January 13, 2022
With 3.4 million doses, Bali’s booster campaign starts + Bali claims zero Omicron cases despite high local-tourist interactions + Many are hesitant to hold Ogoh-ogoh due to rules + more
Good morning!
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Weather & Tides
Today’s Weather for Southern Bali
Today’s Tides
Meteorology, Climatology & Geophysics Council (Link)
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Daily Covid Update
National Figures
Local Figures
The Big News
“With 3.4 Million Vaccines, Bali Governor Koster Monitors Start of Booster Campaign” from Tribun Bali (Indonesian): The booster type of Covid-19 vaccination for the Balinese began on Wednesday, January 12. The Covid-19 vaccination activity was attended by the Governor of Bali Wayan Koster and the Chairman of the Bali DPRD I Nyoman Adi Wiryatama. "Later, booster vaccination activities will be opened in all regencies or cities and as usual the sooner the better. The booster vaccine quota for Bali is in accordance with the target number of 3.4 million. The booster vaccine injection sites will take place in various health facilities, such as health centers, hospitals and health facilities.
Context: In related news, Governor Koster asked the Balinese people not to be scared of the booster shot (Indonesian).
“Bali Claims Zero Omicron Despite High Resident-Tourist Interaction” from CNN Indonesia (Indonesian): Bali Governor Wayan Koster claimed that the Omicron variant of the Coronavirus had not yet entered Bali despite high interaction between locals and tourists. "Hopefully it doesn't exist because until now it doesn't exist. Because until now it has not been found. But it can happen, the name is also a virus," he said on Wednesday. "The interaction of people outside Bali with Bali, especially visitors from Java coming to Bali, has a high interaction," he said. "But, astungkara (hopefully it happens by His will) cases have not increased, the average daily case is still four people per day (it's) small," continued the Governor.
“SE Is Considered Too Strict, Many Are Hesitant to Hold the Ngerupuk Tradition” from Radar Bali (Indonesian): The issuance of a Circular of the Governor of Bali regarding the regulation of health protocols during the ogoh-ogoh parade has drawn a response from many parties. The reason is, due to the issuance of the SE, a number of traditional villages are hesitant to carry out ogoh-ogoh parades. One of them, as revealed by Bendesa Adat Ungasan, Disel Astawa, said that of the 15 Banjars in Ungasan Village, some made ogoh-ogoh, some did not. "Yesterday we had a meeting. As a result, some wanted to do it, some didn't because they were tied to the SE Governor of Bali," he said on Wednesday. According to him, the requirements to carry out the tradition described by the Governor of Bali, Wayan Koster, are very heavy.
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Other Headlines
“Financial Institutions Main Target of Cyberattacks” from Antara: Financial institutions are the main targets of cyberattacks, research director at the department of banking research and regulation of the Financial Services Authority, Mohamad Miftah, has said. Based on data collected in 2021, 23% of cyberattacks recorded during the year targeted the financial sector, he said. "The financial industry, in this case, banking, is the first target of cyberattacks, as they (the attackers) are looking for profits in the form of money," he remarked on Wednesday. As of September 2021, 927 million anomalous traffic or cyberattacks have been reported in Indonesia, he said. The number is almost double compared to 2020, when it was pegged at 495.3 million, he added.
Context: A number of 2021’s high profile alleged hacks in Indonesia were targeted at government agencies, including The National Cyber and Encryption Agency and the Indonesian Child Protection Commission (Indonesian).
Vaccination Update
“‘Anything but Sinovac’: Indonesians Chase Booster Shot” from The Australian Financial Review (Metered Paywall): Indonesia has opted to mix vaccines in its booster shot program, much to the relief of many who believe US or European-developed shots are more effective than China’s Sinovac. “Anything but Sinovac,” is how one Jakarta man, Febri, describes his preference for a booster shot. Like many others, Febri was prepared to pay but in a surprise move this week, President Joko Widodo announced booster shots would be provided free of charge. That decision means the government will also control allocation, with the elderly and immuno-compromised first in line for a third shot. Vaccines from Pfizer, Moderna and Astra-Zeneca will be used. The aim is to use a different vaccine for the booster shot. That’s good news for the many who received the Chinese-developed Sinovac last year and don’t want the same again.
