January 17, 2022
Bali readies 11,960 hotel beds for quarantine + Indonesia eases inbound travel curbs + British man found dead in Bali, police suspect suicide but UK press disagree + more
Good morning!
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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
Note: After a slow decline in late December, the 7-day average for new cases continues to edge up, hitting double figures for the first time since December 8. Two deaths over the weekend were the first reported fatalities in ten days.
The Big News
“Bali Readies 11,960 Hotel Rooms for Quarantining Workers & Travelers” from Antara: The Bali provincial government has prepared 60 hotels with 11,960 rooms for quarantining Indonesian migrant workers (PMI) and international travelers (PPLN). "Of the 60 hotels, 8 hotels are specifically for PPLN, who are Indonesian citizens, PMI (whose) repatriation (has been) funded by the state, and the rest are paid quarantine hotels for PPLN," secretary of Bali province's COVID-19 Task Force, I Made Rentin, said on Saturday. In addition to quarantine hotels, Bali has prepared referral hospitals for COVID-19 and PCR laboratories, Rentin said. Meanwhile, 26 laboratory facilities have been equipped with 57 PCR tools, with a maximum testing capability of 10,630 per day, Rentin said. Of the 26 laboratories, one laboratory is being used for Omicron screening, he said.
Context: As of 15 January, Bali had tested 45,480 people (and 90,567 samples) over the previous seven days.
“Indonesia Eases Travel Curbs Amid Encouraging Omicron Studies” from The Jakarta Post (Metered Paywall): The government has lifted its travel ban on countries with severe COVID-19 transmission and reduced the length of mandatory quarantine to a week, allowing international arrivals to resume despite rising infection numbers. Indonesia is keen to jumpstart its economic recovery in 2022 as it plays host to a year-long series of international conferences and several big sporting events, even though the pandemic continues to loom large in the background. As of Saturday, the nation recorded 1,054 new confirmed cases of transmission, the highest in more than three months.
Context: Meanwhile, Hong Kong has banned transit flight from Indonesia (Indonesian) due to Omicron fears.
“British Foreigner Found Dead in Bali, Police Suspect Suicide” from Kumparan (Indonesian): A foreign citizen from England was found dead at his residence in Denpasar, police initially suspect the death was a suicide. The Director of Criminal Investigation of the Bali Police, Kombes Pol. Surawan, explained that he was still conducting examinations and initial indications that the victim had committed suicide and not been killed. "We are still waiting for the results from the doctor yesterday, they want to swab the body first," he added. Meanwhile, the victim's girlfriend was the first to find him, she returned to the victim's place and found the door locked from the inside. However, when she peeked inside, the witness saw that the victim was already dying. He was then taken to the hospital and declared dead.
Context: While the UK press is alleging murder, domestic media is focusing on reports of the deceased having hallucinations (Indonesian) and suggestions of suicide (Indonesian).
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Other Headlines
“Indonesia Reports Over 1,000 Daily Covid-19 Cases” from Reuters: Indonesia reported 1,054 new COVID-19 cases on Saturday, the highest daily increase in three months, as the government braces for a new wave of coronavirus infections driven by the spread of Omicron. "Local transmission has been found and Jakarta has become an infection cluster," Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said on Saturday. "We need to coordinate with regional government to tighten mobility and strengthen health protocols, (give) booster vaccine shots and strengthen health facilities." He did not elaborate on what restrictions local authorities might impose.
Vaccination Update
“Karangasem Starts Implementing Booster Vaccinations” from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian): The advanced dose of Covid-19 vaccine boosters for people aged 18 years and over, the elderly and vulnerable groups, began to be implemented in Karangasem on Saturday. The implementation of the third dose of vaccination was monitored directly by the Regent of Karangasem, I Gede Dana. The local government of Karangasem has sufficient doses of vaccination to be distributed to the community according to the target. The system that will be implemented is door to door carried out by health workers who are placed at the Village Health Center. “I invite all people to get vaccinated immediately because it is free. This vaccine is not only for our own health, but for the health of all of us," Gede Dana said.
More...
