February 8, 2022
Java & Bali move to PPKM 3 as Omicron spikes + Bali to move self-quarantined Covid-19 patients to centralized sites + Task Force admits blind spots enabled quarantine mafia + 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
“Java & Bali Moved to PPKM 3 as Omicron Spikes” from Bloomberg: Indonesia has tightened mobility in Jakarta, Bandung and Bali to the second-highest level (PPKM 3) as the omicron variant of the coronavirus continued to spread rapidly. The restrictions, which include limiting capacity at religious and other public places and reducing operating hours for supermarkets, malls and restaurants, will be implemented for at least a week, according to Luhut Panjaitan, a cabinet minister who oversees the nation’s pandemic response in Java and Bali. Testing and tracing need to improve and hospitalization rate has to decline before the government can ease the restriction levels, with a review set for next week, said Panjaitan.
Context: Another story highlights the focus of the raised PPKM level being on protecting the elderly, immunocompromised, and unvaccinated.
“Bali to Move Self-quarantined Covid-19 Patients to Centralized Sites” from Antara: The Bali provincial government will move COVID-19-confirmed patients undergoing self-quarantine to centralized isolation sites, Bali Governor Wayan Koster said on Monday. "This step aims to improve services and reduce the risk of transmission of the Omicron variant," Koster said. In its implementation, Bali's local administrations and the unit of Regional Military Command IX/Udayana-Bali Police will assist in the relocation of COVID-19 patients. Based on data from the COVID-19 Handling Task Force, the number of active COVID-19 cases in Bali totalled 9,887 as of February 6. From the total, some 954, or 9.65%, were hospitalized; 1,551, or 15.69%, were under treatment at centralized isolation sites, and 7,382, or 74.66%, are in self-isolation. Some 90 centralized isolation places are spread across nine districts and cities in Bali, with a total capacity of 2,110 beds, of which 1,551 beds, or 73.51%, are occupied.
Context: Given there are a reported 7,382 people under self-isolation and just over 500 available beds, the Governor did not provide details on where the currently self-isolating people will be placed. A number of reports have covered new isolation facilities being set up, including in Buleleng (Indonesian) and Denpasar (Indonesian). It is not clear what (if any) impact this new rule will have on the willingness of people with mild symptoms to get tested for Covid-19.
“COVID-19 Task Force Admits Blind Spots Lead to Quarantine Mafia” from Tempo: The Commander of the COVID-19 Task Force at Soekarno-Hatta Airport, Col. Agus Listiyono, admitted there were a number of blind spots in the quarantine flow of international passengers at the airport. “It (blind spot) exists, that's why we’re improving [the rule],” Agus said on Monday. The National Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Dedi Prasetyo also acknowledged that there were vulnerable points in the quarantine route starting from when landing until heading to the Immigration. “There is a blank area that allows quarantine violations and deviations to occur. There were transactions so that foreigners and Indonesian citizens who should be quarantined in the predetermined places could escape,” said Dedi on Friday. To minimize this, he said the National Police had launched a quarantine monitoring mobile app.
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Other Headlines
“Govt Retracts Ban on International Tourist Arrivals via Soekarno-Hatta” from The Jakarta Post (Metered Paywall): The Transportation Ministry has retracted a ban on international tourists entering Indonesia via Soekarno-Hatta airport that came about due to incorrect wording in a recently issued circular letter. A previous ministry circular letter No.11/2022 issued on Sunday stated that foreign tourists and returning Indonesians from overseas vacation "may only enter" through the Bali, Batam and Bintan airports, a list that excludes the airports in Jakarta and every other region. Ministry spokesperson Fitri Indah clarified in a press release on Monday that the circular was meant to say "may enter" through the Bali, Batam and Bintan airports.
Context: The incorrectly worded version received extensive domestic and international press coverage including by CNNIndonesia, Tempo and Reuters.
Vaccination Update
“Merah Putih Vaccine Clinical Trials to Involve 495 Volunteers” from Antara: At least 495 volunteers will take part in the first two phases of the clinical trials for the Merah Putih (Red and White) vaccine, the National Agency of Drug and Food Control (BPOM) has said. "The phase one and two clinical trials will involve 90 participants for phase one and 405 participants for phase two. The participants are, of course, humans," BPOM head Penny K. Lukito said on Monday.
More...
