December 15, 2021
Private firms to be allowed to import vaccines + Bali Airport traffic up 36% + 7.5 magnitude quake rocks Flores + more
Good morning!
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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.
Daily Covid Update
National Figures
Note: The official nationwide chart from the Indonesia National Disaster Management Agency had not been released at the time of press.
Local Figures
The Big News
“Indonesian Pharma Firms to Be Allowed to Import Vaccines Directly” from Reuters: Private pharmaceutical companies in Indonesia will be permitted to directly import COVID-19 vaccines to “balance the market”, the country’s health minister said on Tuesday. Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin made the announcement during an update on the country’s vaccine program. The government was forced to rescind a private vaccine programme earlier this year following widespread public outcry over vaccine inequity. “Vaccines that have permits from the WHO, Indonesia’s Drug and Food Agency and technical advisory group can be imported by registered drug and pharmaceutical companies,” he said. Allowing pharmaceutical companies to sell directly to the public would provide “balance in the market and (give) society more choices”, he said, adding that prices would be capped by the ministry.
“Bali Ngurah Rai Airport Passenger Traffic Increases 36%” from Tribun Bali (Indonesian): Domestic passenger traffic at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali continues to experience positive growth. From Air Traffic Data for the period 1-12 December, 266,249 domestic passengers have been served, with a daily average of 22,187 passengers. "Passenger traffic for 12 days at the beginning of December has increased by 36% compared to the previous month in the same period," said Stakeholder Relations Manager Angkasa Pura I (Persero) I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport, Bali, Taufan Yudhistira, on Tuesday. The highest passenger arrivals in that period occurred on December 3, recording 13,543 passengers, followed by December 10, 2021 reaching 13,447 passengers. "The upward trend is still the same, occurring on weekends, from Friday to Sunday," added Taufan.
Context: In related news, Batik Air will begin flying a new route from Bali to Jakarta’s Halim Airport on December 15.
“7.5 Magnitude Earthquake Rocks Flores” from The Jakarta Globe: A magnitude 7.5 earthquake was reported 95 kilometers north of Maumere, East Nusa Tenggara, at 10:13 a.m., the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency said on Tuesday. BMKG initially said the quake might potentially trigger a tsunami but revised it a few minutes later, saying the earthquake did not trigger a tsunami. Still, the agency called for the locals to remain cautious about any aftershocks in the region. Maumere, Mbay, Ende Ruteng, and Larantuka all felt very strong shaking. Videos shared on social media showed people in Maumere running out to the streets. Flores last suffered a devastating earthquake and tsunami on Dec 12, 1992, when a quake with a magnitude of 7.8 claimed the lives of at least 2,500 people, including 1,490 at Maumere and 700 at Babi Island.
Context: Other reports noted the detection of a 7cm tsunami, that there were at least 15 aftershocks, and that over 230 houses were damaged.
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Other Headlines
“Only 45 Foreign Tourists to Bali in 2021” from Radar Bali (Indonesian): The Bali Provincial Tourism Office noted that in 2021, the number of foreign tourists who came to Bali was not zero. "There were 45 foreign tourists visiting. These are from those who arrived at Benoa Harbor, Yacht Ships," said Gunandika, as Head of Tourism Market Development from the Bali Provincial Tourism Office on Monday. When compared to last year, or 2020, the number of foreign tourists visiting Bali in a year is still 1,050,504 people. When compared to 2018 and 2019, the number of visits is also very far. In 2018 it reached 6,070,472, and in 2019 there were 6,275,210 foreign tourists. On the other hand, Bali Governor Wayan Koster had asked the tourism community in Bali to be patient. If it goes wrong, it will be very difficult to fix it again.
Context: The figure of 45 only refers to those who arrived via sea to Benoa port and the story did not supply a comparative pre-Covid-19 figure to provide context. As there are no international direct flights, tourists have been approaching Bali via Jakarta, often on B211 business visas and are not officially counted as tourists.
Vaccination Update
“Vaccination Rate Declines Despite Abundant Stock” from Tempo: Indonesia's Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin said that the rate of Covid-19 vaccination has decreased over the past six weeks. He said that in October the inoculation rate was almost two million shots per day, and since November it has reduced by half. The slowdown, Budi said, is because the government is now focusing on vaccinating people living in secondary, more remote cities. Only 13 provinces have met the first dose target of 70% of the population. High population provinces that have not met the target are: West Java, North Sumatra, South Sumatra, West Sumatra, Riau, and South Sulawesi, he said.
More...
Badung: “North Kuta Targets 60 Vaccinations” from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian)
Health Protocols (Prokes) & Health Services
“Govt Re-evaluating PPKM Regarding International Travel in Light of Omicron” from Tempo: The Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Uno, said on Tuesday that there are roughly 3,000 people who travel overseas on a daily basis. “This is worrying as it potentially increases the chance to let in the new variant and may spark another Covid-19 case spike,” he said. Jokowi, according to Sandiaga, also said that any overseas travels must be based on clear reasons and not for leisure activities. The government is currently evaluating the PPKM that will be adjusted to the year-end holidays amid the emergence of the Covid-19 omicron variant in a number of countries.
Context: The suggestion of revised PPKM rules to tackle overseas leisure travel builds on news from yesterday of a minister requesting people only travel domestically.
