February 14, 2022
Ubud IDR 34.3T mega-project includes a building ban & electric buses + All Bali regencies see Covid-19 deaths on Sunday + Bed occupancy reaches 51% at Bali referral hospitals + more
Good morning!
Welcome to The Bali Beat for Monday, February 14. If you’re not a subscriber, please sign up here to have this newsletter emailed to your inbox every weekday morning, along with a Sunday evening summary of the past week’s Covid-19 and vaccination data. If you’re already a subscriber, thank you!
Please be sure to share The Bali Beat with your friends, family and anyone else in the community by clicking the button below. If you’re on Twitter, you can follow us there @thebalibeat.
*A paid subscription is NOT required to access this newsletter.* If you would like to support our news gathering efforts, please consider making a donation of US$5/month by becoming a contributing subscriber via the link above. If you’d prefer to make a one-time donation — of any amount — please click here.
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
Note: On Friday, the 7-day average of new Covid-19 cases in Bali hit an all-time high of 2,059, with the number of cases in treatment, at just shy of 20,000, considerably higher than the Delta peak of 13,803. Deaths, while lagging well below those of Delta, continue to steadily increase, with yesterday’s total of 17 being the highest since September last year (although down significantly from the peak of 73 on August 20). In the last seven days, 84 people have died in Bali — close to double the 49 people who died from the start of November through to the end of January.
The Big News
“Ubud IDR 34.3T Mega-project Includes Building Ban and Electric Buses” from Tribun Bali (Indonesian): In 2023, Gianyar Regency will get a mega project from the central government worth IDR 34.3 trillion. The so-called Ulapan Project target includes three sub-districts, Ubud, Tegalalang and Payangan. In this project, Ubud will be reorganized, because, in the study of the central government, Ubud tourism has reached saturation point, both in terms of traffic and development. Therefore, pedestrian and road facilities will undergo major changes. In terms of the development of tourism facilities, in Ubud no new buildings are allowed, with all new buildings, such as hotels and other tourism accommodations, to be directed to Tegalalang and Payangan. In accessing these three sub-districts, tourists will be provided with electric bus facilities.
“All Bali Regencies See Covid-19 Deaths on Sunday” from JPNN (Indonesian): Daily Covid-19 cases in Bali continue to fluctuate in the range of 2,000 new patients per day. For the first time since the Omicron variant hit the island of Bali, on Sunday nine districts/cities in Bali recorded a death. The number of deaths due to Covid-19, which reached 17 deaths on Sunday, is the highest of the Omicron wave. The highest number of death cases occurred in three regencies, Jembrana, Tabanan, and Bangli, each of which had three deaths. Buleleng and Karangasem Regencies both recorded two deaths due to Covid-19, and other regions recorded one case.
“Bed Occupancy Reaches 51% at Bali Covid-19 Referral Hospitals” from Antara: The bed occupancy rate for non-intensive isolation at COVID-19 referral hospitals in Bali has reached 51.11%, the Bali Health Office reported on Friday. "From the total capacity of non-intensive isolation beds in 62 referral hospitals, totaling 2,338 beds, 1,195 beds have been filled (51.11%)," acting head of the Bali Health Office, Made Rentin, said. As of Thursday, the capacity of non-intensive isolation beds at referral hospitals was capped at 1,143, or 48.89% of the total capacity, he informed. "Those who are being treated at referral hospitals are COVID-19 patients with moderate and severe symptoms. Meanwhile, for cases with mild symptoms, some are undergoing self-isolation, or are being treated at isolation centers," Rentin said.
>> Classifieds <<
WTF is an NFT? Alternative Assets demystifies and explains the hottest unique investment ideas out there. Collectibles, NFTs, Wine, Websites, even LEGOs. They don't just track the markets, they smash the markets. Subscribe to Alternative Assets today.
TheFutureParty is a daily email on business, entertainment, and culture. It's everything you need and nothing you don't! Get insights and relevant takes on the most important news of the day that keep you informed & in the know on the hottest trends. Check it out here.
Founded after the 2017 Mount Agung eruptions, Yayasan Team Action Amed works with village leaders to provide aid to those in need. Check out their Instagram and Facebook pages, donate via their GoGetFunding page or PayPal, or visit their website for other options & to learn more.
Want to share your message with the most engaged members of the foreigner community in Bali? Click here to learn how to place a classified ad.
Other Headlines
“Indonesia Optimistic About 2030 Marine Protected Area Target” from The Jakarta Globe: Indonesia recently expressed its optimism that it would achieve its goal of 32.5 million hectares of marine protected areas by 2030. "As of 2021, we have successfully achieved 28.1 million hectares [of marine protected areas] or about 86.5% [of our target]. We are optimistic about fulfilling our commitment by 2030,” President Joko Widodo said on Friday. The nation also pledged to cut 70% of its marine plastic waste by 2025. To this end, Indonesia has been making various efforts, including the development of a waste power plant, which converts 1,000 tons of waste per day to generate 10-megawatt of electricity, according to Jokowi.
