January 26, 2022
Increase in Bali Covid-19 cases due to massive tracing says Task Force + Gov't allocates IDR 505.9B for G20 + Indonesia-Singapore travel bubble signed off + 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
Note: Yesterday’s 96 new cases was the highest level of new cases for Bali since September 30 last year.
The Big News
“Bali Task Force: Increase in Covid-19 Cases Due to Massive Tracing” from Antara Bali (Indonesian): Secretary of the Bali Province COVID-19 Task Force Made Rentin said the increase in daily cases of COVID-19 on Bali in the last few days was due to the finding of positive confirmed cases followed by increasingly massive tracing. "Tracing and testing are optimized and some confirmed cases of COVID-19 are asymptomatic," he said on Tuesday. On Tuesday, Bali recorded the addition of 96 COVID-19 cases and became the highest daily addition of cases in the last three months. "The dominant cases are travelers and there are also a number of students who have been confirmed to have COVID-19 with no symptoms," he said.
Context: Official data on Bali’s testing and tracing levels can be seen here.
“Gov't Allocates IDR 505.9 Billion for G20 Summit in Bali” from Antara: Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono allocated IDR 505.9 billion for preparations for the Indonesian presidency at the G20 Summit in Bali in 2022. The preparations encompass the restructuration of mangroves in Ngurah Rai where heads of state participating in the G20 Summit will be offered a glimpse of Indonesia's policies for a green economy. The budget is also for the reparation and preservation of the Pesanggaran - Nusa Dua and Jimbaran - Uluwatu interchange roads and bridges and the landscape arrangement of roundabouts, pedestrians, and the median of the Ngurah Rai Airport - Venue road, as well as improvement of the Siligita - Kempinski intersection road. In addition to preparations for the Indonesian Presidency at the G20 Summit in Bali, the PUPR Ministry was also tasked with making preparations for the 2023 ASEAN Summit in Labuan Bajo. Hadimuljono remarked that budget worth IDR 525.8 billion was allocated for preparations for the 2023 ASEAN Summit in Labuan Bajo.
Context: In related news, IDR 576 Billion has been allocated for the Mandalika MotoGP.
“Indonesia-Singapore Travel Bubble Signed Off” from The Jakarta Globe: Indonesia has reached an agreement with Singapore to allow the free movement of fully vaccinated people between the city state and the islands of Batam and Bintan, effective from Monday. Arrivals within the travel bubble are exempt from the mandatory five-day quarantine imposed in other entry gates to prevent the spread of Covid-19. Indonesian authorities said the travel bubble aims to accelerate economic recovery, particularly in the tourism sector while keeping all necessary health protocols in place.
Context: In related news, Singapore and Indonesia signed an extradition treaty and a number of other bilateral agreements. Elsewhere Minister Luhut stated he wanted to see an increase in direct Bali-Singapore flights (from the current level of zero) and there was also further discussion around travel bubbles for the MotoGP and the G20.
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Other Headlines
“Tabanan Starts Preparing Isoters To Anticipate Omicron Case Surge” from Suara Bali (Indonesian): The Tabanan Regency Covid-19 Handling Task Force plans to activate an integrated isolation place. This is to anticipate the surge in cases of the Omicron variant. The Secretary of the Tabanan Covid19 Task Force, I Gede Susila, said the Isoter program would continue to anticipate if there were additional cases. "Isoman (self-isolation) from the instructions of the Minister of Health is still allowed to be carried out, however, anticipating a spike, we are also preparing isoter according to regional capabilities," he said on Tuesday. The two isoter locations provide the combined availability of 46 beds.
Vaccination Update
“Merah Putih Vaccine Production Target Delayed One Year” from Tempo: The former head of the Eijkman Institute for Molecular Biology, Amin Soebandrio, said the production of the Merah Putih COVID-19 vaccine was delayed by one year. “We are experiencing a setback. Our target is early 2023, a year from now,” Amin said on Tuesday. The agency initially pursued an emergency use authorization in September 2022. Amin, who is a part of the research team at the Eijkman Center for Molecular Biology Research at BRIN, explained that the delay was attributable to financing and changes in human resources. “Some of them (researchers) have assignments abroad and there are changes in the system that makes us try hard to adjust,” Amin said. He added that facilities also affected the speed of work.