Context: This story contrasts with considerable coverage in the domestic media stating Sinovac has been a preferred vaccine among many Indonesians.
More...
Nation: “Indonesia Receives 1.8 Million Covid-19 Vaccine Doses Under COVAX” from Antara
Nation: “Indonesia Starts Booster Shot Rollout Amid Lingering Equity Concerns” from The Jakarta Post (Metered Paywall)
Province: “Vaccination for Children Age 6-11 Years Enters Dose II” from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian)
Karangasem: “Stock of Vaccine 2nd Dose for Children Aged 6 to 11 Years in Karangasem Is Running Low” from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian)
Health Protocols (Prokes) & Health Services
“Denpasar Government Intensifies Fogging to Prevent Dengue” from Antara Bali (Indonesian): The Denpasar City Government is aggressively fogging as an effort to prevent the spread of dengue hemorrhagic fever during the rainy season. "The Denpasar City Government through the Health Office is carrying out mass fumigation in each village and sub-district to prevent the current spread of dengue," said Head of Protocol and Communications Section for the Denpasar City Secretariat, I Dewa Gede Rai, on Wednesday.
More...
Nation: “Public Should Check Pedulilindungi for Ticket to Boosters” from Antara
Nation: “Confirmed Omicron Cases in Indonesia Reach 506” from Antara
Nation: “Booster Shots Needed to Tackle Omicron Spread” from Antara
Nation: “Quarantine Facilities Readied for Int'l Spectators of Mandalika MotoGP” from Antara
Economy & Infrastructure
“Indonesia’s GDP Seen to Grow 5.1% Despite Omicron” from The Jakarta Post (Metered Paywall): Indonesia’s economic growth is on track to recover this year to its prepandemic level of around 5% as the country reopens amid the looming threat of the highly transmissible Omicron variant. Coordinating Investment and Maritime Affairs Minister Luhut Pandjaitan said the country’s economic recovery could take longer than expected if the Omicron variant led to a surge in hospitalizations and declining vaccine protection. However, the variant causes relatively mild symptoms based on initial observations, Luhut said, adding that viruses tended to mutate into less dangerous variants.
More...
Nation: “Garuda Re-opens Its Umrah Flight Service” from Antara
Nation: “Indonesia Claims Graft in Garuda Deal for Planes” from Agence France-Presse
Nation: “Electric Vehicle Battery Industry Can Be Game Changer” from Antara
Nation: “Government Extends Tax Incentives in Health Sector Until June” from Antara
Nation: “Indonesia Motorbike Sales Up 38% to Over 5 million” from Tempo
Education
Nation: “Indonesian Students Fly Back Early to Australia to Avoid Another Border Closure” from The Jakarta Post (Metered Paywall)
Bali Reopening
“Head of BNPB Checks Readiness of PPLN Quarantine Hotels in Bali” from Nusa Bali (Indonesian): Head of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) Lt. Gen. Suharyanto inspected two quarantine hotels designated for overseas travelers in Bali on Wednesday. Suharyanto ensured that the hotel was ready to accommodate PPLNs so they wouldn't have to wait too long at the airport."First, please pay attention to the waiting time at the airport, don't let the PPLN wait too long," said Suharyanto. The two locations reviewed by the Head of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) were the Hilton Garden Inn and Hotel Vassini in the Kuta area. Within one hour, foreign travelers must have moved from the airport to the quarantine location, to avoid crowds at the airport, said Suharyanto. Second, to minimize contact, the entry route between general visitors and quarantine patients must be distinguished.
Of Interest
“Cathay Pacific Says Crews Spent 73,000 Nights in Quarantine in 2021” from Agence France-Presse
“Heavy Rain Overnight Triggers Landslides in Four Villages in Buleleng” from Radar Bali (Indonesian)
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