August 19, 2021
Bali reports new daily Covid death record + Hundreds of Australians evacuated from Bali on government flight + Megawati lays first stone in IDR900 billion Besakih Temple redevelopment + more
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Weather & Tides
Today’s Weather for Southern Bali
Today’s Tides
Meteorology, Climatology & Geophysics Council (Link)
Tide table from Tide-forecast.com.
Local Covid Numbers
*Note: Although Bali recorded its lowest daily total yesterday (734) in over a month (since July 13’s 723), daily fatalities were at their highest yet, with 66. This total passed the previous record of 51 on August 13.
Click here to see the national numbers infographic and a Regency-by-Regency breakdown of yesterday’s local numbers.
The Big News
"New Covid-19 Death Record: Majority Do Not Have Comorbidities" from Bali Post (Indonesian): The additional death toll from Covid-19 in Bali reached 66 on Wednesday, a new record. The majority of fatalities (39) did not have comorbidities, while the remaining 27 did have comorbidities. All districts reported additional deaths, with the most recorded in Denpasar (21), Badung (14), and Tabanan (10). Cumulative fatalities have now reached 2,871, comprising 2,865 Indonesian citizens and 6 foreigners. The five districts that have recorded the most number of deaths are Denpasar (654), Badung (472), Tabanan (416), Buleleng (402), and Karangasem (237).
Context: Although they recorded the most deaths among yesterday’s total, Denpasar, Badung, and Tabanan all have the province’s highest vaccination rates for the first dose. Further, these death totals do not directly correspond with population as some might assume. As of the 2020 census, Buleleng and Denpasar have the first and second highest populations, next is Badung, followed by Gianyar, then Karangasem. Tabanan, which has recorded the third-highest number of Covid deaths yesterday, has the second smallest population of all Bali districts, before Jembrana.
"‘We Were Crying’: Australians Board Relief Flight From Bali But Some Vow to Return" from The Sydney Morning Herald: 186 passengers and 13 crew boarded a flight from Bali organised by the Australian government on Wednesday. The Qantas service was the first commercial repatriation flight for Australians who had found it difficult to return home from virus-hit Indonesia. On the way over, it transported medical equipment donated by the government. For those trying to return to Australia, the halving of the international arrival cap and slashing of flights from Jakarta and Denpasar has been compounded by regional hub Singapore in July blocking transit from Indonesia, which has recorded more than 1000 COVID-19 deaths daily for more than a month. Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said about 1200 people had registered a desire to leave Indonesia, with about 350 last month identified as vulnerable. It meant only 15% of those who wanted to come home were able to get a spot on the plane to Darwin, but a DFAT spokesperson said the government was continuing to assist Australians to return including via a second repatriation flight from Indonesia. Some of those coming from Bali said they would return to the island.
Context: The medical equipment donated to Bali by the Australian government comprised 2,400 ventilators and around 3,000 medical-grade masks. The passengers on the repatriation flight are reportedly expected to pay the cost of their one-way flight to Australia, priced below AU$1,000 (US$726.40). This fee is said to be comparably cheaper than the cost of flying to Australia from Indonesia commercially. There were 80 Indonesian citizens who normally reside in Australia aboard the flight. ABC News has released a video report on the repatriation flight.
"Rp.900 Billion for Besakih Redevelopment, Megawati Lays First Stone" from Radar Bali (Indonesian): The redevelopment of the largest temple in Bali, Pura Agung Besakih, in Abang District, Karangasem Regency, has begun. Megawati Soekarnoputri laid the first stone virtually on Wednesday. Bali Governor Wayan Koster stated that the government has budgeted Rp.900 billion for renovations [about USD62.2 million]. "The budget comes from the State Budget of the Ministry of PUPR amounting to Rp.500 billion and the Regional Budget for the Province of Bali, which is worth Rp.400 billion," said Governor Wayan Koster. It is hoped that the construction will be completed in 2022. The groundbreaking of the construction was carried out by the fifth President of the Republic of Indonesia, Prof. Megawati Soekarnoputri. This is also a big sign. Why Megawati? "I am a Muslim. But because my grandmother is Balinese, I am also part of the Balinese. My grandmother is Bung Karno's mother," she said.