Nation: “Minister Slams People Discouraging Covid-19 Vaccinations” from Antara
Nation: “Two Regions Outside Java Achieve Above-70% Vaccination Target” from Antara
Health Protocols (Prokes) & Health Services
“Elderly Account for 44% of Indonesian Covid Deaths, 69% Not Fully Vaccinated” from The Jakarta Globe: The elderly account for 44% of the 356 Covid-19 deaths since Indonesia confirmed its first case of the Omicron variant in mid-December 2021, according to the government. Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said on Monday that Covid-19 has claimed 356 lives since Indonesia detected Omicron. 156 of the 356 Covid-related deaths were the elderly. "A majority of the Covid-19 patients being treated in severe, critical [conditions], and that have passed away are the elderly. So I ask the unvaccinated elders to get vaccinated," Luhut said. According to Luhut, 42% of the 356 Covid-related deaths were people with comorbidities and about 69% were not fully vaccinated.
More...
Nation: “Covid-19 Infections Hit Six-month Highs in Indonesia” from The Diplomat
Nation: “Indonesia Logs 26,121 Covid-19 Cases in Single Day” from Antara
Nation: “Implementing PPKM Necessary to Stem Covid-19 Says Epidemiologist” from Antara
Nation: “Govt Intensifies Vaccinations, Telemedicine to Handle Omicron” from Antara
Nation: “Govt Reissues Rules on Religious Activities amid Soaring COVID-19 Cases” from Tempo
Province: “Bali Covid Trend Exceeds Delta Says Minister” from Antara
Buleleng: “Buleleng Hospital Claims Bed Occupancy Rate Still Safe” from Nusa Bali (Indonesian)
Economy & Infrastructure
“Economy Rebounds to Grow 3.69% in 2021” from The Jakarta Post (Metered Paywall): Indonesia’s economy has rebounded from the recession caused by the COVID-19 pandemic as consumers and businesses resumed activities and a global economic recovery boosted exports. The GDP rose 3.69% in 2021 from the preceding year, driven largely by a rebound in investment, Statistics Indonesia (BPS) reported on Monday. “The driver is a combination of improvement in health care and mobility and the sustained global economic recovery, as well as the fiscal stimulus,” BPS head Margo Yuwono said on Monday. In 2020, Indonesia plunged into its first recession since the Asian financial crisis, as the GDP contracted by 2.07% from a year earlier due largely to the mobility restrictions, especially in Java.
More...
Nation: “Mandalika Circuit 100% Ready for MotoGP Pre-season” from Antara
Nation: “23 Hotels Join MotoGP Pre-Season Test Travel Bubble” from Republika (Indonesian)
Education
“100% Face-to-face for Bali Asked to be Reviewed” from Republika (Indonesian): The Bali Regional Child Protection and Supervision Commission asked the local government to review the implementation of 100% Face-to-face Learning (PTM) after many students were confirmed with COVID-19. "In principle, we ask the government to thoroughly review the implementation of the 100% PTM by providing initial recommendation options by conducting a hybrid online combination pattern with 50% PTM," said KPPAD Bali Commissioner for Education and Culture I Kadek Ariasa on Sunday. According to him, the pattern of making a policy decision is without any preparation and considering the fulfillment of children's rights to obtain healthy information and learning in an emergency.
More...
Nation: “KPPAD Bali: Online Learning Affects the Quality of Students” from Antara Bali (Indonesian)
Jembrana: “Face-to-face in Jembrana Temporarily Suspended” from Bali Puspa (Indonesian)
Bali Reopening
“Local Tourists in Bali Soar 80% as of January 2022” from CNN Indonesia (Indonesian): Domestic tourists visiting Bali jumped 80% in January 2022 compared to January 2021. "The comparison is around 70-80% compared to January 2021," said Head of Tourism Market Development of the Bali Tourism Office, Gunandika, said on Monday. Based on his records, domestic tourist visits in January 2021 were 282,248 people. Meanwhile, in January 2022 there were 527,447 people. "Most of them are from Java," he added. Meanwhile, for the record of foreign tourists in 2022 there has been no arrival to Bali, however, in 2021 from January to December there were 51 foreign tourists who came.
Of Interest
“Captivated by the Beauty of Kenawa Island” from Antara
“There Is No Prohibition of Ogoh-ogoh in Gianyar” from Tribun Bali (Indonesian)
“It Turns Out That There Are Still Two Foreigners on the Run” from Radar Bali (Indonesian)
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