Friday, December 25
Foreigners coming from UK banned from entering country + Indonesia sets new monthly death toll record; Bali on pace for 2nd-worst month + List of Christmas mass health regulations + more!
Good morning! Welcome to The Bali Beat for Friday, December 25. [Happy Christmas!] If you’re not a subscriber, sign up here to get this update delivered directly to your Inbox every Monday-Friday morning, along with each evening’s Covid-19 update. If you are already a subscriber, thank you! Please be sure to share it with others in the foreigner community on the island by clicking the button below.
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PUBLICATION REMINDER: I’ve discontinued the Saturday edition of the newsletter - we’re now a Monday-Friday operation - and I am taking next week off, so this is the last issue of the month/year! (Good riddance, 2020!) While the evening Covid-19 updates will continue each day as normal, I’ll be back in your inbox with news headlines on Monday, January 4. Stay safe during these holidays, everyone!
Weather & Waves
Today’s Weather for Southern Bali
Today’s Tides
Surf Outlook
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 national numbers infographic and a Regency-by-Regency breakdown of yesterday’s local numbers.
The Big News
"Gov't Bars Travelers From UK, Keeps Close Eye on Coronavirus Mutation" from The Jakarta Globe: The government has barred foreigners traveling from the United Kingdom from entering Indonesia after the discovery of a novel coronavirus strain that is easier to transmit between people early this month. Indonesian citizens returning from the UK could still enter the archipelago as long as they tested negative on the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test within 48 hours before their arrival. They would also subject to a medical examination at the government's appointed clinics upon their arrival, the Task Force said... The Task Force also imposes the same restrictions on travelers from Europe and Australia, as both continents saw the Covid-19 second wave of Covid-19 cases. The Task Force said the travel ban and restriction would stand until Jan 8, 2021. But it may be extended based on the development on the ground.
"Indonesia Breaks Record for Highest Number of Monthly Coronavirus Death Toll" from The Jakarta Globe: Indonesia has recorded 3,463 coronavirus-related deaths since the beginning of the month to beat the previous monthly high with still eight days to go, according to the Jakarta Globe tally. The previous record for the highest monthly Covid death toll was 3,323 recorded in September. The surge in casualties from the highly contagious disease has been at the alarming level since Nov. 22, the beginning of a lengthy run in which daily death toll has reached three digits for at least 32 consecutive days. The government doesn’t register deaths from probable cases as Covid deaths although thousands more deceased patients have been buried under the Covid protocols for cautions.
(Ed. Note: December is already the third most deadly month of the outbreak for Bali with 60 deaths so far, more than doubling the 28 that had occurred by this time in November. Only October and September, with 96 and 173 respectively, have been worse. With 2,798 confirmed cases as of yesterday, this month has seen the second-most cases of any month yet. Only September was worse, with 3,038 by this point.)
"Guide to Christmas Worship and Celebration During Pandemic" from Indonesia Expat: The Ministry of Religion has issued guidelines for organising worship activities and Christmas celebrations during the COVID-19 pandemic. These guidelines are contained in the circular letter of the Minister of Religion Number SE. 23 of 2020. The implementation of these guidelines is expected to minimise the risk of mass crowds forming whilst still allowing for spirituality activities.
Christmas services and celebrations should be carried out simply and without exaggeration with emphasis more on communion among family.
Worship and Christmas celebrations, apart from being held in congregation or collectively in a house of worship, are also to be broadcasted online with the rituals of worship that have been prepared by the management of the house of worship.
The number of people who can participate in congregational or collective prayer activities and Christmas celebrations shall not exceed 50 percent of the capacity of the house of worship.
(Ed. Note: Badung Police announced on Wednesday that they would deploy hundreds of officers - at least 5 per church - to help enforce health regulations.)
COVID STORIES: As countries around the world struggle to handle the coronavirus pandemic, Taiwan stands out as a relative success story... so far. Since April, only one locally transmitted case has been reported. There have been only seven deaths — in the entire country. There are a lot of reasons why Taiwan has been able to keep its infection and death rates so low. For one, it's an island. Also, it's dealt with a respiratory virus epidemic before. But Taiwan has also been taking a relatively experimental approach to the pandemic with technology. Like working with civic hackers to code its way out of the pandemic. Click below to hear how Taiwan is forking its way around the virus.
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Other Headlines
"Prevent Covid, Suwirta Close Monument & Puputan Klungkung Field for 5 Days" from Radar Bali (Indonesian): Klungkung Regent I Nyoman Suwirta decided to close the Puputan Klungkung Monument, and Puputan Klungkung Field starting two days before the New Year on December 29 and two days after the New Year 2021 celebration eve on January 2, 2021. Not only these two locations, the number one person in Klungkung Regency hopes that the customary village can do the same for the beaches that are the center of visits. "For the beach (closure), we also use H-2 to D + 2. But it depends on the village. Probably the day H (New Years Eve). Beaches are the center of visits, for example at Kusamba Beach, Goa Lawah, Lepang. Everything," he explained.