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Other Headlines
"Indonesia Reports 15,768 New Covid Cases, Lowest Tally since June 23" from The Jakarta Globe: There have been a total of 3.9 million Covid-19 cases in the country of 272 million since the pandemic began, according to government data. The total number of active cases stands at 343,203, a reduction by more than 15,000 on the total a day earlier. A further 1,128 Covid-19 deaths have been recorded in the past 24 hours, bringing the total fatality toll to 121,141. Indonesia began to see a dramatic surge in Covid-19 cases and deaths in late June, prompting the government to reimpose lockdown across Java and Bali and at least 45 cities and districts beyond the two islands. Earlier this month, the National Covid-19 Task Force claimed that the country has been past its peak after a steady decline in the daily number of active cases for two straight weeks from a record 574,135 active cases on July 24.
Vaccination Update
"Targeting Fishermen, Buleleng Police Open Covid-19 Vaccination Outlet at Sea" from iNews Bali (Indonesian): Buleleng Police made a new breakthrough to accelerate vaccination. Officers opened a vaccination service on a ship belonging to the Buleleng Police Polair Unit in the Kampung Baru Singaraja area, targeting fishermen who did not have time to take the vaccine. "This vaccine booth is for fishermen who are forced to go to sea to meet their economic needs, so they do not have time to participate in the vaccine booth program held by the National Police," said Buleleng Police Chief AKBP Andrian Pramudianto. From the vaccine booth at sea, 11 fishermen were injected with Sinovac vaccine by the Buleleng Police Primary Health Team. The Buleleng Police also held a social service to distribute basic necessities to 50 fishermen in the coastal areas of Kampung Baru and Kerobokan. This vaccine outlet breakthrough was made because Buleleng has a very large coastal area. " Activities at the vaccine booth in the middle at sea and social actions targeting fishermen will still be carried out next week in the West," said the Police Chief.
More...
Bangli: "Vaccination Services at Bangli Police Outlets Limited to 100 Per Day" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian)
Health Protocols (Prokes) & Health Services
"Sanjiwani Hospital Morgue Full, Local Government Will Find a Solution" from Bali Express (Indonesian): The morgue of the Sanjiwani Hospital in Gianyar is full. From a capacity of 44 bodies, currently the morgue is filled with 50 bodies. This condition was confirmed by the President Director of RSUD Sanjiwani Gianyar, Dr. Ida Komang Upeksa. For this condition, he hopes that the public can follow the recent PHDI Circular regarding the Protocol for Handling Corpses of Hindus in the COVID-19 Pandemic, which explains that one of the causes of accumulating bodies exceeding hospital storage capacity is because families of the deceased temporarily entrust the body to the hospital, in order to wait for an auspicious day to carry out the Pangabenan ceremony. Therefore, it is recommended that the body be kept for a maximum of two days. "This is our obstacle in the field," he said. Gianyar Regional Secretary Made Gede Wisnu Wijaya said his party will hold a meeting with PHDI and MDA Gianyar to find a solution regarding this matter.
Context: Yesterday we included this story about the recent circular letter from PHDI, the national Hindu authority.
More...
Nation: "Indonesia Reports 15,768 New Covid Cases, Lowest Tally Since June 23" from The Jakarta Globe
Badung: "Covid-19 Patients in Badung Immediately Taken to Central Isolation" from Nusa Bali (Indonesian)
Badung: "Number of Jimbaran Residents Refused Central Isolation" from Bali Post (Indonesian)
Jembrana: "Two Makers of Fake Rapid Test Results and Vaccine Certificate Arrested" from Radar Bali (Indonesian)
Economy & Infrastructure
"Disbursement of Village Funds to Bali Decreases" from Bisnis Bali (Indonesian): The realization of the distribution of village funds in the Province of Bali in the first half of 2021 has decreased compared to the same period last year. The distribution of Village Funds as of June 30, 2021 reached IDR 476 billion or 70.09% of the total ceiling. In the same period last year, the realization reached Rp 518.48 billion or 79.65% of the ceiling. Head of the Regional Office of the Bali Province Directorate General of Treasury Tru Budhianto said the realization was adjusted to the policy changes. This year, the distribution of village funds is adjusted to the achievements of each region. Villages that have faster realization of performance will get funds faster, and vice versa.
