that one of the main policies of the central bank is to accelerate economic and financial digitization that is inclusive and efficient. BI has strengthened its policy by increasing the QRIS transaction limit from Rp. 2 million to Rp. 5 million, which will take effect from May 1, 2021. However, PT Bank CIMB Niaga Tbk Consumer Director Lani Darmawan hopes that the transaction limit can be increased again, so that tourism or travel transactions can also use the means of payment.
Of Interest
"Gender Cooperation in Focus as Australia Appoints First Female Envoy to Indonesia" from The Jakarta Post (Metered Paywall)
"Video of Dozens of Female Surfers Wearing Kebaya to Commemorate Kartini Day in Bali" from iNews Bali (Indonesian)
"Police Searching for French Foreigner Laptop Thieves in Jimbaran" from iNews Bali
"British Foreigner Found Dead at the Bottom of a Pool in a Home Stay in Sanur" from iNews Bali (Indonesian)
"Removing the Stigma of Arrogance on the Streets, the Bali-East Java Ninja Motorcycle Club Raises Concern for NTT Natural Disasters" from Tribun Bali (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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