February 10, 2022
Some isolation facilities fill up as Bali confirms 2,556 new Covid-19 cases + 7,000 Nusa Dua tourism workers get boosters + Sanur beach merchants told not to cause problems over relocations + 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.
Daily Covid Update
National Figures
Local Figures
The Big News
“2,556 Covid-19 Cases Confirmed in Bali, Isoster Almost Full” from Radar Bali (Indonesian): The third wave of Covid-19 cases in Bali has been unstoppable. On February 9, according to data from the Covid-19 Handling Task Force in Bali, the number that was confirmed positive today was 2,556. Cases that increased dramatically also made the centralized isolation almost full, in particular, the isoter in Denpasar, where on February 9, there were 968 additional confirmed cases of Covid-19. Spokesman for the Denpasar City Covid-19 Task Force, I Dewa Gede Rai, on Wednesday stated that the Central Isolation Center in Denpasar City was already full. "It has been filled 90% as of today," he said. The daily positive cases are highest in Denpasar, followed by Badung, Tabanan and Gianyar.
Context: Governor Koster stated that 90% of Bali’s Covid-19 cases possess mild symptoms (Indonesian), and bed occupancy in Denpasar Hospitals is over 44% (Indonesian). Hospitals are expanding their bed allotments for Covid-19 patients in Buleleng (Indonesian), while in Karangasem new isolation locations are being inspected (Indonesian), and cases at Sanglah Hospital have soared (Indonesian). Visits to malls in Bali are down (Indonesian) and 21 members of the State Prosecutor's Office have tested positive (Indonesian).
“7,000 Tourism Workers in Nusa Dua Receive Boosters” from Tribun Bali (Indonesian): Indonesia Tourism Development Corporation held a Covid-19 booster vaccination activity for three days from 7-9 February 2022. "With the policy for a booster vaccine, we immediately started implementing a booster in The Nusa Dua area, which we started yesterday. This is part of our efforts to meet the requirements of the health aspect in the current conditions," said Managing Director of The Nusa Dua, I Gusti Ngurah Ardita on Tuesday. This Covid-19 booster vaccination is intended for all tourism workers in the Nusa Dua area. The types of vaccines used for this booster are AstraZeneca and Pfizer. We vaccinate all components of employees who work in The Nusa Dua area, this includes traders who sell on the beach, then taxi drivers in the area," said Ardita.
“Sanur Beach Merchant Relocations: Don’t Cause Problems” from Bali Post (Indonesian): The first stage of the jogging track arrangement on Sanur Beach has been completed, and now the second phase will be continued by the Denpasar City Government. Behind this arrangement, the relocation of traders who have been selling on the beach is expected to be handled properly. This was confirmed by a member of Commission III of the Denpasar DPRD, Nyoman Darsa, Wednesday. His party has heard the explanation from the planning consultant PT. Taru at the PUPR Service some time ago. In the explanation, all traders who previously sold on the beach, especially outside the jogging track were relocated to several points that had been prepared, to the north of the Alit Beach Hotel. The land belongs to the village which is ready to accommodate traders in the area.
Context: The Alit Beach Hotel is by Jl Hang Tuah, near where many of the boat services to Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan depart from. It is also well north of the area many of the vendors traditionally worked from.
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Other Headlines
“IMI Readies Two Cruise Ships as Accommodation Options for MotoGP” from Antara: The Indonesian Motor Association (IMI) has readied two cruise ships for the Indonesian MotoGP. IMI Chairman Bambang Soesatyo said on Wednesday that in addition to technical units, the IMI will assist in holding the MotoGP through facilitating transportation and accommodation. Two cruise ships are offered to take prospective MotoGP spectators from Bali to Mandalika and vice versa. "The first ship is a form of floating accommodation that can carry six hundred passengers. It was also deployed for a month during the 2021 PON National Sports Week in Papua," Soesatyo said. He added that IMI is offering accommodation packages due to the high target of MotoGP spectators reaching 100,000 people, while the hotel room availability in Lombok is only 19,000.
Context: In related news, land disputes centered on the MotoGP continue (Indonesian). Elsewhere, the isolation facility for Covid-19 patients at the nearby Praya Hospital is full (Indonesian).
