January 14, 2022
Tourists can enter Indonesia via Bali + Another year needed for Sriwijaya crash probe + Taking Covid-19 booster not mandatory + Weekend reads + more
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Weather & Tides
Today’s Weather for Southern Bali
Today’s Tides
Meteorology, Climatology & Geophysics Council (Link)
Tide table from Tide-forecast.com.
Daily Covid Update
National Figures
Local Figures
The Big News
“Tourists Can Enter Indonesia via Bali” from Kumparan (Indonesian): The Covid Task Force has again issued a Circular regarding the Health Protocol for Overseas Travelers (PPLN) during the Pandemic. In part F point 15 SE Number 2 of 2022 it is stated, PPLN both foreigners and Indonesian citizens with the aim of traveling can enter Indonesian territory, one of which is through the airport in Bali. In the SE dated January 12, it is also stated that the requirements for PPLN entering via Bali must show a vaccination card or certificate and a negative PCR test result. In addition, you must attach a short visit visa or other entry permit in accordance with other laws and regulations. Regarding quarantine readiness, Secretary of the Bali COVID-19 Task Force, Made Rentin, stated that various preparations had been made, including a review by BNPB to a number of hotels. "That's right, we are ready," he said.
Context: Indonesia is yet to begin issuing standard tourist visas, instead a business visa endorsed for tourism is required which needs to involvement of an agent and costs hundreds of dollars. The above regulations have largely been in place for some time, but with no commercial airlines flying direct to Bali (nor even requesting landing slots), and no regular tourist visas being issued, entering via Bali direct for tourism purposes remains rare.
“Indonesian Investigators May Need Another Year to Probe Sriwijaya Crash” from Reuters: Indonesian investigators may need another year to determine the cause of last year's crash of a Sriwijaya Air jet that killed all 62 people on board, according to an interim report released on Thursday. Under international standards, a final report would normally be issued within a year of the Jan. 9, 2021 crash, but Indonesia's National Transportation Safety Committee said the pandemic had made it harder for its team to travel. "Because data has just been gathered, we're compiling a final report, including an analysis and a conclusion," KNKT investigator Nurcahyo Utomo said. The Sriwijaya accident was Indonesia's third major airline crash in just over six years and shone a spotlight on the country's poor air safety record.
“Taking Covid-19 Booster Shots Not Mandatory” from Antara: Health Ministry's spokesperson, Siti Nadia Tarmizi, clarified that the booster vaccination provided by the government to increase individual protection from the risk of COVID-19 transmission is not mandatory. "This vaccine booster is not mandatory. It merely aims to offer additional protection to individuals amid the emergence of the new COVID-19 variant," Tarmizi said on Thursday. The spokesperson further remarked that information was currently available about a natural decrease in vaccine efficacy, for which the government had decided to provide booster shots. The government's policy to offer the vaccine booster free aims to ensure all levels of society can have equal access to vaccination.
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Other Headlines
“Indonesia Waiting for Confirmation for Hajj” from Antara: While Umrah pilgrimage has opened, the Indonesian Ministry of Religious Affairs is still waiting for confirmation from the Saudi Arabian government on Hajj implementation for 1443 Hijri / 2022 AD, the Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs has said. "Certainty about the implementation for Hajj in 1443H/2022 AD is fully under the authority of the Saudi Arabian government," Minister Zainut Tauhid Sa'adi said on Thursday. From November 20 to November 23, 2021, officials from the Ministry of Religious Affairs met with a number of Saudi Arabian officials but the royal authorities could not confirm the possibility of opening Hajj for prospective foreign pilgrims, Sa'adi said.
Context: 1,023 Indonesians have left for Umrah so far this year.
Vaccination Update
“Govt' Orders Use of Near-expired Vaccines in Booster Rollout” from Tempo: The Indonesian Health Ministry issued a circular ordering regional administrations to prioritize the use of Covid-19 vaccine batches that are nearing its expiration date to be used in the national booster program. The letter states that "The advanced dose vaccinations or booster can be rolled out alongside the primary vaccination but with different vaccinators. Prioritize vaccines that are nearing expiration." Technical aspects of injecting the booster doses are also elaborated in the circular. One of the highlighted aspects is the use of half doses between 0.15 ml and 0.25 ml from various vaccine brands available in Indonesia.
