Friday, January 22
Current wave of cases continues; govt officials warn of heath system strain + Pres. open to private vaccinations + Imgrasi tells foreigners that deportations will increase if visa rules broken + more!
Good morning! Welcome to The Bali Beat for Friday, January 22. 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.
I happily put this newsletter together Monday through Friday as a public service, and it will be free so long as the current emergency lasts. *A paid subscription is NOT required to access this content.* However, if you would like to support my work, please consider making a donation of US$5/month by becoming a contributing subscriber at the link above. Or if you prefer to make a one-time donation - in any amount - click here.
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: Yesterday’s 483 cases were down slightly from Wednesday (494) but not enough to ease pressure off of the island’s increasingly-under-strain healthcare infrastructure. In fact, yesterday saw the largest-ever addition of new patients (254) into the system; and with nearly 1,000 new cases added in just two days, officials are expressing grave concern. Denpasar again led the way with 189 cases. Just 11 days prior, on Jan. 10, the 7-day average for the entire island was 179. Officials there blamed infections on the long holiday, plus outbreaks driven by religious ceremonies and within families. They pointedly said that they do not know when the current wave might dissipate. Buleleng saw 35 cases yesterday, which is fewer than its all-time record (41), but when combined with Wednesday’s number (16), there is worry that the several clusters being tracked could fuel ever-increasing infections.
Click here to see the national numbers infographic and a Regency-by-Regency breakdown of yesterday’s local numbers.
The Big News
"PPKM Has the Potential to Be Implemented Throughout Bali, Dharmadi Hopes That Regency / City Satpol PP Will Be Sharper" from The Bali Tribune (Indonesian): Currently PPKM in Bali has only been implemented in Denpasar City, Badung Regency, Gianyar, Klungkung and Tabanan Regency. The PPKM policy that has the potential to be applied throughout Bali was discovered after the circulation of directions from the Bali Provincial Civil Service Police Unit (Satpol PP) to Satpol PP districts / cities throughout Bali. "If starting from today until one week ahead it is unable to suppress the growth of Covid in Bali, the PPKM time is extended to an undetermined limit and will be implemented in all regions in Bali," wrote the Satpol PP directive.
"Govt Evaluates Mechanism for Implementing Self-paid Vaccination" from Antara: "Many of the companies, entrepreneurs said, 'Sir, can we implement self-funded vaccination?' We are going to take a decision on this," President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) noted. "Why? This is because we need to accelerate (the vaccination program). (We) need (to have) as many (people) as possible (to be vaccinated). Moreover, the costs are borne by companies, why not?" Jokowi pointed out that the country had some 30 thousand vaccinators, around 10 thousand 'puskesmas' or community health centers, and three thousand hospitals to implement the program. If one vaccination officer can inoculate 30 people daily, then in a day, nearly one million people can be vaccinated, he remarked... The government plans to vaccinate 181.5 million people to achieve herd immunity against COVID-19. The first batch of vaccinations is being conducted from January to April 2021, with the target of 1.3 million health workers in 34 provinces, 17.4 million public officials, and 21.5 million elderly citizens.
Context: Denpasar officials reported yesterday that during the first week of vaccine distribution to healthcare personnel, 535 workers were inoculated.
HOSPITAL CAPACITY UPDATE: Data form the national Covid-19 Task Force shows that Bali’s Bed Occupancy Rate (BOR) has jumped to 68.3%- a rise of over 7% in just 4 days. Mangusada Regional Hospital in Badung reported yesterday that its isolation ward, Covid-19 Special Emergency Unit, and ICU were all full. After Jembrana’s Task Force announced the opening of a new isolation facility in the Jimbarwana Hotel, officials there said that they are able to handle the current number of patients, but that they have written to private hospitals to ask them to free up more isolation beds in case the numbers continue to climb, but none have replied yet. In Karangasem, 10 hotels have been reserved for the isolation of asymptomatic patients, with 1,559 rooms available.
>> Classifieds <<
Love podcasts? Discover The Bittersweet Life. This weekly exploration of life abroad (and in Italy) will make you laugh (and cry). The topics are deep, thought-provoking, and fun. And the guests are the biggest names in the literary world. Give it a try. You won’t regret it. [LINK]
Where is everyone? If you’re looking for people who care about Bali, you’ve found them! Every day, The Bali Beat is delivered to hundreds of people’s inboxes + hundreds more find it via organic sharing. If you’ve got a message to send to foreigners on Bali, they’re right here.
