August 20, 2021
95% of Wednesday's Covid deaths in Denpasar unvaccinated + PPKM is here to stay for duration of pandemic says government + Task force cautions of Covid surge in coming weeks + 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: After 3 days below 1,000 cases, yesterday’s total was back over 1,000 (1,032). Deaths remained high, with 62, bringing this month’s total fatalities to 749.
Click here to see the national numbers infographic and a Regency-by-Regency breakdown of yesterday’s local numbers.
The Big News
"95% of Covid Deaths in Denpasar Have Not Been Vaccinated Against Covid-19" from Radar Bali (Indonesian): Confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Denpasar continue to grow. On Wednesday there was an addition of 176 people. Of this amount, it turns out that as many as 51.70% or as many as 91 people are known to have not been vaccinated. Not only increasing cases, Covid-19 patients who died also jumped by 21 people. The Covid-19 Task Force revealed that of the 21 who died, 20 of them had not been vaccinated. This means that 95% of Covid-19 patients who died in Denpasar on Wednesday were residents who had not been vaccinated against Covid-19. Spokesperson for the Denpasar City Covid-19 Task Force, I Dewa Gede Rai, when confirmed, explained that the trend of transmission for people who had not been vaccinated was still high. "So people are expected to follow the vaccination," said Dewa Rai.
"Here to Stay: Government Needs ‘Consistency’ to Make PPKM Work" from The Jakarta Post (Metered Paywall): The government has insisted it will stick to its multi-tiered public activity restrictions (PPKM) regime until the pandemic is over, but the jury is out on whether the current problems plaguing the system will be ironed out before further COVID-19 spikes occur in the future. These problems, as suggested by epidemiologists, include unreliable COVID-19 data, inconsistent use of health indicators to establish the severity level of restrictions, and a lagging vaccination drive. The government decision was announced by Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Minister Luhut Pandjaitan on Monday, along with a PPKM extension for Java and Bali until Aug. 23. Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin predicted that COVID-19 would be endemic within five or 10 years -- thus everyone must learn to live with it. He said the government had to devise health protocols to balance between protecting public health and keeping the economy running, citing the opening of shopping malls for vaccinated visitors as an example. “We will apply [a similar principle] for industry, transportation, religious [activities], education, and tourism. All of our activities will be adjusted.”
"Spokesperson Cautions of Covid-19 Case Surge in Upcoming Three Weeks" from Antara: The government’s spokesperson for COVID-19 handling, Reisa Broto Asmoro, urged the public to remain alert to a potential increase in the number of daily confirmed cases in the subsequent three weeks. The spokesperson noted that the PeduliLindungi apps had recorded over one million public visits to shopping centers or malls to date. Hence, she emphasized that regional governments should issue their approval gradually on community activities and mobility as well as the reopening of public facilities. Furthermore, she informed that an evaluation will be conducted on a weekly basis to quickly respond to any changes regarding the pandemic’s impact on the people. Hence, she urged the public to not harbor concerns about the weekly extension of PPKM. "A trial implementation will be conducted using the PeduliLindungi apps in four agglomeration areas in Java and Bali – the Greater Jakarta, Greater Bandung (in West Java), Greater Semarang (in Central Java), and Gerbangkertosusila (in East Java)," she remarked.
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Other Headlines
"Bali Ministry of Law and Human Rights States that Return of Australian Citizens is Not Repatriation" from iNews Bali (Indonesian): A total of 97 Australians left Bali on Wednesday. Head of the Regional Office of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights (Kemenkumham) Bali, Jamaruli Manihuruk, stated that the return was not repatriation. "This is not repatriation, for repatriation all passengers are Australian citizens. This is a normal return," he said. "Not everything is facilitated by the Australian Government. Indeed, the government intervenes because there are Australian citizens, so the Australian government also provides facilities, maybe only flight permits so that Indonesian citizens depart." In addition to the 97 foreigners, there are 80 Indonesian citizens who have lived in Australia for a long time or already have permanent/permanent residence permits so that they can take part in the flight. The details of the passengers are 80 Indonesian citizens, 97 Australians, two British, one German, one Irish, three Syrian, one New Zealander, and one Turkish citizen. "This is not repatriation. This is their intention to go home because there are no planes, but with facilities (commercial flights) from the private sector and they pay for tickets like ordinary passengers. If this is evacuation, it will be facilitated in its entirety including tickets."
Context: As well as permits for Indonesian citizens to enter Australia, the Australian government also provided the Qantas plane.
