July 13, 2021
Govt. prepares scenario for extending Emergency PPKM 4-6 weeks + Indications delta variant has entered Bali says governor, bans self-isolation + Indonesia passes 40,000 cases on day 10 of PPKM + 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.
Local Covid Numbers
*Note: Yesterday Bali recorded its second-highest daily fatalities, with 14 deaths. This is the second time this has occurred (the first time was Feb 13). 14 is Bali's second-highest daily fatalities, after 17 were recorded on March 4. 656 new cases (of which 8 were returned overseas travelers and 108 were domestic travelers) brings the 7-day average to 582.
Click here to see the national numbers infographic and a Regency-by-Regency breakdown of yesterday’s local numbers.
The Big News
"Government Prepares Scenario for Extending Emergency PPKM to 4-6 Weeks" from Kompas (Indonesian): The government is preparing a scenario to extend the implementation of the Community Activity Restrictions or Emergency PPKM to 4-6 weeks. This is done considering the risk of the Covid-19 pandemic is still high, especially the new delta variant. "Emergency PPKM is carried out for 4-6 weeks to contain the spread of cases. Community mobility is expected to decrease significantly," said Minister of Finance, Sri Mulyani Indrawati, on Monday. The State Budget will be strengthened to respond to the negative impact of the increase in Covid-19 cases on the economy and it is necessary to accelerate vaccination, the effectiveness of Emergency PPKM, and the readiness of the health system, both health facilities and health workers.
Context: While some Indonesian media outlets are reporting that the finance minister has confirmed the extension of Emergency PPKM for 4-6 weeks, others are saying that the government is still in the process of preparing for the scenario. There have also been messages circulating on Facebook and in WhatsApp saying that the measures have been extended until August 17, Indonesian Independence Day, which the national Covid-19 task force has said is a hoax. As of this morning, government media agency Antara is yet to publish anything on the potential Emergency PPKM extension.
"Koster Indicates Delta Variant Has Entered Bali, Bans Independent Isolation" from Radar Bali (Indonesian): Bali Governor Wayan Koster suspects that the delta variant has entered Bali, so he has prohibited quarantine or self-isolation in the homes of residents affected by Covid-19. Koster explained that the ban on self-isolation was based on a joint decision together with the Udayana Military Commander, the Bali Police Chief, and the Attorney General's Office, creating a new policy related to quarantine called source-based quarantine. "If there are employees in the provincial service, TNI, and police who are positive, then it is their respective service who prepares quarantine. At the village level, if there are residents who are affected by Covid-19, then the task force of volunteers in the village/district will jointly prepare a quarantine area. No more quarantine at home. Because it has the potential to infect the family. It's very dangerous," he said. Koster said the reason for the ban on self-isolation is because there are indications that the delta variant has entered Bali. "It has been indicated that Covid-19 in Bali is a new type, namely the delta type. The transmission is very fast."
Context: This is the first time Koster has said there it is possible the delta variant has entered Bali. On July 6 the head of the Bali Health Office said his party could not yet confirm whether the new variant had entered the province as it was still waiting on test results from the Ministry of Health. Yesterday we included this story about 13 people testing positive for the delta variant in the neighboring province of West Nusa Tenggara.
"Indonesia Passes 40,000 Covid Cases Ten Days after Lockdown" from The Jakarta Globe: Indonesia reported another record-breaking daily total of Covid-19 cases which for the first time surpassed the 40,000 mark on Monday, the tenth day since lockdown was reimposed in provinces across Java and Bali. The country has now recorded a total of 2.57 million confirmed cases of the virus, an increase of 40,427 on the tally a day earlier. Strict social restrictions returned in the country’s most crowded islands on July 3 amid a dramatic surge in new cases attributed to the highly transmissible Delta variant. An additional 891 Covid patients have died in the 24-hour period, bringing the total death toll to 67,355. The total number of active cases stands at 380,797, mostly in six provinces across Java.
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Other Headlines
"Self-paid Covid-19 Vaccine Program Delayed After Uproar" from The Jakarta Post: State-owned pharmaceutical company PT Kimia Farma delayed the rollout of its privately paid COVID-19 vaccine program on Monday, a day after announcing it would begin offering the service at certain clinics starting this week. The decision came after public backlash against the program, with critics contending that vaccination should be free for everyone. “We are very sorry to announce that the vaccination program, initially set to start on July 12, is delayed until further notice,” Kimia Farma corporate secretary Ganti Winarno said. He did not mention the public criticism but cited the “high enthusiasm and many questions” the company had received as the reasons for the delay. “The management has decided to prolong the time to raise public awareness about the Gotong Royong individual vaccination scheme and to organize the registration process for recipients,” the statement read.
