Friday, March 5
TV, radio & 4G to shut off for Nyepi; home internet to stay on + Imigrasi & police vow more coordination against scofflaw foreigners + Spice shortage in markets as chili prices skyrocket + more!
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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: The island's new infection numbers jumped way back up over 200 yesterday and deaths hit a new record. We continue to feel the effects of the surge in cases of the last two months through the lagging indicator of fatalities. And the pace is increasing. Just 4 days into the month, March already has nearly double the number of deaths as February did at this point (41 vs. 27), which had been only 7 ahead of September's record at the time. February - with only 28 days vs. September’s 30 - ended up logging a 15% jump in deaths vs September.
Click here to see the national numbers infographic and a Regency-by-Regency breakdown of yesterday’s local numbers.
The Big News
"Nyepi in Bali Officially Without Broadcast and Internet, Three Institutions Signed MoU" from Tribune Bali (Indonesian): Towards the Nyepi holiday on Sunday, March 14, 2021, three institutions signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) related to socialization, coordination, monitoring and evaluation of the absence of broadcasts during the implementation of Nyepi. The three institutions are the Bali DPRD , the Bali Regional Indonesian Broadcasting Commission (KPID), and the Bali Province Information and Information Communication Office (Diskominfos). One of the contents of the MoU was the elimination of broadcasts, both TV, radio, and the internet during Nyepi... Regarding internet signals and cellular data, Head of Diskominfos, I Gede Pramana, said that his party will also hold a coordination meeting so that several vital places can be connected. As in hospitals, so that internet and cellular data can still be accessed. This is because a vital place such as a hospital, an internet network, is still very much needed by medical personnel during loneliness.
Context: Additional reporting in The Bali Post notes that the head of Diskominfos clarified that while all cellular data services would be shut off, “internet services are turned on not only in places of vital services, but also to networks to homes.” However, wifi nodes in public areas will be switched off. SMS service to cell phones will be available. The shutdown will take place from 06:00 local time on Sunday, March 14 until 06:00 local time on Monday, March 15.
"Handling Foreign Cases, Bali's Ministry of Law and Human Rights and the Bali Police Establish Cooperation" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian): In order to strengthen cooperation in the handling of Interpol fugitives, especially foreigners (WNA), Head of Regional Offices of The Ministry of Law and Human Rights (Kanwil Kemenkumham) Bali, Jamaruli Manihuruk together with his staff visited the Bali Police on Jalan WR Supratman, Thursday. Jamaruli said that in the future there would be more solid collaboration between the Ministry of Law and Human Rights and the Bali Police. In addition, the Bali Ministry of Law and Human Rights plans to carry out joint training between the National Police and the Ministry of Law and Human Rights related to general knowledge and law enforcement for foreigners. Kapolda said that currently there is an increase in health protocol violations, both from foreigners.
"Zoning Update for Covid-19 Cases, Three Areas in Bali Enter the Red Zone" from The IDN Times (Indonesian): The Bali Provincial Government through the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) Bali has designated three areas with the status of the red zone and six other areas as the orange zone. Denpasar City, Badung Regency, and Tabanan are high-risk areas marked as red zones for the COVID-19 case. Meanwhile, other districts that were declared at moderate risk or the orange zone included Jembrana, Gianyar, Klungkung, Bangli, Karangasem, and Buleleng Regencies.
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Other Headlines
"13 Tons of Fish Kill in Lake Batur Due to Sulfur Upwelling: Official" from Coconuts: I Wayan Sarma, who heads the Agriculture, Food Security, and Fisheries Agency in Bangli, told local media outlets that the fish kill was noticed when the lake water started changing color on Sunday, following days of heavy rain and strong winds around the lake. Wayan said the weather triggered sulfur upwelling, leading to a drastic change in oxygen levels which eventually killed the fish. According to the official, sulfur upwelling is not uncommon in Lake Batur, though it did not occur last year. He said fish breeders might have taken a chance this year despite having seen upwelling in the years prior.
Health Protocols (Prokes) & Patrols
"As Long as This Does Not Cause This, the Prokes Violators' Hunting Team Is Not Targeting Melasti's Activities" from The Bali Post (Indonesian): It is feared that the activity of melasti series of Nyepi which generally involves many Hindus will increase the spread of COVID-19. Especially in Bali, religious and traditional ceremonial clusters are a significant contributor to cases. One of the provisions of the Joint Circular that clarifies regulations around Nyepi celebrations states that the maximum number of participants participating in the Melasti, Tawur, Pangrupukan ceremony procession is 50 people. According to Karo Ops Polda Bali, Kombes Pol. Firman Nainggolan, Thursday (4/3), the Bali Police have formed a Team to Hunt Prokes Violators (health protocol). For the melasti activity, as long as it does not cause clusters and an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases, this team is not targeting it.