"Approaching the Nataru Holiday, Health Prokes Raids Are Being Intensified" from Nusa Bali (Indonesian): The target is on roads and areas prone to crowds, such as in public places to tourist attractions. Head of Satpol PP Buleleng Regency, I Putu Artawan, said the number of personnel deployed in the yustisi operation during Nataru was 30 members divided into two morning and evening shifts. "We will maximize the number of existing members, considering that Buleleng Regency is also quite large," he said. Already 468 Violators have been sanctioned with fines.
(Ed. Note: This story is focused on police activities in Buleleng, but Bali Police have also stepped up their enforcement activities in partnership with local village leaders and managers of popular tourist attractions.)
"Alternating Earthquake Shakes Badung and Karangasem in Bali" from Tempo (Indonesian): An earthquake from the sea shook southern and northern Bali on Thursday night, 24 December 2020. First, in the south, an earthquake occurred in Nusa Dua, Bali, at 21.31 WIB. Then, on the north side of the island, the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency or BMKG recorded an earthquake in Karangasem, at 23.09 WIB. According to BMKG data, the strength of the earthquake in Nusa Dua was 3.2 magnitude and can be felt only on the MMI II scale or light objects hanging swaying, in Badung. The source of this earthquake is known to be at sea, 23 kilometers northwest of Nusa Dua. It is 59 kilometers deep. The earthquake in Karangasem was recorded to have a magnitude of 3.6 M and could be felt during the III MMI period. The scale is equivalent to the tremors felt in the house, as if a truck had passed. The epicenter of the earthquake was mentioned at sea, 17 kilometers northeast of Karangasem with a depth of 10 kilometers.
"The Board Asked the [Tabanan] Covid-19 Task Force to Not Hurry to Decide on Face-to-Face Learning" from Radar Bali (Indonesian): Chairperson of Commission IV of the Tabanan DPRD I Gusti Komang Wastana said the proposal from the Tabanan Education Office which plans to implement face-to-face learning in 2021 needs a lot of careful consideration. Including the study of the condition of the Tabanan red zone, the transmission of Covid-19 which has not subsided. "There has been no decision on this. We are still drafting a policy formulation if the local government applies face-to-face learning. Next week there will be a decision on whether to learn face-to-face or not," he said.
(Ed. Note: Further reporting on the issues surrounding the possible reopening of schools in Tabanan are student transportation services, which will most likely not be available due to budgetary constraints. This means that parents will need to transport their children to school, and the schools will need to create systems to facilitate the safe drop-off and pick-up of students.)
"The Peak of Christmas Holiday Passenger Movement at Ngurah Rai Airport is Predicted to Be December 23" from The Bali Tribune (Indonesian): The movement of domestic passengers at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport, Bali, since the 2020 Christmas Transportation Monitoring Post and New Year 2021 began operating on December 18, it is still dynamic, there is an increase and decrease. From 18-22 December the movement of domestic passengers on arrival and departure was recorded at 63,148 passengers. "The highest was on December 20, with 6,289 arrivals and 9,163 departures. The last five-day period averaged 5 thousand arrivals and 7 thousand departures," said Stakeholder Relation Manager of PT Angkasa Pura I (Persero) Bandar Branch Office. International Air I Gusti Ngurah Rai Bali, Taufan Yudhistira. "If our prediction is that the peak of passenger movement is today (12/23/2020) because tomorrow the 24th is already on holiday together. Our prediction on the 23rd is for the peak. Domestic arrivals until 18.00 WITA have reached 7,000 passengers," he said.
"Coordinating Minister Airlangga: Vaccines Other than Sinovac Enter RI In the Second Quarter of 2021" from Antara (Indonesian): Coordinating Minister Airlangga said the vaccines were Astra Zeneca, a vaccine from the Covax program, and Pfizer, which are said to be entered in the second quarter of 2021. The Covax program is one of which is led by the global vaccine alliance GAVI. Previously, 1.2 million doses of Sinovac vaccine had arrived in the country and are now waiting for permission from the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM). The plan, he continued, would also arrive at 1.8 million doses of SInovac vaccine in January 2021 and as many as 15 million doses in the form of raw materials.
"2,886 Employees At Sanglah Hospital Will Be Vaccinated" from Nusa Bali (Indonesian): A total of 2,886 human resources (SDM) Sanglah Hospital are planned to be given the Covid-19 vaccine. "We have carried out simulations as preparation, when there are instructions to carry out vaccinations. For the first priority, indeed health workers," said Sanglah Hospital's Managing Director (Managing Director), Dr. I Wayan Sudana MKes. The Director of Human Resources and Education at Sanglah Hospital, Dr. dr. I Ketut Surya Negara SpOG (K) MARS, added that as a preparation for vaccine storage, 13 rooms have been prepared which can accommodate as many as 3,000 vaccines. "In general, we are ready, but it is not clear when the vaccination will be carried out. Of course the Health Office will lead. We continue to coordinate," added Dr. Surya Negara.
(Ed. Note: Preparations for vaccine distribution have been ongoing for over a month across the island, and regency authorities are starting to declare that preparations are now complete. Yesterday, Buleleng’s Covid-19 Task Force said that they are now ready to start vaccinating people as soon as doses begin to arrive.)
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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We only include news items from established media sources
We do not share rumors.
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For all stories marked "Indonesian" I have used Google Translate to convert it from Bahasa. In most cases I try to polish the excerpt and/or write a short summary in proper English to help clarify the details.
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