Nation: “Indonesia Receives More Covid-19 Vaccine Doses From Japan” from Antara
Nation: “Children Must Be Vaccinated Before Returning to School” from Antara
Nation: “Indonesia's Booster Shot Drive Prioritizes Elderly” from Antara
Health Protocols (Prokes) & Health Services
“Bali Should Tighten Health Protocols for Travelers” from Antara: National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo urged the Bali Regional Leadership Coordination Forum to strengthen the implementation of health protocols and quarantine for overseas travelers to thwart the spread of Omicron. "We just reviewed the arrival steps set for ship crew members and tourists at Benoa Port. We wanted to assess the implementation of health inspection at the entry points for overseas travelers,” Prabowo said on Saturday. Prabowo remarked that currently, cases of Omicron transmission in Indonesia largely constituted imported cases involving international travelers, who enter the country via Soekarno-Hatta Airport. Hence, he emphasized the importance of implementing strict health protocols and quarantine procedures at Benoa Harbor as one of the entry points for the travelers.
Context: Meanwhile, the Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy is encouraging Indonesians to travel domestically rather than overseas (Indonesian) and PPKM outside Java-Bali has been extended until January 31.
More...
Nation: “Luhut: Mid-February-early March, the Peak of the Omicron in Indonesia” from Antara Bali (Indonesian)
Nation: “Pedulilindungi App Gets Offline Check-in Feature” from Antara
Nation: “Indonesia Suspends Umrah Pilgrims' Departures for Evaluation” from Antara
Nation: “Indonesia Aims to Start Molnupiravir Production in April” from Antara
Economy & Infrastructure
“Indonesia to Introduce New Tax Breaks on Property, Car Sales” from Reuters: Indonesia will introduce new tax breaks on property and automotive sales this year in a bid to accelerate its economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic as authorities prepare for the spread of the Omicron variant, top officials said on Sunday. The government will provide a 50% discount on value-added tax (VAT) for sales of homes valued under 2 billion rupiah and a 25% discount on VAT for homes valued between 2 billion rupiah to 5 billion rupiah until June, Coordinating Minister of Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto said. Airlangga said several schemes of tax cuts will also be given for sales of cars worth under 250 million rupiah, some of which will expire at the end of March, while others at the end of September.
More...
Nation: “How Indonesian Digital Sellers Help Each Other During Pandemic” from The Jakarta Post (Metered Paywall)
Province: “PLN Ensures Java-Bali Electricity Grid Safe Following 6.6 Quake” from Antara
Province: “Young Balinese Artists Urged to Stay Creative Despite Pandemic” from Antara
Bali Reopening
“Gov't Pushes for Sport Tourisms in Bali to Revitalize Economy” from Antara: Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno has expressed hope for the revitalization of Balinese people's economy by pushing more sports tourism-based activities to take place on Bali. "We have just participated in the revival of Bali's tourism and economy. We also contributed to the Governor's Charity Golf Tournament, and saw the enthusiasm of creative economy players in which 70% of them are from outside Bali," he said on Saturday. "I have also been informed that the Oceanman will be back in the title in June in Sanur. But, most interestingly I am also informed on the World Cup For Ocean Open Water Swimming at the end of the year. This is the world class (event) and it is possible to be present in Bali. So, it will be part of the economic revival for Bali along with better control of the COVID-19 pandemic," he said.
More...
Of Interest
“Man Takes Selfies Everyday for 5 Years, Makes Crypto Fortune” from The Jakarta Post (Metered Paywall)
“Fisheries Ministry Designates Two Marine Conservation Areas” from Antara
“Alleged Dog Massacre at Mandalika, These Are ADI’s Findings” from Suara Bali (Indonesian)
“Karimunjawa National Park Manager Denies Selling Land for Foreigners' Houses” from CNN Indonesia (Indonesian)
“New Chief of Indonesia’s Largest Islamic Group Seeks to Reform Orthodox Doctrines” from Benar News
“12 Years After the Montara Oil Spill, Indonesians Are Still Fighting to Be Heard” from The Guardian
“2019 Forest Fire Destruction Far Worse Than Official Estimate” from Reuters
“Selagan Nusa Dua Beach is in Disarray” from Radar Bali (Indonesian)
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