Context: Vaccine equity within Indonesia remains an issue with some quarters questioning the fairness of launching a booster program when many Indonesians are yet to receive their first shot.
More...
Nation: “PMK Minister Pushes for Accelerating Production of Merah Putih Vaccine” from Antara
Health Protocols (Prokes) & Health Services
“Bali Covid-19 Daily Cases Leaps to 26” from Bali Post (Indonesian): Bali on Thursday reported a spike in COVID-19 cases compared to the previous day. The good news is, it has been 9 days since the death toll has increased. According to data from the Bali COVID-19 Handling Task Force, the number of new cases reported was 26 people. The cumulative cases handled by Bali reached 114,471 people. Additional cases today were reported in 5 districts/cities. The details are Jembrana 13, Badung 5 people, Denpasar 4 people, Tabanan 3 people, and Gianyar 1 person. The number of active cases is 92 people. There are 53 referral hospitals and 175 isolation places spread across regencies/cities and the province of Bali.
Context: This is the highest daily count of new cases for Bali since the first week of November last year.
More...
Nation: “Jakarta's Omicron Local Transmission Reaches 17.9%” from Antara
Nation: “Foreigners Escaping Quarantine is Misinformation” from Tempo
Province: “Anticipating Omicron, Screening at Gilimanuk Strengthened” from Bali Post (Indonesian)
Jembrana: “7 Prisoners Exposed to Covid-19, Isolation Place Strictly Guarded” from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian)
Klungkung: “Completed, All Fast Boat Operators Get the Opportunity to Test Sampalan Port” from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian)
Economy & Infrastructure
“Coal Export Permits Only Granted to Producers Fulfilling DMO” from Antara: Coal export permits were only granted to producers that had fulfilled their domestic market obligation (DMO), according to Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan. The export permit is granted after there is certainty that the stock of coal for power plants is sufficient. State electricity company PT PLN reports that the current stock of coal in the Steam Power Plant is at least for 15 operating days, while for remote and critical PLTUs, it is 20 HOP. Given the sufficient domestic stock based on a report from PLN, the coal, loaded onto 37 vessels as of January 12 and paid for by the buyer, will be released for export," Pandjaitan said on Wednesday.
More...
Nation: “Indonesia Strives to Improve Infrastructure as MotoGP Approaches” from Antara
Nation: “Minister Continues to Conduct Market Operations to Handle Price Spike” from Antara
Nation: “Kominfo Ministry Probes Alleged Personal Data Leak in Pertamina's Subsidiary” from Tempo
Nation: “President Jokowi Launches State-owned Tourism Holding Company” from Antara Bali (Indonesian)
Education
“Highly Educated Workforce Must Be Increased” from Antara: Vice President Ma'ruf Amin affirmed that Indonesia had a major task to complete in terms of increasing the number of human resources to constitute more higher education graduates. "High school alumni still constitute a major chunk of the current workforce at around 32%," Amin said on Thursday. "The percentage of new higher education alumni is only about 10-12% of the 138 million members of the workforce in 2020," the vice president said. According to the National Workforce Survey conducted by Statistics Indonesia in 2021, the percentage of Indonesia's population that had completed higher educational studies -- both undergraduate to postgraduate studies -- had increased by 2.2% as compared to 2011.
Weekend Reads
“As the Tide Rises, Indonesia Struggles to Save the Living—and the Dead” from National Geographic
“Community Control of Forests Hasn’t Slowed Deforestation, Indonesia Study Finds” from Mongabay
Of Interest
“Russian Fraudster Who Claimed to Be Interpol Officer Gets 3 Years in Bali” from Coconuts Bali
“How Rehabilitated Terrorists Are Helping Counter Extremism” from The Jakarta Post (Metered Paywall)
“Dolphins Stranded on Padanggalak Beach” from Merdeka (Indonesian)
“Governor of Bali Opens Bangli Square to the Public” from Antara Bali (Indonesian)
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How You Can Help Bali
Due to the collapse of the tourism sector in Bali, tens of thousands of families have found themselves with a greatly reduced income—if any. If you’d like to support organizations working to help those in need, you can see a list of some here.
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