Vaccination Update
Nation: “Merah Putih Vaccine a Major Pandemic-handling Step Says Epidemiologist” from Antara
Health Protocols (Prokes) & Health Services
“Jokowi Reiterates Call to Indonesians to Stay Calm” from Antara: Indonesian President Joko Widodo has reiterated his call to all citizens to keep calm and disciplined in implementing the government's health protocols to curb the spread of COVID-19. He also urges the people at large to reduce their unnecessary activities in the midst of exponential growth of cases of the Omicron coronavirus variant in Indonesia. "I call on the people at large to stay calm, disciplined in implementing the health protocols, and reduce their unnecessary activities," he said on Sunday.
More...
Nation: “Expert Urges Public to Be Wary of Omicron Infection” from Antara
Nation: “Govt Denies PPKM Level Status to Be Elevated Ahead of Ramadan” from Tempo
Badung: “Batu Belig Establishment Shut Down Over Prokes Violations” from Radar Bali (Indonesian)
Badung: “MDA Badung agrees that Melasti Nyepi Will Be Limited” from Bali Post (Indonesian)
Klungkung: “PPKM Level 3 Impacts Sanur-Nusa Penida Passenger Flow, Crossings Down 40%” from Tribun Bali (Indonesian)
Jembrana: “Rabies Red Zone Villages in Jembrana Increase” from Radar Bali (Indonesian)
Economy & Infrastructure
“Development of Mandalika Will Not Stop After MotoGP” from Antara: The development of the Mandalika Special Economic Zone will not stop after the 2022 MotoGP, Deputy I of the Presidential Staff Office, Febry Calvin Tetelepta, said. "The implementation of 2022 MotoGP is only the beginning of local economic recovery," he said on Saturday. He said he expected more national and international events to be held in the area in the future. He then asked the public to support the implementation of the events to create long-term multiplier effects for the community. "Since the beginning, the development of the Mandalika area has been designed holistically. Thus, the infrastructure development and local community empowerment must be carried out simultaneously," Tetelepta said.
Context: Land disputes centered on the track construction remain unsettled (Indonesian). In related news, while police have called for better preventative measures, no bubble inhabitants have tested positive for Covid-19. Police have also asked the public not to fly drones near the race track (Indonesian).
More...
Nation: “Gambling Mindset Grips Many Investors” from The Jakarta Post (Metered Paywall)
Nation: “Tofu, Tempe Prices to Increase Says Trade Ministry” from Antara
Nation: “G20 Can Stimulate Tourism Sector” from Antara
Education
“Schools Can Start Implementing Independent Curriculum” from Antara: Education, Culture, Research, and Technology Minister Nadiem Anwar Makarim announced that schools can start implementing the Independent Curriculum in stages in accordance with the readiness of each school. "Since the 2021-2022 school year, the Kurikulum Merdeka has been applied in as many as 2,500 initiator schools and vocational schools as part of the learning process with a new paradigm," Makarim said on Friday. The curriculum will be applied from kindergarten to high school level. "The government will prepare a questionnaire to help education units assess the stage of school readiness in using the curriculum," the minister said.
Bali Reopening
“Deputy Governor: There Are 500 Passengers Who Want to Go to Bali, but Only 70 Registered on Singapore Airlines” from Suara Bali (Indonesian): The Deputy Governor of Bali, Tjokorda Oka Artha Ardhana Sukawati, confirmed the arrival of 70 passengers registered to fly with Singapore Airlines to Bali on Wednesday. Cok Ace said that the Bali Provincial Government noted that the interest of passengers going to Bali actually reached 500 people, but only 70 registered. Cok Ace admitted that he is optimistic that tourism and Bali's economic recovery are slowly starting to rise. The Bali Provincial Government is also improving a number of procedures for the arrival of international passengers or tourists.
Context: In related news, Garuda is to reopen Bali to Sydney flights, but no dates for the relaunch have been given. Governor Koster also said Jetstar had applied for slots, but no dates were specified (Indonesian).
Of Interest
“Indonesia Deports Thai Convicted Drug Trafficker” from Antara
“Ngurah Rai Airport Is Tsunami Prone, BMKG Prepares Evacuation Techniques” from Tribun Bali (Indonesian)
“High Waves Kills at Least 10 During Beach Ritual in Java” from Agence France-Presse
“Bali Man Faces Up to 6 Years in Prison for Revenge Porn Case” from Coconuts Bali
The Bali Beat welcomes submissions from any group or venue based on the island! For information on how you can include your event in this list, click here.
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.
*This newsletter is a product of Outlanders. To learn more about our editorial policies, click here. For any questions, comments or tips, please contact us at TheBaliBeat@outlanders.global.