February 11, 2022
Denpasar sees almost 1,000 positive Covid cases in a day + Ogoh-ogoh building continues in Bangli, other regencies await new rules + Kuta Beach changes mooted for 2023 + Weekend reads + 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
Local Figures
The Big News
“Covid-19 Cases in Denpasar Worrying, Almost 1,000 Positive People in a Day” from iNews Bali (Indonesian): The spread of Covid-19 in Denpasar, Bali is increasingly worrying. On Wednesday, nearly 1,000 people were confirmed positive for Covid-19. Cumulatively, the addition of Covid-19 cases in Bali on the same day amounted to 2,556 people. The figure broke the previous day's record of 2,425 people. "The cumulative cases handled are 131,385 people," said Secretary of the Bali Covid-19 Task Force, Made Rentin. The most additional new positive cases were contributed by Denpasar, which was 968 people. Meanwhile, only 106 people recovered and three died. "We urge residents to always be disciplined in their work and reduce mobility outside their homes," said Rentin.
Context: Elsewhere, in Tabanan, where almost half of the available hospital beds are occupied (Indonesian), the police closed public facilities due to Covid-19 (Indonesian), while in Denpasar they inspected malls (Indonesian) and added isolation facilities (Indonesian). Meanwhile in Klungkung, asymptomatic cases began to be moved to isolation centres (Indonesian), and in Karangasem, authorities continued to explore new locations for isolation facilities (Indonesian). Of Bali’s over 15,000 active cases, 86.11% are in self-isolation (Indonesian), and deaths remain in two figures daily (Indonesian).
“Making of Ogoh-ogoh in Bangli Continues” from Nusa Bali (Indonesian): The Governor of Bali, Wayan Koster, forbade the ogoh-ogoh parade on Nyepi Day, however, the making of ogoh-ogoh in Bangli continues. The production of ogoh-ogoh was monitored in Banjar Adat Pule, Kawan Village, Bangli District. Kelian Banjar Adat Pule, I Made Sukadana, said that ogoh-ogoh had been made several weeks ago. Made Sukadana admitted he had heard information about the ban on the ogoh-ogoh parade, but had not yet received an official letter. There has been no change to Circular Letter (SE) Number 009/SE/MDA-Prov Bali/XII/2021 regarding the making and parade of ogoh-ogoh. The making of ogoh-ogoh is still ongoing because there is no new circular. "We are still relying on SE Number 009. That SE has not been revoked," said Made Sukadana, on Wednesday.
Context: In Tabanan, Ogoh-ogoh construction also continues, with mini Ogoh-ogohs also proving popular (Indonesian). Kerobokan has announced it will not hold a parade (Indonesian), while Badung, like Bangli, say they await an official government letter (Indonesian). Jembrana meanwhile, appears to be going ahead with its competition (Indonesian).
“Changes to Kuta Beach scheduled for 2023” from Nusa Bali (Indonesian): The improvement of Kuta Beach by the Bali-Penida River Basin Center is scheduled for 2023. In contrast to what the Badung Government will do, the Bali-Penida BWS is more focused on restoring land conditions. The Head of Certain Non-Vertical Units for BWS Bali Penida Water Source Network, Made Denny Setya Wijaya, said that the Phase II Bali Beach Conservation Project program could only be implemented in 2023. "According to the plan, the work will only be in the middle or end of 2023. However, it will be accelerated at the beginning of the year," said Denny. According to Denny, most of the beach points will only be altered by sand additions and arrangement work, especially the area from in front of Kuta Art Market to the north. As for construction work, it will only occur in the coastal area to the south. "Later there will be a kind of breakwater, to reduce the impact of the waves," he said.
Context: There has been very little news reporting of changes planned for Kuta Beach. In mid January a tram-line was mentioned, while later in the month ongoing discussions were mentioned. This is the first we’ve seen of the construction of a breakwater at Kuta.
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Other Headlines
“Village Chief Admits He Was Summoned About Airport Land Mafia” from Radar Bali (Indonesian): The Attorney General's Office (AGO) land mafia task force has gone down to Buleleng Regency. The task force team was called to Buleleng to find out the confusion about the airport development plan in North Bali. It was suspected that the land mafia had caused the construction of an airport in KubuAddan Village, but it was not carried out. In this regard, the Bendesa Adat KubuAddan Jro Pasek Ketut Warkadea admitted that he had received an invitation from the AGO. According to Jro Pasek Ketut Warjadea, he was summoned in connection with the airport construction plan which was in danger of failing, because there was an alleged land mafia.
