January 6, 2022
New Bali airport to be completed in 2024, as MOU signed with China + Minister Uno proposes Bali as a quarantine island + Booster prices yet to be set + more
Good morning!
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National Figures
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The Big News
“Bali’s New International Airport to be Completed in 2024” from CNBC Indonesia (Indonesian): Bali will have a new international airport in 2024 and it will be located in North Bali. The airport construction will be carried out after PT BIBU Panji Sakti signed a MOU with China Construction First Group Ltd, a subsidiary of China's state-owned company, CSCEC. "This is a strengthening of the commitment to cooperation between the two parties and at the same time renewing the memorandum of understanding that we signed together on August 7, 2020," said PT BIBU President Director Erwanto Sad Adiatmoko on Wednesday. With the signing of the MOU, the two companies will jointly build an international airport in Kubuaddan, Buleleng.
Context: As recently late November there has been disagreement regarding the proposed airport’s location (Indonesian). The location has been a central issue of the project since at least 2009 (Indonesian). A suggested plan and image for the airport can be seen here (Indonesian).
“Bali Proposed to Be a Quarantine Island” from Nusa Bali (Indonesian): Bali is proposed to be a quarantine island for foreign tourists, with various preparations being started by the government, from visa facilities to flexible quarantine. "Bali has become one of the quarantine locations, that's what we encourage and propose, what kind of mechanism will later be brought in a limited meeting with the relevant ministries and institutions," said Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Uno on Monday. "For this reason, adjustments need to be made to facilitate the arrival of foreign tourists. Adjustments in terms of visa convenience, direct flights, and flexible quarantine," he said.
“Indonesian Government Yet to Set Official Price for Booster Vaccine” from Antara: The Indonesian government has yet to determine the official price for the COVID-19 vaccine booster that applies to independent participants, spokesperson for COVID-19 vaccination from the Health Ministry Siti Nadia Tarmizi said. The ministry's spokesperson later reported that booster vaccinations for free and paid programs will commence on January 12. The vaccination fee will be applicable to people included in non-government or independent vaccination programs. Tarmizi clarified that the vaccination fees, for which information has been currently circulating in Indonesian news and social media platforms, are not domestic vaccination rates but inoculation rates applied in foreign countries.
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Other Headlines
“Epidemiologists Say Omicon Has Been Spreading Since End of 2021” from BeritaSatu (Indonesian): According to an epidemiologist from the University of Indonesia, Pandu Riono, the local spread of Omicron has spread in the community since late last year. Pandu said that the source of the local transmission was most likely infected by foreign travel agents (PPLN) who had escaped detection. "Yes, many (PPLN) have passed, yes, it probably came from there," said Pandu on Tuesday. Meanwhile, an epidemiologist from the Center for Environmental and Population Health at Griffith University Australia, Dicky Budiman, also concluded that it is highly likely that cases of local transmission will continue to spread in various places in Indonesia and roam the community.
Vaccination Update
“Ministry Calls for Collaboration to Boost Student Vaccinations” from Antara: Support and collaboration from all parties are essential to scale up COVID-19 vaccinations among students, an official from the Ministry of Health has said. “It has been said that there are many (students) that have not been vaccinated. This is our task, the Ministry of Health, universities, and schools to inform the community regarding the importance of vaccination,” coordinator for immunization at the Ministry of Health Iqbal Zakaria said on Wednesday. A survey of 2,358 high school students in 34 provinces conducted by the Center for the Study of Islam and Society of Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University Jakarta found that 52.58% of the students had not been vaccinated against COVID-19, he said. The survey conducted from September 1 to October 7, also found that 12.88% of the students believed that vaccination conflicted with their religious beliefs, he said.
Context: In related news, the same survey found belief in hoaxes to be a continuing problem among students.
More...
Nation: “114.82 Million Indonesians Fully Vaccinated Against Covid-19” from Antara
Nation: “Gov't Must Involve Private Sector in Vaccination Program” from Antara
Health Protocols (Prokes) & Health Services
“Bali Applies New-fangled Regulations to Thwart Omicron Transmission” from Antara: The Denpasar Tourism Office will enforce new regulations for traveling in the area to stem the spread of the new variant of COVID-19, Omicron. "We do not want to be fooled after the exposure of tourists from East Java following their vacation to Bali due to the Omicron variant. Hence, we will enforce new travel rules," Head of the office Dezire Mulyani said on Wednesday. From the existing supervisory and health procedures, Mulyani said her side had issued new travel regulations, specifically by focusing on massive monitoring and conducting inspection to check implementation of health protocols for tourists entering tourist destinations, hotels, and malls in Denpasar.
Context: Details on the new-fangled regulations are yet to be announced.
More...
Nation: “Gov't Continuing to Fix Errors in Pedulilindungi App” from Antara
Nation: “Jakarta Bed Occupancy Rate Rises to 7%” from Antara
Nation: “BNPB Head Inspects Three Quarantine Hotels for Foreign Travelers” from Antara
Klungkung: “To Prevent Omicron Entry, Padangbai Port Tightened” from Nusa Bali (Indonesian)
Economy & Infrastructure
“Mandalika MotoGP Spectators Could Stay In Bali” from Tribun Bali (Indonesian): The Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) proposes that Bali can be a place to overcome the surge in tourists during the MotoGP 2022 at Mandalika. The Secretary General of PHRI, Maulana Yusran, explained that the need for rooms for tourists who want to watch MotoGP is quite large. In fact, it is suspected to be higher than the number of hotel rooms available there. "This situation is not easy. However, we hope that the government will open up space so that during MotoGP the participants or tourists can also stay in Bali," Maulana said on Wednesday "If I'm not mistaken, there are around 12,500 rooms. The need is more than that," said Maulana.
More...
Nation: “Govt to Provide Cooking Oil at IDR 14,000 Per Liter” from The Jakarta Post (Metered Paywall)
Nation: “Ministry Supports Fisheries SOEs to Improve Processing, Trading Sector” from Antara
Nation: “Jokowi Digs in Heels on Coal Export Ban” from The Jakarta Post (Metered Paywall)
Province: “400,000 Passengers Served at Ngurah Rai Airport Over Holidays” from Bali Prawara (Indonesian)
Education
“For Face-to-face Learning, Students Must Have PeduliLindungi App” from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian): Towards the full implementation of face-to-face learning, the Department of Education, Youth and Sports of the Jembrana Regency began to make preparations. Head of the Dikpora Dikpora Jembrana Regency Government, Ni Nengah Wartini on Wednesday said that PTM was 100% able to be implemented. Prior to the implementation, preparations have been carried out such as checking the readiness of health protocols in each education unit, such as checking health protocols, QR barcodes PeduliLindungi. "Later, every student will download the PeduliLindungi application on their respective cellphones," he said.
Of Interest
“Mount Semeru Emits Hot Clouds, Triggers Volcanic Ash Rain” from Antara
“Swiss Man Found Dead in Senggigi, Lombok” from Indonesia Expat
“Kerobokan Prison and Badung Police Detention Over Capacity, 60 Detainees Transferred” from iNews Bali (Indonesian)
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