Vaccination Update
“Merah Putih Vaccine Included in Super-priority Program” from Antara: Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Muhadjir Effendy has said that the Merah Putih Vaccine, which is currently in its first day of clinical trials, has become one of the super-priority programs, according to President Joko Widodo. "I am in charge of coordinating, synchronizing, and controlling priority programs. This vaccine is included in the President's super-priority program towards Indonesia's vaccine independence," Effendy said on Wednesday.
Context: In related news, Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said the vaccine will be used as a booster, as well as to vaccinate children from 3 until 6 years old.
More...
Nation: “Indonesia Obtains 2.7 Million Covid-19 Vaccines From Australia” from Antara
Health Protocols (Prokes) & Health Services
“Govt Suggests Self-Isolation for Those in Close Contact with Covid Positive People” from Tempo: The government’s spokesperson for the handling of Covid-19, Reisa Broto Asmoro, on Wednesday announced the latest public health guideline for people who have come into contact with those who are confirmed to be Covid-19 positive. The first aspect, according to her, is to go into self-isolation at home. “You should test yourself 24 hours after the initial contact. Once the first Covid-19 test came back negative, she urged people to not think it is a certainty that they have not contracted the virus. “You should continue self-isolating while closely monitoring the symptoms that arise.” Those undergoing this circumstance are urged to take another test five days after self-isolating and finish their self-quarantine if the second test clears a person from Covid-19. If the second test comes back positive, that person must continue their self-isolation.
Context: This announcement contrasts with Bali-specific advice earlier in the week that those who test positive must quarantine in a centralized quarantine center.
More...
Nation: “Covid-19 Positivity Rate High Among Health Workers Says Ministry” from Antara
Nation: “Police Chief Outlines Three Strategies to Handle Omicron” from Antara
Badung: “Covid-19 Cases in Badung Continue to Rise” from Radar Bali (Indonesian)
Economy & Infrastructure
“Jokowi Calls for Better, ‘Balanced’ Management Against Foreign Media Platforms” from The Jakarta Post (Metered Paywall): As the country celebrates National Press Day on Wednesday, President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo called for better management of foreign media, in order to create a fairer ecosystem for local platforms. Jokowi acknowledged that Indonesia’s media industry had been “under intense pressure” for the past two years, due to the rapid digital transformation and the increasing competition local outlets faced from international news companies. “[We] must continue to strive for a more balanced, competitive [press] climate. Foreign [news] platforms must be regulated... We [have to] strengthen the rules for fair and balanced profit sharing between global and local platforms,” the President said.
More...
Nation: “Moody’s Analytics Expects BI Rate Hike in Q2” from The Jakarta Post (Metered Paywall)
Nation: “Covid-19 Expedites Deindustrialization in Indonesia” from The Jakarta Post (Metered Paywall)
Karangasem: “Affected by the Eruption of Mount Agung, 108 Cooperatives in Karangasem Collapse” from Radar Bali (Indonesian)
Bali Reopening
“PHRI Confident Omicron Variant Will Not Hinder Tourism Recovery” from Antara: An official of the Indonesian Hotels and Restaurants Association (PHRI) has expressed confidence that the recovery of the tourism industry will be reached in the second quarter of the year, despite the surge in COVID-19 cases due to the Omicron variant. "Despite the current COVID-19 Omicron cases surge, regulations imposed this year are different from last year's regulation," PHRI chairperson Hariyadi Sukamdani said on Wednesday. The forecasted 25 to 30% hotel occupancy rate in the first quarter of the year is projected to increase to 40-45% by the second quarter, as the infection wave peak passes, he said.
More...
“Omicron Soars, Bali Hotel Occupancy Drops Drastically” from Kumparan (Indonesian)
“Singapore Airlines Will Come to Bali February 16, Bringing 70 Tourists” from Tribun Bali (Indonesian)
Of Interest
“New Exhibit Grapples With Dutch Colonialism in Indonesia” from The Christian Science Monitor
“Only Two Yellow-crested Cockatoos Remain in Central Sulawesi” from Antara
“Gianyar Regency Holds Balinese Lontar Reading and Writing Contest” from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian)
“Other Countries' Garbage Floods Raja Ampat, Threatening Marine Life” from CNN Indonesia (Indonesian)
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