January 11, 2022
Foreigners lament poor service at Jakarta quarantine hotels + BPOM issues emergency approval for five booster vaccines + Private aircraft flies a dozen passengers from Singapore to Bali + more
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National Figures
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The Big News
“Foreigners Lament Poor Services of Jakarta Quarantine Hotel” from Tempo: A European woman and her friend arrived in Indonesia during the last week of 2021 and underwent the mandatory international traveler's quarantine at a hotel in Central Jakarta. However, elation turned to despair after they tested positive for COVID-19. On the same day, they were transferred to a coronavirus isolation hotel in the same area, where a local health official told them they had to stay in separate rooms as they arrived on different flights, however, at the isolation hotel, they were offered a single room by administrators at a cheaper price. The administrators set a price of IDR 14 million for 10-day hotel isolation in a room designated for one, and that the bill could be shared if they stayed in one room. On the eleventh day of their stay, the hotel charged them Rp12.7 million each.
Context: The full story contains a second guest story along with the above, both mirror similar (and worse) alleged first-hand experiences that have been circulating on social media for some time.
“BPOM Issues Emergency Use Authorization for Five Booster Vaccines” from Antara: The National Agency of Drug and Food Control (BPOM) issued Emergency Use Authorization for five COVID-19 vaccine products to be used for administering the booster shot. "Five vaccines had received the EUA through an evaluation process from the drug or vaccine expert team and had fulfilled the existing criteria," BPOM's Head, Penny K. Lukito, said on Monday. These COVID-19 vaccine products are CoronaVac produced by the state-run vaccine manufacturer PT Bio Farma, Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Moderna, and Zifivax.
“Private Jet from Singapore Brings 12 Indonesian Citizens to Bali” from Kumparan (Indonesian): A private jet arrived at Ngurah Rai Airport, Bali on Sunday, from Singapore with 12 Indonesian citizens. The information was confirmed by the Public Relations of I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport, Bali, Taufan Yudhistira on Monday. "Yes, yesterday an international flight landed. There has been permission from the Ministry of Transportation," he said. When they arrived at Ngurah Rai airport, they had already undergone a test to detect whether they carried the virus or not. "Oh yes (tested), but for our test results, we don't have it," said Taufan. After the process at the airport, these passengers then undergo a quarantine process, but Taufan admitted he didn't know where they were quarantined. He also admitted that he did not know who was in the group.
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Other Headlines
“Government to Segregate Data on Local, Imported Covid-19 Cases” from Antara: The government will separate data on local COVID-19 cases and imported cases, or infections detected in international travelers, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto said on Monday. For instance, records of travelers detected with COVID-19 at Soekarno Hatta Airport and quarantined at the Emergency Hospital Wisma Atlet Kemayoran will not be combined with the records of local cases detected in Jakarta, Hartarto said. According to the minister, Indonesia's effective case reproduction figure is below 1%, specifically around 0.99%, with active cases outside Java-Bali accounting for 36.87% or 2,252 cases of the 6,108 national cases.
Vaccination Update
“EUA for Red and White Vaccine Likely in June” from Antara: Head of the National Agency of Drug and Food Control has said that the emergency-use authorization (EUA) for Airlangga University's Red and White COVID-19 vaccine is likely to be issued in June 2022. "It is hoped that in early February, there will be clinical trials for Airlangga University's Red and White vaccine. If there are no significant obstacles, it is targeted to receive the EUA in June," Penny Lukito said on Monday. Asked whether Airlangga University's vaccine could be used as a booster, Lukito said that the preclinical trials of the vaccine on animals have been concluded.
More...
Nation: “President to Announce Booster Vaccine Mechanism” from Antara
Nation: “Hospital Use of Nusantara Vaccine Differs From Other Brands” from Antara
Province: “Vaccination Against Covid-19 Aged 6-11 Years in Bali Passes 100%” from Antara Bali (Indonesian)
Health Protocols (Prokes) & Health Services
“Jakarta Imposes Micro Lockdown Amid Omicron Spread” from Antara: The Jakarta provincial government has imposed micro-scale lockdown in several areas following an increase in the number of cases of the Omicron variant. "In several areas, the micro lockdown is managed by the local government and the community there," Head of the Disease Prevention and Control Division of the Jakarta Health Office Dwi Oktavia said on Monday. As of January 9, the provincial government of Jakarta had recorded some 1,885 active COVID-19 cases out of which 75.1%, or 1,415 people, are those who had travelled abroad. From the total count of active cases, 407 had contracted the Omicron variant.
Context: In related news, despite these micro-lockdowns, Jakarta is continuing with full offline schooling. An updated number of Omicron cases is 414, with most of the international cases arriving from Turkey and Saudi Arabia and 31 of the cases being locally transmitted cases.
More...
Nation: “Minister Urges International Travellers to Abide by Quarantine Policy” from Antara
Nation: “Expert Calls to Intensify Contact Tracing” from Antara
Nation: “Disciplined Quarantine Prevents Omicron Spreading Among Umrah Pilgrims” from Antara
Nation: “Serving Umrah, Lion Air Flies Non-stop from Jakarta to Medina” from Bali Prawara (Indonesian)
Economy & Infrastructure
“Indonesia to Resume Coal Exports, Gradually Lift Ban Tomorrow” from Tempo: The Indonesian government announced it would start to relax the restrictions on coal exports despite just introducing them on January 1. The ban was initially planned to last for a month. Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said a number of export vessels would be released as early as Tuesday, January 11. “There will be dozens of vessels carrying coal that have been verified tonight and will be released tomorrow,” he said on January 10. He explained this was due to the improving circumstances regarding domestic coal reserves that had gradually increased from 15 days worth of supply to 25 days.
More...
Nation: “Forest Restoration to Minimize Deforestation” from Antara
Nation: “2022 MotoGP to Improve NTB's Economy by 20-30%” from Antara
Nation: “Jokowi Wants to Speed Up Bauxite Export Ban” from The Jakarta Post (Metered Paywall)
Gianyar: “Ubud Traditional Market Revitalization Budgeted at IDR 99 Billion” from Republika (Indonesian)
Education
“Schools in Denpasar Hold 100% PTM Starting Today” from iNews Bali (Indonesian): All schools in Denpasar, Bali began to hold 100% face-to-face learning, Monday. The teaching and learning process was held for six hours. "Starting today, all schools have 100% PTM," said Child Agung Gede Wiratama, Head of Education at the Denpasar City Education, Youth and Sports Office. He explained, before the PTM was full, a trial had been carried out for a week, since Monday last week. In addition, socialization has also been carried out to the school. The requirements for students who have been vaccinated are above 80% have also been fulfilled. Currently, almost all students in Denpasar totaling 63,594 children have received the first stage of the vaccine.
Bali Reopening
“There Are No International Flights to Bali Yet” from Tribun Bali (Indonesian): Bali's I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport has been opened since October 2021 for international flights, but there have been no commercial flights from abroad to Bali until now. This is understood by the Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno considering the emergence of the Omicron variant. Asked whether the Omicron variant has an impact on the Indonesian tourism sector, Menparekraf Sandiaga said it would have an impact. "The Omicron case certainly has an impact on the Indonesian tourism sector. Foreign tourists from a number of countries that have confirmed Omicron are prohibited from entering Indonesia, of course, more or less have an impact on the government's plans to attract tourists to Indonesia this year," he said.
Of Interest
“Clown Desperate for a Way Home Commits Crime in Bali” from Coconuts Bali
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