More...
Nation: “Quarantine is Indonesia's Key to Prevent Omicron” from Antara
Nation: “Parents Must Report Adverse Reactions to Covid Vaccine” from Antara
Nation: “4,272 Prokes Violations During Operation Zebra Rinjani 2021 in NTB” from Suara Bali (Indonesian)
Province: “Some G20 Delegations Cancel Travel to Bali Over Omicron” from Bali Bisnis (Indonesian)
Economy & Infrastructure
“AP I Will Open Three Airports to Development With Foreigners” from CNBC Indonesia (Indonesian): Airport operator PT Angkasa Pura I plans to cooperate with foreigners for the development of the three airports it manages. President Director of Angkasa Pura I Faik Fahmi said that currently potential investors for the development have begun to express their interest. The airports that will be cooperated are Ngurah Rai International Airport, Bali; Lombok Zainuddin Abdul Madjid International Airport, Lombok; and Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport, Makassar. He said, for Lombok airport, there are currently potential foreign partners who have expressed interest in developing 550-hectares of land. Then, the Bali airport is still waiting for the return of international passenger traffic. It is estimated that this step will begin to be carried out in 2022 after tourists begin to return to the airport.
Education
“Children's Vaccinations Not Mandatory for Face-to-face Learning” from Antara: The Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology has stated that COVID-19 vaccinations for children ages 6 to 11 years is not a mandatory requirement during face-to-face learning in schools. "We do not require vaccination as a condition for face-to-face learning, but vaccination supports and boosts our safety so that we can carry out learning well," the Director-General of Early Childhood Education, Basic and Secondary Education at the ministry, Jumeri, said on Tuesday. He said that vaccinations are essential to protect children ages 6 to 11 years so they can participate in the learning process. "We want to expedite the recovery of learning, and to achieve that our children must be able to partake in normal face-to-face learning. Vaccinations are a big asset for us when supporting face-to-face learning, but not as an obligation," he said.
Context: According to media reports yesterday, the government’s intention is to vaccinate all children aged 6 to 11.
Bali Reopening
“Occupancy Rate of Star Hotels in Bali Edges Up” from Bali Bisnis (Indonesian): Room occupancy rates for five-star hotels in Bali are increasing towards the end of the year. This condition is inversely proportional to the previous months which were below the average 1 to 4 star hotel. Based on data from the Central Statistics Agency, the occupancy of 5-star hotels in Bali in October 2021 reached 20.65%, up from 11.61% in the previous month. Since January 2021, the occupancy of 5-star hotels in Bali has ranged from 5 to 12%, except for June 2021 which also reached a record high with an occupancy of 22.61%. Meanwhile, 4-star hotels in Bali also increased their occupancy to 18.26% from 9.33% in the previous month. Likewise with 3-star hotels which rose from 7.32% in September 2021 to 13.93% in October 2021. Occupancy of 2-star hotels in Bali rose from 8.5% in September 2021 to 12.14% in October 2021. The highest occupancy occurred in 1-star hotels, which was 25.38%, up from 6.74% compared to September 2021.
Context: Elsewhere, media quoted the Karangasem Hotel Association as saying there had been no bookings over the Christmas and New Year’s holiday period (Indonesian) while the Badung Hotel Association has predicted visitor arrivals of up to 15,000 arrivals per day (Indonesian).
More...
“Hotels in Buleleng Ready to Accept Tourists” from Bali Express (Indonesian)
“Volume of Waste Entering Sea Down 15.3% in 2018-2020” from Antara: The volume of waste drifting into the sea reduced by 15.3% during the 2018–2020 period, Assistant Deputy for Waste Management at the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment Rofi Alhanif has said. "We have calculated the figure in the past two years. In general, we have been able to reduce 15.3% of the waste which drifted into the sea," he said on Tuesday. However, the reduction is still far from the target of reducing marine debris by 70% by 2025, as stated in Presidential Regulation Number 83/2018 on the Handling of Marine Debris, he said. Five National Action Plans have been devised to realize the target, Alhanif said. They comprise a national movement to increase stakeholder awareness; waste management on land; waste management in coastal and marine areas; funding mechanisms, institutional strengthening, supervision, and regulation; as well as research and development, he said.
Context: The state of Bali’s southern beaches has received considerable media coverage this week, with photos of the beaches also reaching the international press.
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Of Interest
“Guests Fined IDR 4 Million for Sullying Bed Sheets at Hard Rock Hotel Bali” from Coconuts Bali
“Flash Floods in Nusa Penida Allegedly Due to Closed Water Flow to the Sea” from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian)
“Two Turkish Citizens Arrested After Installing Skimming Equipment on ATMs” from Radar Bali (Indonesian)
“Canggu Residents and Officials Clean Beach” from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian)
“Casualty Count in Mount Semeru Eruption Reaches 48” from Antara
Bali Comedy Club: Bali’s premier standup comedy club, with events on tonight, Friday & Sunday this week. Dec. 11 (Link)
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How You Can Help Bali
Due to the collapse of the tourism sector in Bali, tens of thousands of families have found themselves with a greatly reduced income—if any. If you’d like to support organizations working to help those in need, you can see a list of some here.
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