Vaccination Update
"Data on Vaccine Stocks, Distribution Available on SMILE App: Ministry" from Antara: The Health Ministry has made information regarding COVID-19 vaccine stocks and their distribution available to the public through the SMILE application. "Records of vaccine and logistics of COVID-19 vaccinations using logistics electronic monitoring system (SMILE) can now be accessed by the public," spokesperson for COVID-19 vaccinations for the Health Ministry, Siti Nadia Tarmizi, said. The SMILE application was developed from the Health Ministry's vaccination dashboard, which can be accessed via the Health Ministry website, she informed. Logistics records and reports available on the SMILE application include vaccine batch numbers, expiry dates, logistics of received vaccines, allocated vaccines, amount of vaccines administered, and the number of bad or expired vaccines, she said. "In the vaccine distribution process, it is recorded in the vaccine distribution application that is connected to SMILE, which will record according to the batch numbers, expiry dates of vaccines received from the distributors who sent it at each level," she elaborated.
Context: Click here to access the Health Ministry’s vaccination dashboard.
More...
Nation: "Pfizer Vaccine Arrives in Indonesia" from Antara Bali (Indonesian)
Province: "Bali Speeds Up Vaccination for People with Disabilities" from Bisnis Bali (Indonesian)
Badung: "1,822 Pregnant Women in Badung Vaccinated Moderna" from Bali Express (Indonesian)
Bangli: "BNPB Checks Effectiveness of Community-based Landslide Early Warning Tools in Bangli" from Antara Bali (Indonesian)
Denpasar: "Wangaya Hospital Provides Vaccinations for 300-400 Per Day" from Antara Bali (Indonesian)
Denpasar: "CCEP Indonesia Holds Gotong Royong Vaccination Program" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian)
Gianyar: "Gianyar Receives Moderna Vaccines" from Bali Post (Indonesian)
Health Protocols (Prokes) & Health Services
"Jembrana Health Service Finds 7 Uncertified Rapid Test Providers" from Radar Bali (Indonesian): The proliferation of clinics or places that provide rapid antigen tests at Gilimanuk Harbor, Jembrana, Bali has become a serious concern for the Jembrana Health Service (Diskes). Based on the guidance and monitoring in the field, Diskes found that there were allegations of violations committed by the rapid antigen test service provider. One of them is related to health workers as well as sampling and swab officers who do not have certificates and SIP (practice licenses). The findings of the Jembrana District Health Office regarding the large number of health workers (nakes) as well as rapid and swab sampling officers at a number of clinics in Gilimanuk Harbor immediately drew public attention. It is in the spotlight because apart from not having a practice permit (SIP), the health workers and officers taking the antigen rapid test also do not have certificates or training as experts. Head of the Jembrana District Health Office, I Gusti Bagus Ketut Oka Parwata, stated that there were seven rapid test clinics around Gilimanuk Port that had received warnings.
More...
Nation: "PPKM Lowers Daily Covid-19 Case Count: Healthy Ministry's Spokesperson" from Antara
Province: "Health Facilities in Bali Setting PCR Prices Above IDR 495,00 Will Receive Warning" from Tribun Bali (Indonesian)
Badung: "PPKM Level 4 in Badung, Hundreds of Businesses Reprimanded and Receive Sanctions" from Bali Post (Indonesian)
Jembrana: "Central Isolation Full, 25 People Still Undergoing Independent Isolation" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian)
Economy & Infrastructure
"Indonesia's Digital Economy Grows to US$44 Billion" from Business Times: The Indonesian government has been taking concrete policy steps in recent years to advance its digital transformation agenda and while steady progress is already being made in that direction, the good news is that the pace of change is expected to accelerate. Indonesia's digital economy expanded by 11% to US$44 billion in 2020 from US$40 billion in 2019, showing resilience amid the Covid-19 pandemic that wreaks havoc on online transportation, food and travel services, says Hastin A B Dumadi, Head of the Economic Department in the Embassy of Indonesia in Singapore. Significantly, Indonesia pulled out of recession in the April to June quarter, reporting its strongest annual growth rate in 17 years. South-east Asia's largest economy grew by a healthy 7.07% in the second quarter of this year compared with a year ago, its first expansion in five quarters. The digital economy contributed 4% of the country's gross domestic product (GDP) in 2020. In 10 years, or by 2030, the GDP will grow from Rp 15,400 trillion to Rp 24,000 trillion, according to Indonesian Trade Minister Muhammad Lutfi.
More...
