Friday, May 8
Govt warns ministries to prepare for a 2nd wave of infections + Denpasar City govt drafts lockdown rules + Ubud to put temples under guard + Family fostering 52 dogs being kicked out of home + more!
Good morning! Welcome to the COVID-19 Update for Bali for Friday, May 8. If you find this information useful, please subscribe and share it with others in the foreigner community on the island. Also, if you can contribute US$5/month to help me keep the lights on, that would be awesome.
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Status Update
Country-wide Numbers:
Source:
Indonesia National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB Indonesia): @BNPB_Indonesia
Official updates are available from the Indonesian Government here.
Bali Numbers:
Confirmed Cases Distribution:
Key: Red = Infected | Green = Recovered | Black = Died
Bali 30-Day Trends:
Sources:
Infographic comes from Bali Provincial Government COVID-19 Task Force (link).
The geographic breakdown comes from the Bali Provincial Government's data collection department (link).
Charts have been compiled using their data.
More details on the locations of positive cases within each Regency, as well as the number of suspected cases ("ODP") and people under observation ("PDP"), can be found in charts & infographics on the official websites of each Regency's COVID-19 Task Force:
Badung | Bangli | Buleleng | Denpasar City | Gianyar | Jembrana | Karangasem | Klungkung | Tabanan
How You Can Help
Each day we'll let you know about the people who are trying to make a difference in these difficult times, and how you can pitch in.
Rodney Westerlaken: The Westerlaken Foundation (formerly the Soul Surf Project) is spearheading an effort to organize the handing out of packages of food staples that can feed a family of four for 2 days. Each package consists of rice, cooking oil, noodles, fresh vegetables, garlic, chili and fresh bumbu, and costs about €3; they're currently operating in Bitera and Penatih, and will expand to Ubung next week. You can see updates on his progress and make a donation on his GoFundMe page. They are also raising funds for the Bali Kids home, a special place for children with life threatening deceases like HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Ichtyosis. Due to the crisis they've had to cut 50% of their highly trained and specialized staff, so they're in desperate need of support. Visit their separate GoFundMe site for that effort for more details.
If you know anyone who is raising funds, delivering food, organizing volunteers, or otherwise trying to rally people to the cause of assisting our neighbors here in Bali, please let us know by sending an email to newsletter@migrationmedia.net.
The Big News
"Koster: With 3 Labs Operating, No Need for Rapid Testing" from Radar Bali (Indonesian): With the two new Covid-19 testing laboratories at TN University Udayana University (Unud), Jimbaran, and the Medical Faculty Laboratory at Warmadewa University, Bali now has three PCR examination laboratories. With the operation of the three laboratories in Bali, said Koster, it is likely that the Task Force will be able to directly conduct Swab specimen test for patients, without having to go through a rapid test first... "If you have a rapid test, you still need to have a swab test to confirm [a positive result]. So, the addition of these two laboratories can accelerate the handling of the Covid-19 outbreak," he explained. The good news is that the Provincial Government of Bali is planning to add yet another laboratory owned by the Bali Provincial Health Office which is still in the stage of completing its medical equipment.
"Govt: Avoid Deficit of Basic Needs In the Face Of A Potential Second Wave Of Infections" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian): All ministries and institutions have been advised by the government to prepare for a potential second wave of covid-19 infections within the country by reinforcing their capabilities to distribute basic needs so that no more regions experience shortages... "All ministries and related institutions are encouraged to immediately improve the governance of the distribution of basic needs. The deficit of basic needs at the regional level must be avoided so as not to add new problems during the Covid-19 pandemic period," said Chairman of the MPR RI, Bambang Soesatyo.
"Denpasar City Government Plans Limiting Community Activities" from iNews (Indonesian): The Government of Denpasar City is designing a strategic step to support the acceleration of handling Covid-19- namely, implementing an order of Restrictions on Community Activities (PKM). A draft of the regulation is being submitted to the governor of Bali. "At the moment we are discussing the draft Regulation for the application of PKMB based on village / kelurahan and customary village-based PSBBs," said Denpasar Mayor da Bagus Rai Dharmawijaya Mantra... This PKM Trustees will regulate various matters related to community activities. However, in general the implementation expands and tightens existing policies. "Yes, it is almost similar to the policies that have been taken at this time, it's just that it also regulates administrative sanctions for people who violate PKM," Rai Mantra said.
Other Headlines
"Workers Laid Off In Bali Are Allowed to Return Home As Long As They Undergo Testing" from The Bali Tribune (Indonesian): Bali workers who have been laid off or have expired contracts are allowed to return to their villages outside of Bali provided they submit to rapid testing. "Services for repatriation of workers who have been laid off or have expired their contracts must pass the main requirement, namely the compulsory rapid test before boarding or using other transportation," said Made Rentin, Head of the Implementing Agency of the Bali Province Legislature.
"Local Family Fostering 52 Dogs Ordered to Move After Neighbors Complain, Has Nowhere to Go" from Radar Bali (Indonesian): Arumy Sekar has been caring for abandoned and rescued dogs since 2017 in her family's rented home in Anyar banjar, Tabanan. However, her good intentions are now a problem, as her neighbors have complained to the banjar and the local pecalang have ordered her to move within a week... "I'm confused. Never mind to rent a house for Rp 30 million per year. For food we are still very short, especially due to Covid-19. I have no income," she said. Each month, Arumy needs at least 150 kg of rice, 10 sacks of dog food, and 50 to 60 kg of meat for her pet dog. "If there are friends or donors who are moved to help ease our burden, please transfer to BCA account 01532,732.75 in the name of Wenny Aliningrum. Or please can come and check our situation on Jalan Tendean Perumahan Graha Aztabumi Blok A Banjar Anyar Kediri Tabanan. Or please Whatsapp me at number 0895.41331.3584," she said.
