April 7, 2021
Australian tourists will not be a priority when Bali opens says Deputy Governor + GeNose test trial at Bali airport delayed again + Villas under the guise of luxury homes increasing in Badung + 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
*Note: After almost a fortnight of cases below 200, yesterday was the second time during the previous week they passed the 200 mark (236). Deaths reached double digits for the first time in almost a fortnight. Recoveries (229) were also above 200 for the second time in the past week.
Click here to see the national numbers infographic and a Regency-by-Regency breakdown of yesterday’s local numbers.
The Big News
"When Bali Tourism Opens, Australian Tourists Will Not Be a Priority, Only These Few Countries Will Be" from Tribun Bali (Indonesian): Deputy Governor of Bali, Tjokorda Oka Artha Ardana Sukawati, familiarly known as Cok Ace, said that this is because the Australian government’s policy is still not open to its citizens traveling abroad. "So we see opportunities that still exist such as tourists from the Netherlands, UAE, China, and Singapore. Meanwhile, for tourists from other countries, we will wait to see developments," he said.
"Postponed, GeNose Simulation and Services at Ngurah Rai Airport" from Bali Post (Indonesian): The trial of the GeNose test was scheduled to begin on 7 and 8 April at Bali's Ngurah Rai Airport. However, as preparations are still being made, it will be one day behind schedule, said Ngurah Rai Airport's Stakeholder Relation Manager, Taufan Yudhistira. It is planned that Ngurah Rai Airport Bali will receive 8-14 units of the GeNose C-19 machine. For the inflatable bags, 500-600 bags are planned per day and 150 bags will be prepared during the trial. Ngurah Rai Airport will have 3 COVID-19 detection services, namely 2 Antigen Rapid Test services and 1 GeNose C-19 service. The price for the GeNose C-19 service is currently under discussion.
Context: This is the second time the rollout of the GeNose service trial at Ngurah Rai Airport has been delayed. 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.
"Tropical Cyclone Seroja the Strongest Indonesia Has Seen in 13 Years: Official" from Coconuts Bali: The tropical cyclone that triggered catastrophic flash floods and landslides in Nusa Tenggara islands was the strongest Indonesia has seen in more than a decade, said Dwikorita Karnawati, head of the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG). He stressed the importance of mitigating the impacts of climate change after torrential rain and strong winds from the tropical cyclone inundated parts of East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) and West Nusa Tenggara (NTB).
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Other Headlines
"Villas Under the Guise of Luxury Homes Mushrooming in Badung" from Bali Express (Indonesian): The number of luxury properties that have received building construction permits (IMB) has mushroomed in the Badung Regency area. However, the designation of these luxury houses is not for occupation, but for leasing to tourists, functioning as a villa. Many businesses like this stand in residential areas close to tourist attractions such as Canggu, Seminyak, and Tumbak Bayuh. Head of the Regional Revenue Agency (Bapenda) and Pesedahan Agung Badung Regency, I Made Sutama, said that efforts to avoid taxes are now the target of Bapenda and Pesedahan Agung Badung.
Vaccination Update
"8,975,366 Indonesians Vaccinated Against Covid-19 So Far" from Antara: 22.24% of the targeted 40,349,051 recipients under the first and second phase of the vaccination program have received their first dose and 10.65% have got their second shot of the vaccine. According to the Health Ministry's estimates, it will take 15 months to vaccinate about 70% of the country's total population to build herd immunity against COVID-19. By March 2022, the government is targeting to inoculate about 181.5 million people in 34 provinces.
More...
Island: "Udayana University Epidemiologist: Vaccine Immunity Test in Bali Takes a Long Time" from Radar Bali (Indonesian)
Badung: "Badung Continues the Vaccination After the Green Zone is Complete" from Antara Bali (Indonesian)
Jembrana: "The Covid-19 Vaccination Festival in Gilimanuk Targets 6,000 in the Community" from Bali Express (Indonesian)
Health Protocols (Prokes) & Patrols
Bangli: "The Yustisi Team Finds 6 Prokes Violators During Raids on Jalan Kintamani-Tampaksiring" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian)
Buleleng: "Satpol PP Buleleng Net 2,979 Prokes Violators Since September 2020" from Nusa Bali (Indonesian)
"Kadisdikpora Called July the Start of Face-to-Face Learning in Bali, This is the Preparation" from Tribun Bali (Indonesian): Head of the Bali Education, Youth and Sports (Disdikpora) Office, Ketut Ngurah Boy Jayawibawa, said in addition to the application of health protocols (prokes), his party is also intensifying vaccinations for every school member, especially those who have met the vaccine requirements. "According to the July face-to-face study plan, we are now coordinating with the Health Office, so that as many as 16,110 public and private school teachers, including administrative staff, all get vaccines. Now, almost 25% of vaccinations [have been completed], and for the second phase of vaccines, hopefully it will be completed next month," he said.
"Due to the Covid-19 Pandemic, Many Unemployed Diploma Graduates in Bali" from Bisnis Bali (Indonesian): Bali residents with diploma level graduates are recorded as the most unemployed in Bali with a share of 13.5% of the total number of unemployed as of August 2020. This is followed by residents with education graduates at the level of vocational high school (10.12%), residents with high school level education (7.79%), and residents with university level education (5.26%).
"Artists in Bali Respond to NFT Craze" from The Jakarta Post: A non-fungible token (NFT) can authenticate digital assets like JPEG, GIF or MP4 files on a blockchain and thereby certify their originality and ownership. Royalties can be locked into contracts, so that artists receive cryptocurrency payments each time the NFT is resold after the initial sale. The NFT phenomenon has spread to Bali, and two artists, Monez and Jake Kobrin, have been quick to respond to what has been referred to as the crypto art craze.
Of Interest
"From Lampung to Bali, Hundreds of Confinement Points Are Spread Out to Anticipate Mudik Mobilization" from Bali Post (Indonesian)
"Minister Projects Visitor Influx at Tourist Destinations" from Antara
"To Attract Domestic Tourists, 20 Events Will Be Held in Bali Throughout 2021" from Kompas (Indonesian)
"Accelerating the Implementation of Smart Cities in Indonesia, the Ministry of Home Affairs Will Make Badung the Pilot Project" from Bali Prawara (Indonesian)
"House, Government Remain at Odds Over Data Protection Bill" from The Jakarta Post (Paywall)
"Balinese Farmers Are Not Prosperous" from Bisnis Bali (Indonesian)
"The Legend, the Poet Umbu Landu Paranggi Dies in Bali" from IDN Times 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.
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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