Friday, July 31
New visa process released- individuals can apply for new visas online, deadline extended until Aug. 20 + Sanjiwani Hospital closes outpatient clinic after staff infections + Bali reopens today + more!
Good morning! Welcome to the COVID-19 Update for Bali for Friday, July 31. (Happy Eid al-Adha!) Please subscribe and share it with others in the foreigner community on the island. I happily put this daily newsletter together 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.* When signing up, select the "None" option and you'll get it delivered to your Inbox each day. If you would like to support my work, please consider making a voluntary contribution of US$5/month. Supporters receive an early update on the government’s daily infection & recovery numbers each night within an hour or so of their announcement… plus my enduring gratitude!
PUBLICATION CHANGE REMINDER: Tomorrow’s newsletter will publish as normal. Starting tomorrow night, all subscribers will receive an update on the day’s Covid-19 infection & recovery numbers within about an hour of their publication, around 17:00-18:00 local time. I will cease sending out the morning news update on Sundays beginning this weekend, though you will still receive the Covid-19 numbers in the evening. On Monday, the (slightly) redesigned newsletter will debut, as will its new name in your Inbox: The Bali Beat.
Status Update
National Numbers:
Bali Numbers:
Regency Numbers:
Confirmed Cases Distribution:
Key: Red = Infected | Green = Recovered | Black = Died
30-Day Trends:
More details on the locations of positive cases within each Regency, as well as the number of suspected cases ("ODP") and people under in-patient observation ("PDP"), can be found in charts & infographics on the websites of each Regency's Covid-19 Task Force:
Badung | Bangli | Buleleng | Denpasar City | Gianyar | Jembrana | Karangasem | Klungkung | Tabanan
Sources:
The national update comes from the Indonesia National Disaster Management Agency: @BNPB_Indonesia
The Bali Numbers infographic comes from the Bali Provincial Government COVID-19 Task Force (link).
The Confirmed Cases Distribution map & Regency Numbers figures come from the Bali Provincial Government's data collection department (link).
NOTE: While the national government includes daily testing totals in its infographic, Bali’s provincial government does not routinely release this data, so it is not included.
The Big News
IMMIGRATION ALERT: Late last night, the Directorate of Immigration published their new policies concerning Visas on Arrival, Emergency Extensions, and Online Renewals on their social media accounts. The complete details have not yet been published on their website, but the big points disclosed are as follows:
Instead of filing for extensions, people can submit an application for a new visa via an online version of the telex system. Once approved, the new visa can be collected at a local Immigration office. This will eliminate the need to travel outside of the country to apply at embassies or consulates (which have all suspended their visa services due to the pandemic).
The deadline to file for a new visa has been pushed to August 20.
The post only mentions “Visitor’s Visa,” and “Temporary Stay Permit.” It does not go through the list of all visa types or specify whether different visa types (i.e. Business Visas and others) can also be applied for via this system. One has to assume that it will be possible, but it’s not spelled out in this post. What it does say is that holders of a “previous visa telex” can apply for the Visit Permit or Temporary Stay Permit.
The new platform will begin accepting applications on August 3. The post clams that the visa application process can be done without the need for third party help (i.e. visa agents). It warns of possible scams and advises that people check the official schedule of service fees (link) to make sure that they are not being charged too much for any help provided buy agents.
You can read the full post for yourself on the Directorate’s Twitter, Facebook and Instagram accounts. The link for the new online application system, which was not yet active as of press time, is: https://www.visa-online.imigrasi.go.id
More details are needed and everyone will have questions about how they should proceed. I will continue to monitor Immigration’s website (imigrasi.go.id) for their posting of the full Circular, and will post an update here once they do. In the meantime, if you are working with a visa agent, it’s worth reaching out for some guidance, but best advice is to wait on making any decisions until the full details have been released and the new website is up. NOTE: Today is a public holiday in Indonesia, Eid al-Adha, so all Immigration offices are closed and you’ll probably have to wait until Monday for further guidance.
"8 Workers Exposed to Covid-19, Outpatient Department at Sanjiwani Regional Hospital Closed for Three Days" from The Bali Tribune (Indonesian): Sanjiwani Gianyar Hospital, which is a Covid-19 patient referral hospital, is currently in an emergency condition and closed its outpatient polyclinic on Wednesday after eight local health workers were exposed to Covid-19. Of particular note, this patient data was not published by the Gianyar Covid-19 Task Force... An announcement has also been posted at the Sanjiwani Regional Hospital in Gianyar, where the Outpatient Polyclinic will be left blank for three days. "In connection with the implementation of disinfectants and UV sterilization throughout the polyclinic building and registration for three days, the Outpatient Poly service was temporarily closed. Patients who need emergency services will be served in the emergency room. Poly reopens 1-8-2020," said the announcement.
