Friday, February 5
Island sets daily swab test goal of 1,900, positivity rate is 11% + Task Force holds 1st mass vaccination event, targets healthcare staff in Denpasar + PHRI says hotel industry is on the brink + more!
Good morning! Welcome to The Bali Beat for Friday, February 5. 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 island community by clicking the button below.
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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: Daily cases continue to slide & recoveries shot back up after their dip on Wednesday to once again total more than the number of new infections. Bali has most definitely flattened the curve, as the 7-day average continues its downward trend. It’s dropped 25% since its peak eight days ago, from 373 on Jan. 27 to 278 yesterday. Unfortunately, the consequences of last month's surge continue, as deaths stay high, keeping he running 7-day total near the half century mark (48). Just 4 days in, February has the fastest pace of confirmed fatalities since the start of the outbreak (27).
Provincial-level testing numbers are not regularly disclosed, so the local positivity rate is not known. However, yesterday, Bali’s Task Force said that they had conducted 1,901 swab tests the day prior (see below). Given the 216 cases confirmed, that is a positivity rate of 11.3%- more than double the rate when the WHO’s guidelines say that the virus is spreading uncontrollably (5%), but far bellow the 28% rate that the country as a whole has been registering for the last several weeks.
Click here to see the national numbers infographic and a Regency-by-Regency breakdown of yesterday’s local numbers.
The Big News
"Bali Targets Swab Test of 1,600 People Per Day" from Bisnis Bali (Indonesian): The Provincial Government of Bali is targeting swab tests of 1,500-1,600 people / day, as well as tracing 20-30 people who have had close contact with one positive person with Covid-19. Head of the Bali Provincial Health Office Ketut Suarjaya said the number of swab tests had exceeded the standards set by WHO as many as 700 people / day. So that it is expected to be able to capture more positive or positive without symptoms. "With the increase in the number of swab tests and tracing tests, many positive people will be caught, including people without symptoms," he said. Secretary of the Bali Covid-19 Task Force Made Rentin said that currently the laboratory capacity to carry out swab tests on the Island of the Gods has reached 2,500 samples. "The number of samples is different every day, but the latest data yesterday reached 1,901 samples," he explained.
"Dozens of Hotels and Villas in Bali have Switched Investors, It is Feared That More and More Will Go Bankrupt" from The Bali Post (Indonesian): Based on data compiled, nearly 60 hotel and villa properties in Bali have changed hands due to uncertainty over when the pandemic will end. Of the 60 properties, some belong to local people, some belong to investors outside Bali. "Many are considering selling their assets because they are not sure when the pandemic will end. meanwhile, bank obligations are also ongoing. Even though it's given relaxation, it can't help. Therefore, entrepreneurs are eager to be saved and there will be more bankruptcies in the future," said Rai Suryawijaya, Head of the Association of Indonesian Hotels and Restaurants (PHRI) in Badung. According to Rai, the soft loan proposed by the Bali Province Chamber of Commerce and Industry is urgently needed by local entrepreneurs.
Context: The Buleleng chapter of PHRI raised an alarm yesterday, announcing that hotel occupancy rates in that district have been “zero” since last April and that many hotels have been put up for sale, with few buyers interested. The chairman of the local PHRI chapter said that a capital infusion would not be enough to save many businesses, and that a tourism recovery program was needed within three months. Meanwhile, the head of the Bali Tourism Office acknowledged the situation and said that the governor supports the soft loan program as a way to ensure that local businesses “do not fall into the hands of foreign investors.”
Hospital Capacity Update
"Pemprov Permits Hotel Quarantine in Regencies, Task Force Explores PHRI" from Nusa Bali (Indonesian): The intention of the Buleleng Covid-19 Handling Task Force to request a hotel quarantine funded by the central government through the provincial government to be carried out in the district, received the green light from the Provincial Task Force. For this reason, the regency Task Force will coordinate again with the Association of Indonesian Hotels and Restaurants (PHRI) for readiness to become a quarantine place for Covid-19 patients who are without symptoms (OTG). "There should be someone who is willing. Five star hotels in South Bali do want it. We hope there will be hotels (in Buleleng) that are willing, so that the quarantine can be carried out closer," said Secretary of the Buleleng Covid-19 Task Force, Gede Suyasa.