Vaccination Update
“Aim to Produce 240 Million Merah Putih Doses Per Year” from Antara: PT Biotis Pharmaceuticals Indonesia, which is producing the Merah Putih COVID-19 vaccine in collaboration with Airlangga University, is targeting 240 million vaccine doses per year. "The production capacity is 240 million doses per year," president director of PT Biotis Pharmaceuticals Indonesia, FX Sudirman, said on Thursday. Currently, the Merah Putih vaccine is in its first phase of clinical trials with 90 participants, he said. After the results are obtained and the safety of the vaccine is determined, it will proceed to the second and third phase clinical trials, he said. "We estimate that there will be a lot of demand. Starting in August (2022), we will start releasing the product in bulk. Hopefully, we will get the emergency-use authorization (EUA) in July," he said.
Context: In late January the Merah Putih vaccine was reported to be running one year late by the former head of the Eijkman Institute for Molecular Biology (which was rolled into the National Research and Innovation Agency), with a target of early 2023 suggested as being realistic. We’ve seen no further reporting on this delay since. Once the vaccine is being produced, there are plans to donate supplies to Africa.
More...
Nation: “Police Chief Urges All Regions to Achieve 100% Vaccination” from Antara
Health Protocols (Prokes) & Health Services
“Buleleng Implements Work From Home for Some Govt Offices” from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian): Responding to the current PPKM status at Level 3, the Buleleng Regency Government has issued a circular regarding the Adjustment of the Work System of State Civil Apparatus Employees in the Implementation of PPKM Covid-19 which takes effect from Thursday. This was confirmed directly by the Coordinator for the Data and Information Sector of the Covid-19 Handling Task Force of Buleleng Regency, Ketut Suarmawan, that the SE was issued as a step to prevent and control and reduce the risk of Covid-19 in Buleleng Regency, including ensuring that the implementation of public services continues to run effectively. "It is true for a number of agencies in accordance with the SE to start carrying out Work From Home from today while Kominfo will start tomorrow," he said.
More...
Nation: “Oxygen Availability Still Sufficient Amid Covid Spike” from Antara
Nation: “Jakarta Sees Rise in Covid-19 Hospitalizations” from The Jakarta Post (Metered Paywall)
Nation: “Anticipating Omicron, Government Pushes Boosters” from Radar Bali (Indonesian)
Nation: “Task Force Lauds Press for Disseminating Covid-19 Information” from Antara
Nation: “Covid Patients Can Get Free Telemedicine Services Using Test Results” from Antara
Economy & Infrastructure
“Travel Bubble Encourages Economic Growth in Tourist Areas Says BKF” from Antara: Finance Ministry's Fiscal Policy Agency (BKF) Head Febrio Kacaribu stated that the travel bubble policy implemented during the MotoGP event could encourage economic growth in tourist areas. "This is certainly not as fast as we can hope, as it depends on the sentiment that relies on the success of all these countries controlling the pandemic," Kacaribu said on Thursday. Deputy Director of the Mandalika Grand Prix Association, Cahyadi Wanda, said that the travel bubble will be implemented to maintain the security and safety of people. "Hence, once the racers and officials land, they will be separated from the community. They will be in ‘a bubble’ and will only meet with fellow committee members," Wanda stated on Wednesday.
Context: The Covid-19 Task Force has announced they are unaware of any instances of MotoGP crew and participants posting photos on social media platforms from outside MotoGP bubble. The participants are officially restricted to Tanjung Aan Beach.
More...
Nation: “BI Keeps Rate at 3.5%, Signals No Change of Stance in H1” from The Jakarta Post (Metered Paywall)
Nation: “Omicron Not Expected to Significantly Affect Economy” from Antara
Province: “Bali's Horticulture Business Still Sluggish” from Nusa Bali (Indonesian)
Bali Reopening
“Reviving Indonesian Tourism Needs to be Planned Through Joint Consultation” from Detik (Indonesian): Efforts to revive the tourism sector in Indonesia need to be planned through joint consultations between stakeholders and the community. This will later be used as the basis for implementing policies amid an increase in the number of positive COVID-19 cases. This was conveyed by the Deputy Chair of the MPR RI Lestari Moerdijat on Wednesday. According to Lestari, in the midst of uncertainty over the end of the pandemic, the tourism industry should not just sit back and die.
More...
“Upbeat Bali Businesses Welcome End of Lockdown” from The Jakarta Post (Metered Paywall)
Weekend Reads
“Inside Indonesia’s Hidden Jewish Community” from The Sydney Morning Herald (Metered Paywall)
“Why Metallica's 1993 Jakarta Concert Matters for Indonesia” from The Jakarta Post (Metered Paywall)
“Can Sinovac protect Indonesia from the Omicron wave?” from AlJazeera
Of Interest
“Indonesia Signs Deal With France to Buy 6 Rafale Warplanes” from The Jakarta Post (Metered Paywall)
“Indian Citizen Arrested Entering Indonesia with Fake Passport” from Tempo
“Russian Party Shut Down Over Noise” from Republika (Indonesian)
“American Man Dies After Plunge From 6th Floor Hotel Room in Seminyak” from Coconuts Bali
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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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