Vaccination Update
Nation: "Govt Open to Private Collaboration to Meet Vaccine Production Target" from Antara
Badung: "Dozens of Journalists in Badung Were Injected With the Covid-19 Vaccine" from Nusa Bali (Indonesian)
Badung: "96 Air Force Personnel I Gusti Ngurah Rai, Follow Covid-19 Vaccination" from Bali Prawara (Indonesian)
Badung: "PTN Unud Hospital Opens Covid-19 Vaccination Services for Campus Residents" from Antara (Indonesian)
Bangli: "100 Bangli Police Personnel Participates in Covid-19 Vaccination" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian)
Denpasar: "Speeding for Vaccination Phase II, Denpasar City Adds 23 Health Care Facilities" from Bali Express (Indonesian)
Jembrana: "A Total Of 51 Personnel From Babinsa Kodim Jembrana, Received The First Dose Of Vaccination" from Bali Prawara (Indonesian)
Karangasem: "Covid-19 Vaccination Phase II in Karangasem Was Constrained by the Internet Network" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian)
Health Services Update
"Rp. 30 Billion In Arrears For 15 Quarantine Hotels, The Center Begins To Disburse Funds Gradually" from Bali Prawara (Indonesian): Secretary of the Bali Province Covid-19 Task Force, I Made Rentin emphasized that his party has received a transfer of funds for the payment of quarantine hotels. He explained that the funds for the payment for the quarantine location are fully borne by the central government. For now, the payment has not been fully completed with arrears of more than Rp 30 billion from 15 quarantine hotels. He said there was already a third of the funds [to cover the] arrears. "We just received Rp 10 billion and this is a breath of fresh air, great hope for business people. The money will be transferred to the quarantine hotels as soon as possible, no later than this Thursday afternoon,” said Rentin.
Context: Most local governments have taken over responsibility for the hotel quarantine program and made arrangements to pay the fees going forward.
Economy News
"Workforce in the Bali Tourism Sector is Down, this is the Cause" from Bisnis Bali (Indonesian): Based on data from Bank Indonesia, the number of workers in the food and beverage accommodation sector in Bali as of 2019 was 328,000 workers. In 2020, the number decreased by 28.05% compared to the previous year (year on year / YoY) to 236,000 workers. The opposite occurs in the agricultural sector, with an increase of 17.9% YoY in 2020 to 546,000 workers. An increase in the number of workers also occurred in the trade sector, which rose 3.19% YoY in 2020 to 496,000 workers. Then, the number of workers in the manufacturing industry will increase by 3.52% YoY in 2020 to 382,000 workers... The unemployment rate in Bali as of August 2020 was 5.6%, up from the same period the previous year which was 1.5%. In 2019, the unemployment rate in Bali is the lowest in Indonesia. However, with the realization of 5.6%, in 2020 Bali is ranked 18th lowest unemployed in Indonesia.
"Jokowi Wants Local Products to Exist, Asks Foreign Brands to Be Shifted to Non-strategic Locations" from iNews Bali (Indonesian): President Joko Widodo ( Jokowi ) has asked for Indonesian-made products to find places in shopping centers or malls . He asked foreign brands to be shifted to non-strategic locations and replaced with local brands. "This (foreign brands) must begin to be shifted. They are shifted to a place that is not strategic, a good place for local brands," he said. "Branding must be attached so that people love Indonesian products more than foreign products. Because our population is more than 270 million people, they should be the most loyal consumers of our own products."
"Digitization of APEC Business Travel Card Offers Plethora of Benefits" from Antara: Officials from APEC member economies finalized their work toward modernizing and increasing the security and efficiency of business travel through the unveiling of the virtual or digital APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC). "Our objective is to make traveling under the APEC Business Travel Card scheme more secure, efficient, convenient, and user-friendly, particularly as APEC members are looking for safe and effective measures to open up borders and resume international travel," Kimberlee Stamatis, convenor of the APEC Business Mobility Group, overseeing the scheme, stated. Stamatis, concurrently the director at Australia’s Department of Home Affairs, noted that Australia will be the first economy to transition to the digital service for all Australian cardholders from March 2021.
Of Interest
"Bali Police Stop Investigations of Russian Foreigner [Suspected of Helping Interpol Fugitive Escape]" from The IDN Times (Indonesian)
"Two Russian Fugitives Will Soon Be Deported From Bali" from Antara (Indonesian)
"Two Foreigners Arrested for Forged Swab Test Certificates"from Indonesia Expat
"High Chili Pepper Prices of Rp. 110 Thousand Per Kg for Traders to Rely on Stocks From Outside Bali" from Radar Bali (Indonesian)
"Within a Month the Denpasar Police Secure 40 Drug Case Suspects" from The IDN Times (Indonesian)
The View from Outside
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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 TheBaliBeat@outlanders.global.
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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