Province: "Deputy Governor: Bali's Economic Growth Has Not Been Significant" from Bisnis Bali (Indonesian)
Denpasar: "Minimal Traditional Ceremony Activities During PPKM, This Balinese Traditional Clothing Distributor Experiences 50% Decrease in Turnover" from Tribun Bali (Indonesian)
Gianyar: "Gianyar to Build 36 TPS3R, Project Worth Rp 20 Billion Takes Place This Year" from Tribun Bali (Indonesian)
Gianyar: "Bamboo Bridge in Tegalalang Heavily Damaged" from Nusa Bali (Indonesian)
Karangasem: "Two Months of PDAM Water Not Flowing, Sidemen Residents Turn to River for Water" from Radar Bali (Indonesian)
Education
"President Allows Face-to-Face Study Option If All Students Have Been Vaccinated" from Bali Prawara (Indonesian)
"Bali Hopes to Become Essential Travelers Destination" from Bisnis Bali (Indonesian): Bali hopes to become one of the provinces where essential travelers arrive, although the arrival of foreign tourists in this category will not be enough to encourage Bali's economic recovery. The Deputy Governor of Bali, Tjokorda Oka Artha Ardana Sukawati, assessed that many business people and essential travelers who came to Indonesia wanted Bali as a quarantine location. After being quarantined in Bali, only the business people and essential travelers will go to their destination such as Jakarta and other provinces. "This may be a two-year thirst quencher for tourism friends, so that there will be foreign tourists coming to Bali, even though it doesn't significantly affect the Balinese economy, but the flames are still there, so the spirit is still there," he said.
"‘Limited’ Constitutional Amendment Push Sparks Criticism" from The Jakarta Post: The People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) signaled this week that it would move forward with a plan for a “limited amendment” to the 1945 Constitution, following talks with the executive branch of the government. But concerns abound that the change could upend the country’s democratic system, with skeptics calling the revival of state policy guidelines “unnecessary”. In a speech on Monday at the annual state of the nation address, MPR Speaker Bambang Soesatyo claimed it was necessary for the body to introduce so-called state policy outlines (PPHN) to guide national development over the next 50 to 100 years, a clear echo of the state policy guidelines (GBHN) of the New Order era. Through the PPHN, he suggested, the state’s long-term strategic plans could be realized sustainably and without being redirected by periodic changes in government. “A limited amendment to the 1945 Constitution is needed, particularly the addition of the MPR’s authority to determine PPHN,” Bambang said during Monday’s joint executive and legislative session.
"Denpasar City Government Develops Blockchain Technology to Accommodate Content Creators" from Antara Bali (Indonesian): The Denpasar City Government through the Creative Economy Agency has responded to the development of Blockchain technology, one of which is through Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) that accommodation content creators and artists marketing various works such as photos, videos, paintings, animations, songs, and others to reach global markets. Mayor of Denpasar, IGN Jaya Negara, said his party welcomes the development of Blockchain technology and NFTs and will accommodate creative resources in Denpasar City to become more global. "Seeing the potential of creative activists in Denpasar is very large and there is a lot of potential that can be extracted from it. Moreover, seeing the many limitations of artists/content creators working during the pandemic, this can be a solution."
Of Interest
"Indonesia Tries to Embrace Chinese Language but Problems Persist" from The Conversation
"KPI Warns TV Station Over Depiction of ‘Thighs, Breasts, and Buttocks’ by Airing Baywatch Movie" from Coconuts Jakarta
"Amid Crackdown on Satire, President Jokowi’s Son Free to Parody Politics" from Coconuts Jakarta
"Active Pioneer of Lontar Bali Digitization, Carma Citrawati Receives Award from Wikimedia Foundation" from Tribun Bali (Indonesian)
"Impact of Bad Weather, Thousands of Turtle Eggs on Watu Klotok Beach Rot" from Radar Bali (Indonesian)
"Unidentified Body Found on Beach Near Ngurah Rai Airport" from iNews Bali (Indonesian)
"‘Do You Know Bali?’: Why Is the Island More Well-known Than Indonesia?" from Coconuts Bali
Weekend Reads
"Slavery to Advocacy: How One Fisherman is Fighting Abuse at Sea" from The Jakarta Post
"How We Can Do Better: No Rose-tinted Glasses: Inside Indonesia's Human Rights Organizations" from The Jakarta Post
"Poverty, Disease, Customs: Why So Many Indonesian Children Die of Covid" from The New York Times
"Red Cross Sounds Vaccines Alarm as Covid Deaths in South East Asia Soar" from The Guardian
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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