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Some Covid Context
In this occasional, section I’ll share interesting or insightful stories from around the world that I come across that inform issues we’re facing here. Today, it’s digital health passports.
"Coming Soon: The ‘Vaccine Passport’" from The New York Times: Among governments and those in the travel industry, a new term has entered the vocabulary: vaccine passport. One of President Biden’s executive orders aimed at curbing the pandemic asks government agencies to “assess the feasibility” of linking coronavirus vaccine certificates with other vaccination documents, and producing digital versions of them. Denmark’s government said on Wednesday that in the next three to four months, it will roll out a digital passport that will allow citizens to show they have been vaccinated.
It isn’t just governments that are suggesting vaccine passports. In a few weeks, Etihad Airways and Emirates will start using a digital travel pass, developed by the International Air Transport Association, to help passengers manage their travel plans and provide airlines and governments documentation that they have been vaccinated or tested for Covid-19. The challenge right now is creating a document or app that is accepted around the world, that protects privacy and is accessible to people regardless of their wealth or access to smartphones. Here’s what we know about the current status of digital vaccine passports.
NOTE: If you’ve read a news story, heard a podcast, or watched a video that you think can inform issues that we are facing here in Bali, let me know at newsletter@migrationmedia.net.
Other Headlines
"Balinese People Are Asked to Take Advantage of the Free Antigen Rapid Test" from Bisnis Bali (Indonesian) The TNI Commander and Chief of Police visited Badung and Kumbasari Markets to socialize the implementation of 3M, as well as ask the Balinese people to take advantage of the rapid antigen test provided free by his party. The rapid antigen test is intended for 100 people in the general public with different sampling locations every day. Like the first day on February 1, 2021 it will be held at Matahari Terbit Beach, the next day at Puputan Badung field, then Pura Jagatnatha Denpasar, and today it is located at Pasar Badung. TNI Commander Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto said that to support the tracing and test process, a free rapid antigen test has been provided, so it is hoped that the community will not be afraid and want to take advantage of this facility.
Prokes & Patrols
"Government Drafts Strategies to Strengthen Covid-19 Handling" from Antara: The Indonesian government is formulating strategies to strengthen COVID-19 handling, deputy chief of the COVID-19 Handling and National Economic Recovery Committee (KPC-PEN), Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, has said. The strategies include launching a massive campaign on health protocols, developing a central isolation facility, accelerating the vaccination program, and limiting mobility, he added. “We have to improve the strategy on COVID-19 handling to increase public discipline,” Pandjaitan, who is also the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment, said here during an online discussion on COVID-19 handling on Thursday. Reducing mobility is also crucial to control coronavirus transmission, he noted. "Based on our experience, it will need mobility reduction of more than 30% to control the cases," he said.
More...
Island: "Commander of the TNI & Police Chief Check Implementation of Prokes in Bali" from Bisnis Bali (Indonesian)
Bangli: "Covid-19 Cases Continue to Increase, Bangli [to Issue] Fines" from The Bali Post (Indonesian)
Denpasar: "Denpasar Suggests Operational Hours to Be Loosened, The Main thing is to Establish Prokes" from Bali Express (Indonesian)
Jembrana: "15 Prokes Netted Violators, 4 Fined" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian)
Klungkung: "Dozens of Speedboat Passengers Become the Target of Rapid Antigen" from The Bali Post (Indonesian)
"Indonesia's New Tourism Minister Gets Down to Work" from Travel Weekly Asia: Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno will split his office hours between Jakarta and Bali — which experienced an 83% drop in foreign arrivals last year — so he can be more involved in recovery measures. The minister has insisted he needs to hear directly from tourism stakeholders himself — an encouraging sign according to hoteliers. The minister is also in discussions with Bali’s provincial government and the Covid-19 taskforce to offer “work from Bali” and “study from Bali” packages, first floated by local authorities in July last year. Head of Bali Tourism Office, I Putu Astawa, has welcomed the plan.
