January 18, 2022
Java-Bali PPKM extended to Jan.24 & reverts to weekly updates + Govt refuses to accept threats of MotoGP cancellation over quarantine rules + New Indonesian capital to be named Nusantara + more
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Daily Covid Update
National Figures
Local Figures
The Big News
“Java-Bali PPKM Assessment Back to Weekly Basis Amid Omicron” from Tempo: Starting this week, the government is set to extend the Covid-19 PPKM in the islands of Java-Bali on a weekly basis while the restriction status outside of the two islands will be set every two weeks. The Home Affairs Ministry director general of territorial administration Safrizal announced this on January 17. “Java-Bali will be once a week while regions outside that will be once every two weeks,” he said. This announcement coincides with a similar statement issued by the Coordinating Minister of Maritime Affairs and Investments Luhut Pandjaitan, who said the PPKM assessment period will be adjusted to the rate of the Omicron spread, especially in the Java island.
Context: Related reports noted that the Java-Bali PPKM is to be extended for one week to January 24 (Indonesian).
“Sandiaga Refuses to Accept That the 2022 MotoGP Is Threatened With Cancellation” from Antara Bali (Indonesian): Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga Uno said the government did not accept being threatened by certain parties who were ready to cancel the 2022 MotoGP event if quarantine obligations were imposed for foreign travellers. "I want to say here that we are a state of law. Indonesia is a legal country that has implemented the control of the COVID-19 pandemic in accordance with the best rules, and we have become the best practice," said Menparekraf Sandiaga Uno on Monday. As is known, some time ago the CEO of Dorna Sports Carmelo Ezpeleta planned to cancel the MotoGP event if mandatory quarantine rules were enforced for participants and crew. "We will complete our obligations (handling the pandemic and economic revival)," said Sandiaga Uno.
Context: This story has more details on the bubble system (Indonesian) the government had planned to use. The event is scheduled for March 20.
“New National Capital to Be Named Nusantara” from Antara: Minister of National Development Planning/National Development Planning Agency Head Suharso Monoarfa revealed that President Joko Widodo had decided to name the new national capital as Nusantara. "President Jokowi confirmed to me on Friday that the new national capital will be named Nusantara," Monoarfa said on Monday. The minister noted that Nusantara, an Old Javanese word meaning "outer islands" and currently a synonym widely deployed for the Indonesian archipelago, has been used since past generations and renowned among members of the global community as part of the Indonesian identity. The Nusantara name, apart from being emblematic of the Indonesian national outlook, is also easy to remember for Indonesians, he added.
Context: Another report noted Nusantara was selected from a shortlist of some 80 names.
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Other Headlines
“Minister Opens Up Possibility for Embarkation of 2020 Hajj Pilgrims” from Antara: Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas ensured that pilgrims entitled to go for Hajj in 2020 will depart if the Saudi Arabian government opens the entrance for Indonesia's pilgrims. The minister noted that no information had yet been received from the Saudi Arabian authorities regarding the pilgrimage. "The Saudi Arabian government has not started a conversation regarding this matter," he pointed out. Nevertheless, the ministry will make preparations while referring to the three scenarios for the quota of pilgrims: the full quota of pilgrims, limited quota of pilgrims, or not sending Hajj pilgrims. In the last two years, the Indonesian government was unable to send pilgrims to the Holy Land due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Context: In other news, Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas has insisted Umrah embarkations will continue despite 13 of the 25 members of Indonesia’s Umrah Advance Team testing positive for Covid-19 (Indonesian) upon returning from Saudi Arabia. Other media reports indicate some confusion around the testing process and results. Meanwhile, Communication and Informatics Minister Johnny G. Plate has again requested people to avoid traveling overseas to prevent a spike in Covid-19 cases.
Vaccination Update
“Covid-19 Antivirus From Pfizer Coming February 2022” from Kompas (Indonesian): Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin said that the government had prepared a Covid-19 drug in connection with the increase in cases due to the Omicron variant. One of them is Pfizer's drug manufacturer, Paxlovid. "We are in the process of bringing in Paxlovid as well, this is an antivirus from Pfizer which hopefully can come in February," Budi said on Sunday. "So if there is a spike later, the medicines are ready," he said. The government also previously announced that 400,000 tablets of Molnipuravir had arrived in Indonesia. "The plan will also be produced in Indonesia in March-April," said Budi.