More...
Nation: “Five Regencies in NTT Haven't Reached 70% of Covid-19 Vaccination” from Republika (Indonesian)
Health Protocols (Prokes) & Health Services
“Budget Realization in Health Sector Increased by 69%” from Antara: Budget realization in the health sector in 2021 rose by 69.2% to reach IDR 291.4 trillion, from IDR 172.3 trillion in the previous year, a Finance Ministry's official said. The budget realization comprised IDR 212.48 trillion of expenditure in ministries, IDR 12.41 trillion for non-ministerial government institutions, and IDR 66.49 trillion for transfer to regions and village funds, Director General of Budget at the Finance Ministry Isa Rachmatarwata said on Tuesday. The increase in budget realization in the health sector in 2021 resulted from health expenditure in ministries and transfer to regions and village funds that rose by 74.6% and 79.2% respectively, he said. Budget for the health sector in 2021 was diverted to clear hospital bills worth IDR 83.3 trillion for 1.4 million patients, procure 310.9 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine worth IDR 33.2 trillion, and provide incentives for healthcare workers, he said.
More...
Nation: “Hindus in Mataram to Pray for End to Pandemic” from Antara
Denpasar: “Dozens of Prokes Violators Netted by the Denpasar Judicial Team” from Bali Prawara (Indonesian)
Economy & Infrastructure
“Four Lessors Agree to Garuda’s Debt Restructuring Proposal” from The Jakarta Post (Metered Paywall): Four aircraft lessors have reportedly agreed to a debt restructuring proposal from Garuda Indonesia that would allow the government to proceed with its effort to save the carrier. State-Owned Enterprises Minister Erick Thohir said on Tuesday that 35 other lessors had yet to back the proposal, but the ministry estimated it only needed to secure support from three more for a majority of the debt. “The good news is, these four lessors, which have agreed to the proposal, are big lessors. Considering the percentage, if we could acquire three more, we could assume the majority of them agree, because the rest are small in size [of debt],” Erick said.
More...
Nation: “Social Forestry Is the Way Forward for Indonesia Says Ministry” from Antara
Nation: “Ex-Gojek Employee’s Baby Food Startup Scoops Up US$400k” from Tech In Asia
Nation: “Indonesia Seeks to Export Cars to Australia in First Quarter” from Antara
Nation: “Govt Encourages Establishment of Halal Inspection Agency” from Antara
Nation: “Indonesia Regulator Says Financial Firms Banned From Facilitating Crypto Sales” from CNA
Province: “Geographical Indication Can Help Salt Farmers to Market Products” from Antara
Education
“Full Offline Schooling Continues With Stringent Monitoring” from Antara: The government will continue to apply the 100% capacity face-to-face learning policy through stringent monitoring and prioritizing children’s health, Presidential Staff Office’s Deputy II, Abetnego Tarigan, said. “The students’ health will certainly be prioritized, and the KSP will encourage educational units through related ministries or institutions to conduct random and routine surveillance of people at schools," he said. "This necessitates collaboration among schools, the education office, and health office," he said on Tuesday. "As long as there are no regions with PPKM level 3, then the 100% PTM will continue with the application of stringent health protocols," he said.
More...
Nation: “Need to Evaluate Offline Learning in Red Zones” from Antara
Province: “Increase Prokes in Schools After Covid-19 Findings” from Antara Bali (Indonesian)
Of Interest
“BNPT Detects 600 Potentially Radical Social Media Accounts” from Antara
“Kuta Bag-snatcher Battered by Mob” from Radar Bali (Indonesian)
“Kuta Beach Bali Covered in Plastic Garbage and Seaweed” from Merdeka (Indonesian)
“NTB Finalizes Preparations for the 2022 Bau Nyale Festival” from Republika (Indonesian)
“Goa Lawah Temple Snake Appears, Residents Call It a Good Sign” from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian)
“4.6-Magnitude Earthquake in Lombok Felt in Bali” from Coconuts Bali
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