Context: To learn more about Sandiaga Uno, check out this profile written when we was the Vice Presidential candidate in the last presidential election.
Vaccination Update
"With Vaccination of Health Workers in Denpasar Delayed, the Provincial Government Intervenes" from Bali Express (Indonesian): The Covid-19 vaccination for health workers in Denpasar was carried out en masse Thursday. Bali Provincial Secretary Dewa Made Indra explained that this vaccination was carried out en masse specifically for Denpasar only. "This is one way to accelerate the vaccination process for health workers (health workers). Because in Denpasar the most health workers are in Bali. Progress in Denpasar as of Wednesday was 57%. This achievement is the second-lowest in Bali. The lowest achievement is Bangli Regency with 38%, after that Denpasar," he explained.
More...
Jembrana: "Hundreds of Jembrana Health Workers Did Not Pass the Vaccination Requirements" from Antara (Indonesian)
"Incentives for Health Workers Cut by 50%" from Nusa Bali (Indonesian): Minister of Finance (Menkeu) Sri Mulyani Indrawati cut incentives for health workers who handle Covid-19 by 50% even though the policy of paying monthly incentives and compensation for death will continue until December 2021. "It can be extended again if there is a new policy related to the handling of the Covid-19 pandemic," wrote Sri Mulyani in a letter addressed to the Minister of Health. The Director General of Budget at the Ministry of Finance Askolani said that regarding this matter, the Ministry of Finance is still coordinating with the Ministry of Health. "The Ministry of Finance together with the Ministry of Health are still continuing to calculate the detailed spending plans in detail with this dynamic development so that support for handling Covid-19 can be fulfilled in 2021," he said.
"Denpasar Police to Hold Major Operation Against Drug Offenders" from Radar Bali (Indonesian): Denpasar Police Chief Kombes Jansen Avitus Panjaitan said there were at least 417 drug suspects during 2020 in the jurisdiction of the Denpasar Police. Of these, 166 suspects came from Bali. While the rest came from outside Bali. "Even though it is dominated by immigrants, Balinese natives who are involved in drugs are also high," said Kombes Jansen. In order to reduce the number of narcotics circulation in the jurisdiction of the Denpasar Police, the Denpasar Police conducted Operation Antik Agung 2021 for 16 days. This operation will start from February 4 to 19, 2021. "This operation puts forward repressive action supported by active intelligence to prevent and eradicate illicit drug trafficking," said Kombes Jansen.
"PTM Simulation Begins to be Conducted; Regent: If Successful Schools Can Meet Face-to-Face Starting Next Month" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian): Face-to-face learning simulations were started in one of the elementary schools, namely SDN 3 Banjar Jawa, Thursday. In this implementation, the Regent directly observes and is accompanied by the Head of the Education Office to ensure that everything that must be carried out when PTM returns later. The Regent of Buleleng, Putu Agus Suradnyana said that he had considered the aspirations of teachers and parents of students regarding the obstacles faced during online or online learning activities. "This is an effort to simulate once a week to hold face-to-face learning by running strict prokes, which we are simulating today," he said.
Of Interest
"Collapsed Tree Blocks Road Access Between Denpasar And Gilimanuk" from The Bali Sun
"Stricken by Strong Winds, Dozens of Fallen Trees and Damaged Buildings in Badung" from The Bali Post (Indonesian)
"Dozens of Bali Bombing Victims Receive Compensation, Total Rp. 7.7 Billion" from The Bali Post (Indonesian)
"Minister of Education and Culture Abolishes 2021 National Examination, Here's Bali Provincial Government's Response" from The Bali Tribune (Indonesian)
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.
We do not include opinion pieces or forecasts.
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.
For any questions, comments or tips, please contact us at newsletter@migrationmedia.net.