December 2, 2021
Quarantine extended to 10 days + Omicron not yet detected in Indonesia + Vaccine rates fall as people wait for vaccine of choice + more
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Weather & Tides
Today’s Weather for Southern Bali
Today’s Tides
Meteorology, Climatology & Geophysics Council (Link)
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Daily Covid Update
National Figures
Local Figures
The Big News
“Foreign Quarantine Extended from 7 to 10 Days” from Kompas (Indonesian): The Coordinator for the Implementation of the Java-Bali PPKM Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan stated that the quarantine period for foreigners and Indonesian citizens traveling abroad was increased to ten days from the previous seven. This rule applies to foreign travelers who come from countries outside the 11 countries that have been banned from entering Indonesia. This step was taken taking into account the increasing number of countries detecting Omicron variants. This quarantine extension will take effect from December 3, 2021. "Of course, the policies taken will continue to be evaluated periodically while we continue to understand and explore information about this new variant," Luhut said on Wednesday.
“Omicron Variant Not Yet Detected in Indonesia” from Tempo: A spokesman for the National COVID-19 Task Force, Wiku Adisasmito, confirmed there has been no case of a new coronavirus variant B.1.1.529 or the Omicron variant. “As of this morning, there has been no finding of the Omicron case,” said Wiku on Wednesday. According to him, the government would apply multi-layered screening of foreign or Indonesian citizens coming from abroad in an effort to prevent the entry of the new variant. The government had also banned the entry of citizens from 11 countries following the presence of the new variant.
Context: Other media covered the President’s directive to ministers to remain vigilant with regard to new variants.
“Vaccinations Fall Due to Improved Conditions, People Waiting for Vaccine of Choice” from Antara: The number of COVID-19 vaccinations has shown a decline possibly due to the improved condition and controlled coronavirus transmission in Indonesia, spokesperson for COVID-19 vaccinations at the Health Ministry, Siti Nadia Tarmizi, said on Wednesday. "If we look at the declining number in vaccination, maybe the factor is because the virus transmission is getting lower," she said. The decline in the vaccination rate can also be attributed to people's tendency to choose certain brands of vaccines, Tarmizi added.
Context: Don’t forget you can follow Bali’s vaccine progress on the Sunday evening Bali Beat edition.
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Other Headlines
“Gianyar Anticipates Omicron Variant, Warns People Shouldn't Slack Prokes” from Bali Express (Indonesian): The public is advised to remain vigilant in the face of the emergence of the Covid-19 mutation with the new variant of Omicron. In addition, a number of efforts and steps are being carried out by the Gianyar Regency Health Office to prevent the transmission of the new variant of Covid-19. "The most important thing is the implementation of health procedures by the community and supervision by the Task Force in all situations," said the Head of the Gianyar Regency Health Office, dr. Ida Komang Upeksa, on Wednesday. Moreover, it is now entering the end of 2021 where people generally carry out celebrations or various activities to welcome the turn of the year. "Situations like this must be strictly monitored, lest they create new clusters," he added.
Context: Other media covered Bali Airport preparing special facilities for Omicron’s detection (Indonesian).
Vaccination Update
“Gov't Mulling Vaccine Boosters Over Omicron Concerns” from Antara: The government is considering rolling out booster vaccinations amid concerns over the Omicron variant of the coronavirus, COVID-19 Task Force spokesperson and expert team chief, Wiku Bakti Bawono Adisasmito, said on Tuesday. However, the present focus is on getting people to complete the first and second dose of vaccination, he said. "First and second (vaccination) should be done. Once it is complete, if there are immunity levels remaining, then the third would not be needed," he said. "If the immunity rate is decreasing, then we use the third dose. Make sure that the first and second doses are completed," he said.
Context: Other news reported a decision on boosters may be made towards the end of December.
More...
Nation: “The Social Dilemma of Boosters in Indonesia” from The Jakarta Post (Metered Paywall)
Nation: “Number of Second Dose Recipients Reaches 96.5 Million” from Antara
Health Protocols (Prokes) & Health Services
More...