More…
Nation: "Trade Surplus Hits $2.59 Billion in July as Commodity Prices Rise" from The Jakarta Post (Metered Paywall)
Nation: "During Quarter II BRI Recorded IDR5.7 Billion in E-Transactions" from Bali Post (Indonesian)
Nation: "Satria Satellite to Drive Development of New Economic Centers" from Antara
Nation: "How China and Japan are Competing Over Indonesia’s Car Industry" from The Diplomat
Nation: "Indonesia Aims to Reach Net Zero Emissions by 2060 or Sooner" from The Jakarta Globe
Nation: "World Recognized Business Model, Bobobox Enters Forbes Asia List" from Bali Express (Indonesian)
"Indonesia's Economic Recovery Goals Pushed Back to 2022" from The Jakarta Post (Metered Paywall): The macroeconomic assumptions of a recently released 2022 state budget draft reflect the expectation that Indonesia’s economy will largely return to pre-pandemic conditions by 2022, a postponement of predictions outlined in the 2021 budget. The 2022 draft presumes that some key macroeconomic indicators such as gross domestic product (GDP) growth, the inflation rate and the poverty rate will return to levels seen in 2019 or earlier by next year, but economists warn that downside risks loom. The government expects GDP to grow up to 5.5% next year on the back of reforms set in motion, in part, by the Job Creation Law. The forecast matches the approximately 5% growth seen in the years before the pandemic. “Of course, this requires hard work, including quite deep reforms so that our economy becomes more productive,” Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati said.
"Herd Immunity in Jakarta a 'Pipe Dream', Expert Says" from The Jakarta Post (Metered Paywall): Jakarta has carried out an exemplary COVID-19 vaccination acceleration since President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo ordered the capital to inoculate 7.5 million out of 10.5 million residents before the end of this month in order to achieve “herd immunity”. Jokowi did not specify whether the target was for the first or the second doses, but this accounts for slightly over 70% of Jakarta’s population -- a conventional threshold for herd immunity even though herd immunity means people need to be fully vaccinated. The city had managed to administer the first doses to 7.5 million people by late July, a month earlier than expected, and the number grew to 9 million on Sunday, slightly over the target of 8.9 million. To further slow down transmission as infections begin to trend downward, Jakarta had now added 2.2 million more people to the list of targeted recipients, Governor Anies Baswedan said on Instagram on Sunday. Deputy Governor Ahmad Riza Patria is optimistic that Jakarta will soon reach herd immunity. But experts say Jakarta still has a long way to go, especially since fewer than 50% of the targeted recipients in the capital have been fully vaccinated.
"Viral Billboards in Bali Taken Down for Miswriting Covid 91" from iNews Bali (Indonesian): A billboard that was mistyped went viral on social media. The billboard that reads Covid 91 was installed in Tabanan, Bali. It attracted the attention of residents, because the billboard measuring 3x5 meters was right next to the billboard for the Regent and Deputy Regent of Tabanan at the intersection of Jalan Ir Soekarno. "Indeed, it was there a few days ago. After it went viral, it was taken down," said Rafa, a Tabanan resident. An account uploaded a video of this misspelled billboard that was viewed 52,000 times and received hundreds of comments. The Tabanan Regency Government (Pemkab) said the billboards did not belong to the government. The billboards are privately owned for promotional purposes, but it is not yet known who installed them.
Of Interest
"Riding the Wave: The Panturas on Repopularizing Surf Rock in Indonesia" from The Jakarta Post
"Origins of Pendet Dance, A Serving Dance for the Ancestors" from Suara Bali (Indonesian)
"4 Meanings of Bhuta Yadnya Ritual in Bali, for Balance of Nature" from IDN Times Bali (Indonesian)
"5 Exhausted Teenagers Rescued Following Hike Up Mount Agung" from Coconuts Bali
"Kendari SAR Team Continues Search for 30 Stranded Students" from Antara
"Allegedly Sleepy, Consecutive Collisions Occur on the Mengwi-Singaraja Highway" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian)
"What is La Nina and its Impact on Indonesia" from Kompas (Indonesian)
"30 Years of Protest Against Inscription Mistakes, Veteran's Family Feels Ignored" from Radar Bali (Indonesian)
"2 Meter Long Python Enters Kitchen" from Bali Post (Indonesian)
"Two Tanzanians to Be Deported From Bali" from Antara
"Hugging a Banyan Tree and Behaving Strangely, Two Foreigners Arrested in Legian" from Radar 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 with Bali Solidarity. 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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