"With Domestic Tourism Reopening, Ditlantas Bali Police Tighten Entrance Guards" from The Bali Tribune (Indonesian): Starting Friday. the Bali Police Traffic Directorate (Bali Ditlantas) personnel at Gilimanuk Port will be increase from 22 to 30... Based on official data, from Wednesday until Thursday morning, the number of people entering Bali via the Gilimanuk Port was 6,076 people. Of these, most were logistical drivers. In fact, many of them left Bali, with 12,197 people from Wednesday to Thursday morning, according to Kasubdit Security and Safety of Bali Police Traffic, AKBP Drs I Nyoman Sukasena.
Other Headlines
"Bali Tourism Sector Opening After Losing IDR 48.5 trillion Due to Covid-19, But 'Not All Ready' and 'Still At Risk'" from BBC Indonesia (Indonesian): The Bali tourism office recorded a loss of IDR9.7 trillion every month, so there was no incentive for tourism businesses, and called the reopening of tourism on the island as a 'mutual cooperation' action... However, although the tourism sector will be opened, associations engaged in hospitality and restaurants noted that more than 90% of the sector has not been verified to undergo the Covid-19 protocol, due to capital problems.
"Bali Reopening for Domestic Tourism Friday But Nightclubs Stay Closed" from The Bali Sun: Deputy Bali governor Tjokorda Oka Artha has said the province will reopen for domestic tourists on Friday but entertainment venues will remain closed. Natural and cultural tourist destinations will be open for tourists, he said, but the popular resort island would not yet reopen its entertainment establishments such as nightclubs and karaoke bars. He said Bali’s hotels and resorts were ready to organize business meetings and events as well.
"Mixed Views by Bali Businesses as Island Restarts Domestic Tourism" from Coconuts: despite brewing optimism from the Indonesian government to finally restart tourism on the island after months of relative inactivity, businesses appear to have mixed views about the plan... A 33-year-old Balinese hostel owner in Ubud, who goes by the name Nick, said that the little jungle town is “more than ready” to receive tourists, noting that his business has been hit hard for the past several months and that cases are relatively low in the area. As of yesterday, Ubud only has three active COVID-19 cases. However, he told Coconuts Bali that he has yet to receive any official briefing on crucial health protocols. “Actually, there has been nothing like that, briefing or the likes, for hostels we don’t have that yet,” Nick said.
"Satpol PP Record 6 Foreign Tourists Driven to the Streets in Bali Due to Pandemic" from iNews Bali (Indonesian): A number of foreign nationals have lived homeless in Bali since the Covid-19 pandemic. "This July alone we have secured six Caucasians who ran out of provisions," said Head of the Badung Regency Satpol PP , Bali, I Gusti Agung Suryanegara. All six foreigners were found in different conditions, but each indicated that they were depressed due to a similar problem, namely running out of money to survive in Bali. However, it is possible that the phenomema could be a mode so that travelers who are now destitute can be returned to their country. "If I immediately ask for money from the consulate, I don't think it will be given. They will be wasted and then secured and handed over to immigration. Immigration then contacts the consulate so wait for the consulate to return," he said.
"60 Foreigners Deported from Bali During the Pandemic" from The IDN Times (Indonesian): The Bali Regional Office for Law and Human Rights noted that as many as 60 foreign nationals had been deported from Bali from January to July 2020. They were involved in various forms of violations of the law and had to be deported from Indonesia even though they were still in the pandemic condition of the coronavirus. There are as many as 47 foreigners with seven types of violations of law handled by the Ngurah Rai Special Class I Immigration Office. Meanwhile, the TPI Denpasar Class I Immigration Office has deported six foreigners, and the Singaraja Class II Immigration Office has handled seven cases.
"Ahead of Reopening for Domestic Tourists, Double Six Beach Crowded with Visitors" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian): From the observation of Bali Puspanews, Double Six Beach, Seminyak, Kuta, Badung has begun to be crowded with local and domestic visitors. One of the Bar and Restaurant employees who are in Double Six Beach, Agus Maharta, said visitors began to arrive when the New Normal process was declared, especially local visitors. Employees at bars and restaurants along the beach were also seen implementing health protocols such as wearing masks and face shields while working. Meanwhile, a number of stalls located on the road to Double Six Beach were still not open as usual.
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 fund 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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