Other Headlines
"During 2020, 157 Foreigners Were Deported from Bali" from Republika (Indonesian): "The 157 people who have been expelled from Bali during 2020, are not due to being viral. So it is as if the Bali Ministry of Law and Human Rights is working because it has gone viral, but we are still working throughout the year," said the Head of the Bali KemenkumHAM Regional Office Jamaruli Manihuruk. Kakanwil asks foreigners stranded in Bali to follow visa processing procedures and not to abuse their residence permit. "We will also always be in the field, you make mistakes, yes we are there, don't be part of that 157, in addition to that. So this year five people are being deported," he said.
Today’s Prokes Patrols
"Supervision of Health Protocols Three Times a Day, PPKM in Bali is Extended to 8 February 2021" from The Bali Tribune (Indonesian): The head of the Bali Provincial Civil Service Police Unit (Satpol PP) , I Dewa Nyoman Rai Dharmadi, asked the Badung and Denpasar Satpol PP to supervise and enforce the health protocol (prokes) three times a day. "The schedule of activities, especially in the two regions, namely Denpasar and Badung, will be adjusted three times a day, other regencies will adjust," wrote Rai Dharmadi in his direction to Satpol PP regencies / cities in Bali.
Context: Other reports of health protocol patrols yesterday included operations in Bangli’s Kintamani district, Pemecutan Village in Denpasar,
"Vehicles Entering Bali Get Down During PPKM" from The Bali Post (Indonesian): The flow of people and people entering Bali through the Gilimauk Port during the Java-Bali PPKM has decreased. The incoming vehicles are dominated by logistics goods vehicles destined for Bali. According to data collected at ASDP Gilimauk Port, since it took effect last Thursday, January 14, for two-wheeled vehicles 300-400. On the weekends there is an increase of up to 600 motorbikes. Likewise with private cars between 300 units to 400 units per day. On the other hand, for goods vehicles, the average daily rate is above 500 units to 700 units. From the data at the independent rapid test clinic in Gilimauk Port, the average person who does a rapid test, in normal [times], is around 100 rapid tests. Meanwhile, on weekends it increases to 300 people a day.
"Enter the Red Zone, High Elderly Mortality Rate in Gianyar" from Bali Express (Indonesian): During the meeting, it was stated that the number of cases of death of the elderly (elderly) who were confirmed positive for Covid-19 was quite high, reaching a percentage of 57.7 percent. Of the total 90 deaths since the start of the pandemic, 52 are elderly patients. Then the mortality rate which reached 90 cases with a CFR of 3.3 percent was above Bali Province which was 2.9 percent and National. Now the total cases have reached 2,689 cases. With the addition of cases and the number of active cases starting to increase in December 2020. Even as of Wednesday (20/1) there was an addition of 48 confirmed cases. The high number of cases makes Gianyar Regency into the red zone.
"Bio Farma Produces Three Million Sinovac Vaccines" from Indonesia Expat: PT Bio Farma (Persero) started production of the CoronaVac vaccine at its production facility in Bandung on 14th January. In the past week, Bio Farma has produced as many as three million doses of the vaccine and they are ready for release. President Director of Bio Farma Honesti Basyir said that the three million doses of vaccine that have been produced and undergone a quality control process are just waiting for the lot release from the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM).
"Bali Rain Heavy Until February, People Asked To Postpone Traveling" from Radar Bali (Indonesian): The peak of the rainy season that hit most parts of Indonesia is predicted to occur in January to February. Therefore, as an effort to increase vigilance to minimize the risks that occur, the Denpasar BPBD appealed to the public to remain more careful and vigilant. Head of BPBD Denpasar City IB Joni Ariwibawa explained, heavy rain accompanied by strong winds still occurred in Denpasar City... "In accordance with BMKG predictions that the peak of the rainy season in Bali, especially Denpasar City will occur from January to February. Therefore we urge the public to increase vigilance," he explained. Furthermore, he said that people are advised to postpone traveling in case of heavy rains. If forced to travel in order to avoid taking shelter or being close to large shade trees, billboards and other height devices.
"Whale Carcass Washes Up on Bali Beach" from CNA: The rotting carcass of a nearly 14m whale washed up on Thursday (Jan 21) on a Bali beach popular with tourists. The conservation agency said it was investigating the death of the giant creature, which was first spotted in shallow waters near Batu Belig beach, north of Seminyak. Bali conservation official Prawono Meruanto said the creature could be a Bryde's whale, and that its carcass was later buried at the beach using an excavator... In July, ten smaller whales were found dead on a beach in Indonesia's East Nusa Tenggara province. Locals managed to get one surviving member of the pod back into the water alive. Cross-currents off beaches pose a danger to whales as they can get caught between reefs close to shore.
Of Interest
"Indonesia's Population Reaches 271.35 million: Interior Ministry" from Antara
"The Construction of the Balinese Cultural Center in Klungkung Is a Monumental Masterpiece" from Nusa Bali (Indonesian)
"DLHK Badung: This is the Season for Large Volume Shipment" from Republika (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.
Our standards
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.