"Supporting Passenger Air Travel Restrictions, Ngurah Rai Airport Sets Up Inspection Post" from The Bali Tribune (Indonesian): Angkasa Pura Airports, the state-owned entity that manages Bali's airport, has prepared a checkpoint and inspection station for people who will be flying through the 15 airports under their management and several other efforts starting today. This is an effort to support the smooth flight of airplane passengers during the homecoming ban which is limited to certain criteria. There will be an Integrated Post that can also be operated as an Examination Post.
"Indonesia to Revise 'Overall Data' On COVID-19 Cases As Govt Scrambles to Ramp Up Testing" from The Jakarta Post: The government is set to revise its data on confirmed and possible coronavirus cases across the country amid efforts to ramp up testing and to get a clearer view on the true scale of the outbreak within the archipelago... Wiku Adisasmito, the head of the expert staff of the country's COVID-19 task force, said the central government planned to provide more accurate data on the coronavirus in Indonesia including suspected cases and probable cases, in accordance with the World Health Organization's reporting standards updated in early April. The task force is expected to revise the crucial information and situation reports regarding the pandemic once it compiles the data from all provinces and districts across the archipelago.
"To Avoid Pratima Thefts, Ubud Police Chief Asks Indigenous Authorities to Reactivate the Makemit System" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian): Ubud Police Chief, AKP Sudyatmaja, has asked the traditional village in Ubud to re-activate the guard system, or "makemit," in the temple to avoid a repeat of the theft of the pratima that occurred in Pura Taman Limut Pangosekan and other temples... "Reflecting on the pratima theft case at Pura Taman Limut, I plead with the entire Perbekel, especially in Ubud, to to reactivate the makemit system at the temple," he said.
"Indonesia Economic Recovery Scenario" from Indonesia Expat: A scenario of Indonesia’s economic recovery, which will be completed gradually over the course of five phases from June to July 2020, is believed to have been delivered on behalf of the Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Airlangga Hartarto. However, the Ministry of Economic Affairs is yet to confirm the scenario that has already been publicised. In these five phases, there are provisions for the opening of industries, shops, shopping centres, fitness centres, and other economic activities, as well as social activities... President Joko Widodo is aiming to flatten the curve of positive coronavirus cases this May, by any means necessary. "Our target in May must be achieved in accordance with the target we gave, namely the curve has to go down, then enter a moderate position in June," the president explained.
"Virus, Climate Change Cause Food Shortages In Parts of Indonesia" from The Jakarta Post: The Home Ministry is encouraging district heads to empower local communities across Indonesia’s regions to plant their own staple foods, especially those in territories facing shortage. The COVID-19 pandemic will disrupt food supply within the country and around the world, exacerbating the situation. Making matters worse, a dry season is looming on the horizon and may impact the overall output of the agriculture sector, which employs more than a quarter of the national workforce... The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has projected that more than 30 percent of the country’s regions, including parts of Bali, Java, Sumatra and Sulawesi, might face an unusually harsh dry season this month. "So there are two challenges right now: climate change and supply chain disruption due to the outbreak," Institute for Development of Economics and Finance (Indef) researcher Dhenny Yuartha told The Jakarta Post.
"Social Restrictions Drive Online Transactions Up 400%" from Bali Express (Indonesian): The Chairman of the Bali Young Farmers Forum, Gede Agung Wedhatama, said that as long as there was a suggestion to stay at home, the trend of community spending online is increasing. "If previously people tended to shop for their own basic needs, during the Covid-19 pandemic, the trend of learning basic needs online has increased," he explained... The increase in online food product sales during the Covid-19 pandemic has reached almost 400%, or more than 200 transactions per day. Whereas on normal days, the average is under 50 transactions.
Resources
Important information for foreigners who are staying on the island, such as designated COVID-19 hospitals and emergency contact numbers, can be found by following this link.
The government has cancelled its visa-on-arrival process and rolled out enhanced entry requirements for people traveling to Indonesia; they have also granted automatic extensions to most foreigners who are still in the country on temporary stay visas. You can see a (translated) list of all of the relevant regulations on the Directorate General of Immigration & Ministry of Law and Human Rights' website here.
If you are trying to plan travel anywhere, here are some of the best up-to-date resources that can help you:
IATA Travel Center Update - The International Air Transport Association is the global lobbying body for the aviation industry. Their Travel Information Manual Automatic (Timatic) database feeds into airlines' reservation systems, so it is the most reliable list of flight restrictions around.
Revolver Maps' Travel Restrictions Database - This list pulls directly from IATA's Timatic database and arranges the countries in lists that are easier to navigate and creates share-able links for every country. NOTE: This is a third-party service and they warn that the updates to their system can be delayed by several hours for certain countries.
Al Jazeera Travel Restriction & Border Shutdown Tracker - A companion list that includes less technical summaries of each country's travel restrictions, beyond just flights and airport access.
Common abbreviations to be familiar with:
PMI: Indonesian migrant worker
PSBB: Policy of extreme social distancing. Officially restricts forms of transportation and prohibits certain types of business from operating. Requires any permitted businesses to enforce strict social distancing guidelines.
OTG: Possible cases, with no symptoms.
ODP: Suspected cases, being monitored. People with fever or respiratory symptoms such as congestion, sore throat, cough, travel in countries or areas with local transmission, or contact with a confirmed case of Covid-19. Tracked and placed under out-patient observation.
PDP: Probable cases, under observation. People with acute respiratory illness with at least one symptom such as cough, sore throat, congestion, light or heavy pneumonia, and travel in countries or areas with local transmission, or contact with a confirmed case of Covid-19. Usually placed under observation in an isolation ward at a designated hospital pending swab testing results.
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 will 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.