Friday, August 7
Half of Denpasar now a Green Zone + Pres. Widodo orders local govts to implement fines & sanctions for health protocol violators + Bali economy contracts 10.98% in Q2 + more!
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Weather & Waves
Today’s Weather for Southern Bal
Today’s Tides
Surf Outlook (animation shows changes from 8:00am - 6:00pm)
Weather forecast from Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology & Geophysics Council (Link)
Tide table from Tide-forecast.com.
Surf outlook via Windy.com.
Local Covid Numbers
*NOTE: Click here to see the complete breakdown of yesterday’s numbers + trendlines from our evening update.
The Big News
"5 Villages and 2 Sub-districts in Denpasar Have Zero Covid-19 Cases [Video]" from Antara (Indonesian): The Covid-19 Task Force for the City of Denpasar, Bali recorded that as of Wednesday (05/08) as many as 5 villages and 2 sub-districts in Denpasar City had zero Covid-19 cases. The five villages and two sub-districts are Serangan Village, Sanur Kaja Village, Sanur Kauh Village, Dauh Puri Kangin Village, Tegal Arum Village, Dangin Puri Village, and Penatih Village. (Ed. Note: In addition to these villages, another 15 – for a total of 22 out of 43 – have been designated as “Green Zones.” You can read more about those here.)
"Jokowi Orders Nationwide Enforcement of COVID-19 Protocols, Sanctions" from The Jakarta Post: The rules, established by Presidential Instruction (Inpres) No. 6/2020 issued on Tuesday, seek to improve public compliance with health procedures to stem the spread of the coronavirus. According to the Inpres, all regional heads – governors, mayors and regents – are required to immediately formulate and issue policies for the prevention of COVID-19 contagion and to establish sanctions for violations of policies… In addition to penalizing individual violations, the Inpres also requires sanctions against businesses, organizations and collectives that are found to have violated prevailing health protocols. The sanctions may range from a written warning and community service to fines and temporary suspension of businesses and organizations, according to the Inpres.
"Lack of Foreign Tourists Cause Bali's Economy to Contract" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian): With foreign tourist arrivals dropping -99.97% (yoy) during the second quarter as international flights were stopped in an effort to prevent the spread of Covid-19, the performance of the business sector was greatly impacted. As expected, the Balinese economy in the second quarter of 2020 experienced a deeper contraction compared to the previous quarter. According to calculations from the Central Statistics Agency of Bali Province, the impact of the coronavirus on the Balinese economy in the second quarter of 2020 was very large, -10.98% (yoy), much lower than the previous quarter which shrunk at a rate of just -1.14 % (yoy).
Other Headlines
"Regarding the Covid-19 Herbal Medicine, BPOM Denies Governor Koster's Claims" from Radar Bali (Indonesian): In spite of claims by Bali Governor Wayan Koster that traditional drinks such as loloh (herbal medicine) and honey kele (Trigona Sp) can cure Covid-19 patients, this has been denied by government agencies themselves. Head of the Research and Development Center for Medicinal Plants and Traditional Medicines, Health Research and Development Agency of the Ministry of Health (Kemenkes), Akhmad Saikhu, said that the only drug is anti-virus in the form of vaccines, which is still in the research process until now. Therefore, he said, the use of traditional medicine cannot cure Covid-19... Togi Junuce Hutadjulu, Director of the Standardization of Narcotics, Psychotropic Drugs, Precursors and Addictive Substances explained that the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM) has asked the public to remain vigilant about claims in a product, both modern medicine and traditional medicine, especially in this COVID-19 pandemic situation.
"Buleleng Medical Board Urged to Revoke Hospital License After Forcibly Discharging Patient Who Tested Positive for Covid-19" from Radar Bali (Indonesian): According to Gede Supriatna, Chairman of the Buleleng DPRD, the team at a private hospital that was treating a local resident conducted a rapid test. After the results came back reactive, the hospital services suddenly changed. "In a sick condition, after being hospitalized for several days, apparently his rapid was reactive. In fact, this patient was forced to go home. This is very sad and inhuman,” said Supriatna. "If you really don't want to treat it, you can just be referred to a referral hospital. Don't be sent home by force. This is not the first time I received a complaint like this. It's been many times," he said. "I also asked the Regent to reconsider the license for the private hospital."
"Deputy Governor: Bali Tourism for Certain Regions" from Antara (Indonesian): "Not all areas will be opened; only those that have properly implemented health protocols will be allowed to open, and even then with certification from the local government," said Bali Deputy Governor Cok Ace. The Provincial Government has issued health protocol guidelines for 14 sectors. This guide is also added with specific provisions in the tourism sector through their respective SOPs. "We are quite proud, friends who are not ready to honestly say they are not ready. Community involvement is still disciplined until now. Traditional villages have even made their own sanctions related to health protocols," he said.
"Kodim 1619 Tabanan Oversees Residents Who Don't Wear Masks" from The IDN Times (Indonesian): As a joint effort to protect and prevent the community from the Covid-19 pandemic, Kodim 1619 / Tabanan collaborates with Satpol PP Tabanan to hold community patrols. They are targeting the implementation of health protocols in three traditional markets in Tabanan Regency. Namely Dauh Nutmeg Market, Pesiapan Market, and Tuakilang Market... Officers of the 1619 / Tabanan Kodim Operations Section, Captain Inf Putu Sumarnia, with the permission of Dandim 1619 / Tabanan Lieutenant Colonel Inf Toni Sri Hartanto, said this disciplinary patrol was carried out in order to give an appeal and give a warning to people who lack discipline in implementing health protocols, especially during the "New Era."
"Jerinx Complies with Bali Regional Police Summons, Calls Remarks 'Criticism' and not Insulting" from The IDN Times (Indonesian): I Gede Ari Astina, alias "Jerinx," finally visited the Directorate of Special Criminal Investigation (Dit Reskrimsus) of the Bali Police in Denpasar accompanied by his attorney in response to a summons in the reporting of his remarks as defamation and hate speech by the Indonesian Doctors Association (IDI) Bali... Jerinx stated that he was not drunk or conscious when he wrote the criticism at that time and that, "I am purely criticizing, there is no personal hatred... I have no hatred. I have no intention of destroying or hurting the feelings of my friends at IDI. So this is 100% a criticism," he explained.
"Indonesia to Exchange US Fugitive in Bali for Two Indonesian Fugitives in US" from The Jakarta Post: Indonesia is set to exchange American fugitive Marcus Beam, who was recently detained in Bali where he was hiding while reportedly making pornographic videos, with two Indonesian fugitives detained in the United States... “The USMS is willing to help repatriate two Indonesian fugitives, namely Indra Budiman, or IB, and Sai Ngo NG, or SNN, in exchange for Marcus Beam,” said Brig. Gen. Awi Setiyono, the National Police’s public information bureau head.
How You Can Help
In response to the collapse of the tourism sector in Bali and the resulting economic crisis, dozens of individuals and organizations have sprung into action, raising funds and distributing badly needed food and everyday essentials to the innumerable families who have suddenly found themselves without any source of income. We've been making an effort to document and raise awareness of these efforts. We will add information on projects in this space as we are able to confirm them. If you'd like to see a list of the efforts that we've featured so far and contribute to them with either time or money, visit our complete list here. You can also see a list of projects that have registered themselves at BaliSolidarity.org. If you know of an effort and would like to have them listed, please send their information to newsletter@migrationmedia.net.
About This Newsletter
This newsletter is a product of Migration Media, the hub for stories from and about the international migrant experience.
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