Nation: “Four Mataram Beaches Will be Closed 24 Dec. to 2 Jan.” from Suara Bali (Indonesian)
Nation: “Church Community Wants Christmas Worship to Be Done Virtually” from Antara Bali (Indonesian)
Province: “Deputy Governor of Bali Invites People to Fight AIDS” from Antara Bali (Indonesian)
Denpasar: “Prokes Violators in Denpasar Are Prosecuted” from Suara Bali (Indonesian)
Economy & Infrastructure
“Indonesia AirAsia Parent Cuts Nine-month Loss Despite Revenue Collapse” from Flight Global: The parent company of Indonesia AirAsia narrowed its nine-month operating loss, despite reporting a significant plunge in revenue. For the nine months to 30 September, AirAsia Indonesia was IDR 1.47 trillion in the red at the operating level. This compares to the IDR 2 trillion operating loss it posted a year ago. Revenue for the period plummeted 65% year on year to IDR 487 billion, as the carrier halted all operations during Indonesia’s worst wave of coronavirus infections in the middle of the year. The collapse in passenger revenue was offset by a slight uptick in cargo, as well as charter, revenue for the nine-month period.
More...
Province: “Luhut Laments Average Bali Tourist Level of Spending” from Tempo
Province: “Bali Exports to American Samoa for the First Time” from Bali Bisnis (Indonesian)
Province: “Cooking Oil Price Rises to IDR 20,000, Traders Complain” from Suara Bali (Indonesian)
Denpasar: “DLHK Denpasar Proposes to Build an Incinerator” from Nusa Bali (Indonesian)
Jembrana: “Organic Rice Begins to be Developed in Jembrana” from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian)
Education
“After 37 Denpasar Students and Teachers Test Positive, Tracing Begins” from Bali Post (Indonesian): According to Plt. Denpasar Head of Education and Youth, IGN Edy Mulya, accompanied by the spokesman for the Covid-19 Task Force, Dewa Gede Rai, Wednesday, continued to follow up after finding positive results for students and teachers. In addition to having returned the online learning process, tracing is also carried out. "This tracing has been handled by the Health Department," said Edy Mulya. Asked about the number of people being traced, Edy Mulya admitted that following the pattern of one person being tested positive, he had to trace nine people who had contact. "We apply one in nine only," he said.
Bali Reopening
“Immigration Issues 153 Tourist Visas Since October” from Tempo: The Directorate General of Immigration has issued tourist visas as the government reopened the country’s borders to international visitors from 19 countries since October 2021. Since October, the Director-General of Immigration has approved 153 requests for tourist visas. Most of them from France, India, and Sweden. Immigration DG spokesman Arya Pradhana Anggakara on Wednesday said that the application for a tourism visa requires a guarantor from a travel agency. “The tourist visa is only valid for entry through two airports, namely Hang Nadim in Batam and Ngurah Rai in Denpasar,” he said.
Context: Meanwhile Governor Koster announced visits to Bali have reached 20,000 per day (Indonesian). Other media reported an over 21% increase in foreign tourist arrivals to 151,000 for October with over 52% coming from Timor Leste (Indonesian).
More...
“Tourism Recovery Faces Setback Amid Fresh Covid-19 Scare” from The Jakarta Post (Metered Paywall)
“Papuan Student Demonstration in Denpasar Leads to Chaos” from Bali Bisnis (Indonesian): The demonstration by the Papuan Student Alliance on Jalan Raya Puputan, Denpasar ended in chaos on Wednesday. In a video uploaded to the Instagram account @majeliskopi08, the students are seen carrying wood and throwing stones at other groups on the highway. From the information uploaded by the video, AMP Bali initially held a demonstration which was attended by around 35 people. The action was carried out in commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence of West Papua. The action, which did not get permission from the police, was then met with opposition from the community organization Patriot Garuda Nusantara which eventually led to chaos.
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Of Interest
“Indonesia’s Phone Number Recycling May Result in Data Leaks” from The Jakarta Post (Metered Paywall)
“JRX Arrested for Allegedly Threatening Social Media Activist” from Radar Bali (Indonesian)
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