Health Protocols (Prokes) & Health Services
“Government to Maintain Activity Curbs for Next Year-end Holiday Period” from Antara: Coordinating Human Development and Cultural Affairs Minister Muhadjir Effendy confirmed that the government will continue to enforce the restriction approach during the next year-end holiday period to prevent a spike in COVID-19 infections. "Mobility restriction during the Christmas and New Year holiday period has been enforced properly through collaboration among government institutions, regional governments, and army and police officers, as well as the residents' awareness," Effendy said on Monday. "As we comprehensively handled the COVID-19 pandemic, we also recorded proper adherence to health protocols and the vaccination rate among residents," he said.
Context: Media reports out of Jakarta indicate growing restrictions on mobility in the capital in an attempt to keep on top of the spread of Omicron.
More...
Nation: “Minister Luhut Calls for Return of `Work From Home` Amid Omicron” from Antara
Nation: “Govt Prevents More Omicron Cases Through Vaccination, Health Protocols” from Antara
Nation: “Local Transmission of Omicron Discovered in 9 Regions” from Tempo
Buleleng: “Health Office Opens Booster Vaccine Opportunities for Citizens 18 Years Old and Over” from Radar Bali (Indonesian)
Economy & Infrastructure
“13.83% of the Population of NTB Is Still Poor, Inequality Grows” from Bali Bisnis (Indonesian): Poverty in West Nusa Tenggara in September 2021 is still at 735,300 people or 13.83% of the total population. The poor population in NTB in September 2021 only decreased by 0.13% or 11,400 people compared to March 2021 where the number of poor people reached 746,660 people or 14.14%. Data from BPS noted that urban poverty is higher than rural poverty, urban poverty reached 14.54% while in rural areas it was 13.12% as of September 2021. Head of BPS NTB Wahyudin explained that the reduction in poverty rates in NTB is still fluctuating every period, has not decreased consistently.In the September 2021 period, it can be seen that the role of food commodities is still much larger in the poverty line in NTB than the role of non-food commodities. From the data, the Poverty Line in NTB rose 4.3% to 441,711" said Wahyudin. "This data shows that the disparity in spending among the poor is widening," he said.
Context: According to the story, the second highest food commodity contributing to the poverty index is filtered kretek cigarettes.
Education
“Not All Schools Do 100% PTM” from Nusa Bali (Indonesian): The Department of Education, Youth and Sports of Buleleng Regency has provided 100% Face-to-face Learning (PTM) opportunities to all schools, but not all schools in Buleleng do 100% PTM. Disdikpora Buleleng has collected data for all levels of education. Starting from the level of Early Childhood Education (PAUD) and Non-Formal Education (PNF), Elementary School, Junior High School, and High School / Vocational School. At the PAUD and PNF levels, of the 144 educational institutions recorded, 30 institutions that have not done 100% PTM. At the elementary school level, of the 467 schools recorded, 354 schools have conducted 100% PTM. At the junior high school level, of 72 schools, only 1 school has not done 100% of PTM. At the SMA/SMK level, of 56 schools there are only two that have not done 100% PTM. According to the secretary of Buleleng Disdikpora, Ida Bagus Gde Surya Bharata, there are several schools that require a transition period to 100% PTM.
More...
Bali Reopening
“Restrictions on Tourists Based on Extent of Covid-19 Transmission” from Antara: Minister of Law and Human Rights Yasonna Hamonangan Laoly said that the policy of limiting tourist visits to Indonesia hinged primarily on the extent of spread of COVID-19. "When we started to ease curbs, the Delta variant emerged. Thereafter, when the number of cases declined and we were keen to ease the entry policy into Indonesia, Omicron suddenly surfaced. It made us to continue to pull the brakes," Laoly said on Monday. Restrictions on foreign tourist visits were placed on the basis of the rate of spread of COVID-19 in Indonesia. Any decisions taken on the easing of entry permits for foreign nationals must be based on discussions with the relevant ministers, he said. However, the government is optimistic that the projection regarding the spike in cases of COVID-19 in February to March would not come true. People should not become fearful if the Omicron variant of COVID-19 spreads, he said.
More...
Of Interest
“Two Detainees Escape from Jembrana Police Arrested, One Still Wanted” from Radar Bali (Indonesian)
“Stay Permit Expired Since October 2021, Czech Citizens in Bali Deported” from Detik (Indonesian)
“Murder or Suicide? Conflicting Claims Over Stabbed Briton’s Death in Bali” from Indonesia Expat
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