February 15, 2022
Gov't to cut quarantine to 3 days for people with booster shot + 66% of Indonesian Omicron deaths not fully vaccinated + Java-Bali PPKM extended to Feb 21 + more
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Weather & Tides
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Daily Covid Update
National Figures
Local Figures
The Big News
“Gov't to Cut Quarantine Time to Three Days for People With Booster Vaccine” from The Jakarta Globe: The government has decided to reduce the quarantine period for overseas travelers to three days from five for those who had received their booster vaccine doses against Covid-19, starting next month, an official said on Monday. The Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said that despite the recent spikes of Covid-19 spread in Indonesia driven by the omicron variant, the overall pandemic handling improved. "Going forward, if the situation continues improving and vaccinations continue to increase, the government plan to cut the quarantine period to three days on March 1, or even sooner," Luhut said.
“66% of Omicron Deaths Not Fully Vaccinated” from Tempo: Indonesia has logged a rising number of COVID-19 cases lately with a daily case increase of 111 on Sunday, which is the highest case increase since the new Omicron variant arrived in the country. Health Ministry spokesperson for coronavirus vaccination Siti Nadia Tarmizi on Monday said most of the death cases are either from people who have not been vaccinated or with comorbidities. “The Health Ministry’s data from January 21 up to February 8, 2022, showed that of 487 patients who died, 66% of them did not receive complete dose vaccinations,” said Nadia.
Context: On Monday, Minister Luhut was quoted as saying “Omicron is only twice as harmful as the flu”.
“PPKM Java-Bali Extended Another Week Until February 21” from Suara Bali (Indonesian): The validity period of the Java and Bali PPKM has been extended until February 21. However, during the next week there will be easing given even though there are still PPKM Level 3 areas in Java-Bali. "In this week's PPKM period, the Government will readjust the maximum WFO limit at level 3, which was previously 25% to 50%," said Java-Bali PPKM Coordinator Luhut Binsar Panjaitan, on Monday. As for the arts, cultural and social activities of the community as well as public facilities such as tourist attractions, it was also increased to 50%. "That way, roadside vendors, from fried food vendors, meatball vendors to art workers such as wayang performers and drama actors can continue to carry out their activities and do not need to be sent home due to the impact of this policy," he said.
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Other Headlines
“MDA Bali Ensures Ogoh-ogoh Parade is Banned” from Tribun Bali (Indonesian): The ban on the ogoh-ogoh parade during Nyepi was reaffirmed by the Bali Province Traditional Village Council (MDA). This can be seen when the highest customary institution in Bali issued a letter of confirmation regarding the ban on ogoh-ogoh on Monday. In the letter number 104/MDA-Prov Bali/2022 dated Friday 11 February 2022, it was emphasized that the ogoh-ogoh parade was definitely prohibited and could not be carried out. In the letter, it can be seen that the confirmation of the decision was issued due to the increasing number of cases of the Omicron variant of Covid-19 in Bali since the beginning of February 2022.
Vaccination Update
Nation: “More Than 135 Million Indonesians Fully Vaccinated Against Covid-19” from Antara
Health Protocols (Prokes) & Health Services
“Asymptomatic Covid-19 Patients Urged to Be Treated at Home” from Antara: Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said he expects COVID-19 patients who are asymptomatic or have mild symptoms to be treated at home since hospitals are prioritizing patients with moderate and severe symptoms. "We are expecting that if the patient is experiencing no symptoms (asymptomatic) or mild symptoms, they can be treated at home. Out of 27,000 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, more than around 15,000 are actually asymptomatic patients or those with mild symptoms," Sadikin said on Monday. According to the minister, if oxygen saturation is still above 95% and there are mild symptoms such as a slight cough, cold, and fever, a patient can be treated at home.
Context: This requests contrasts with previous announcements from the Bali administration that asymptomatic cases need to go to centralized quarantine. In related news, the government has said they believe Jakarta’s peak case load will be reached this week, meanwhile the city’s isolation beds have a 59% occupancy rate and ICU is at 46%.
More...
Nation: “Overlong Interactions Classified as Close Contact Says Spokesperson” from Antara
Nation: “Ministry Presses for Genome Sequencing to Confirm Omicron Infection” from Antara
Nation: “Jakarta Continues Social Assistance for Children Orphaned by Covid-19” from Antara
Province: “1,188 Covid-19 Patients Hospitalized Says Bali Health Service” from Antara
Denpasar: “Justice Team Intensively Monitors PPKM” from Antara Bali (Indonesian)
Economy & Infrastructure
“MotoGP to Contribute IDR 500 Billion to Economy Says Minister” from Antara: The 2022 MotoGP will contribute as much as IDR 500 billion to the economy, Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Uno said. "Based on our calculations, this event has also created 11,000 jobs during the pre-season test," he said on Monday. In the next few months, especially during the final event, it is believed that there would be additional income from the event, the minister said. He then estimated that 50,000 jobs could be generated in certain sectors during the 2022 MotoGP series.
Context: In related news, the Field Commander of the Mandalika MotoGP has said the MotoGP travel bubble will be tightened, while the head of NTB Regional Police said all participants will undergo a five-day quarantine as a part of the bubble. Fifteen foreigners within the bubble have tested positive for Covid-19 so far (Indonesian). Investigations continue with regard to dirt on the track.
More...
Nation: “Solar Power Plants as Backbone of Indonesia's Clean Energy Says Minister” from Antara
Nation: “Bank Indonesia to Raise Cap on QRIS Transactions” from The Jakarta Post (Metered Paywall)
Nation: “Efforts to Achieve Indonesia's Mangrove Rehabilitation Target” from Antara
Bali Reopening
“Bali’s Reopening Excitement Fizzles as Restrictions Remain” from TTG Asia: Despite progress in Bali’s reopening, Indonesian inbound players are losing faith in the policy. Their source of woe is the Bubble Quarantine Policy’s continued requirement of quarantine for arriving travellers. Sugeng Suprianto, managing director of Top Indonesia Holidays, said that travellers today are gravitating towards destinations that are easy to access, particularly those without mandatory quarantine. “Europeans are not interested (in Bali). I’ve lost many clients who have turned to the Philippines, the Maldives and other countries that have dropped their quarantine requirement,” he said. Ricky Setiawanto, Panorama Destination’s director of business development, said “Tourists have to spend at least US$700 on the Warm-Up Vacation package. This burdens tourists, which pushes them to choose other destinations.”
More...
“Travel From Australia to Bali Is About to Restart” from Australian Financial Review (Paywall)
“Bali Bombings Memorial Park Rebooted With $4.5 Million Deal” from The Sydney Morning Herald: Eight months before the 20th anniversary of the Bali bombings, an Australian plan to build a memorial park where the Sari Club once stood is back on the table after the landowners agreed to sell a portion of the site for $4.5 million. The plot in Kuta has sat vacant since the 2002 terrorist attacks that killed 202 people. In the intervening years it has been the subject of much discussion as the Perth-based Bali Peace Park Association sought to acquire the land to establish a spiritual garden on it. The group last November withdrew its bid for the property, slamming a $15 million price tag set by the owners, saying its vision had been “blocked by greed”. Now, however, the idea of a peace park has been revived after the association’s founder and former leader, Dallas Finn, struck an agreement with owner Sukamto Tija to sell a third of it, a 567sqm section of the land, for $4.5 million.
Of Interest
“Couple Getting Frisky at Bali Temple Draws Ire” from Coconuts Bali
“Car Parked at Bali Airport For Over a Year Owes IDR 50 Million in Parking Fees” from Tribun Bali (Indonesian)
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