Context: Yesterday we included this story about the self-funded Sinovac vaccinations being rolled out at 8 Kimia Farma clinics, including one in Bali.
Vaccination Update
"Foreigners Part of Free Vaccine Drive. But Getting the Shot Still No Easy Task" from The Jakarta Post (Metered Paywall): The Health Ministry, in a regulation issued early last month, expanded the vaccination eligibility of foreigners to those aged over 60 years and older, teachers and education staffers, as well as "certain foreign nationals", from initially only representatives of foreign countries and international non-profit organizations. The regulation, however, does not provide details about who falls within the criteria of certain foreign nationals. Eligible foreigners can participate in the government-led free vaccination program after presenting either a temporary stay permit (KITAS) or a permanent stay permit (KITAP) and passport number. Eligible foreigners, however, continue to encounter problems in getting vaccinated, mainly because vaccination venues often require a citizenship identification number (NIK) for registration, which Indonesians can find on their ID card. Some foreign nationals said that they were unsure whether the NIK was mandatory or not, as local officials had told them conflicting policies. This confusion was also felt by members of the Indonesian Mixed-Marriage Society (PerCa), who asked about the NIK and how to get it for their non-Indonesian family members.
Context: Although different eligibility rules have applied to foreigners in Bali (all foreigners with a KITAS/KITAP living in the three designated green zones are eligible for vaccination), similar administrative problems with the NIK have persisted here.
More...
Nation: "Indonesia Receives More Sinovac Bulk Vaccines" from The Jakarta Globe
Province: "Dare to Reject Vaccines, Koster Asks Perbekel to Give Sanctions to Citizens" from Radar Bali (Indonesian)
Buleleng: "Vaccination for 12-17 Year Olds Targeted to Be Completed Next Week" from Nusa Bali (Indonesian)
Health Protocols (Prokes) & Patrols
"Pushback, Confusion From Non-essential Sectors in Bali as Authorities Enforce Mandatory Closure" from Coconuts Bali: Bali is witnessing anticipated pushback from businesses in non-essential sectors, as authorities enforce tighter restrictions that require them to close in a bid to scale down COVID-19 transmission in the province. Feey, a 25-year-old owner of a motorcycle helmet shop in Denpasar, expressed concerns over the regulation, claiming that business owners did not receive adequate information on the matter. “If the government wants to completely close businesses it deems non-essential, then there must be aid from the government to fulfill our daily needs,” he said. “We get income from our daily work like this, if we’re not working then we don’t get any money. We get a small income, just barely enough, and we must pay rent. When we close, it’s deadly.”
More...
Nation: "Govt to Distribute 300,000 Packages of Covid-19 Therapy Drugs" from Antara
Nation: "Luhut: 7 Days of Emergency PPKM, Mobility of the Java-Bali Community Drops by 15%" from Kompas (Indonesian)
Province: "Anticipating Crime During Emergency PPKM, Bali Police Deploy All Criminal Investigation Members" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian)
Province: "Daily Flow of Bali Mandara Toll Road Drops 40% During Emergency PPKM" from Bisnis Bali (Indonesian)
Buleleng: "Asymptomatic Patients Skyrocket, Buleleng Prepares Centralized Isolation Options" from Radar Bali (Indonesian)
Denpasar: "Denpasar Designs Banjar-based Program to Succeed Emergency PPKM" from Antara Bali (Indonesian)
Denpasar: "Thousands of Traders in 16 Markets in Denpasar City Closed" from Republika (Indonesian)
Denpasar: "Bali Immigration Ensures Russian Citizens Who Tested Positive for Covid Deported After Quarantine" from iNews Bali (Indonesian)
Jembrana: "Jembrana Regency Government Budgeted Half a Billion for Families Undergoing Quarantine" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian)
Klungkung: "Covid-19 ICU at Klungkung Hospital 90% Filled" from Bali Express (Indonesian)
Economy & Infrastructure
Nation: "Indonesia Records Over Four-fold Rise in Investment Financing: Govt" from Antara
Nation: "No Major Gains Seen for Indonesian Stocks Despite Records Elsewhere" from The Jakarta Post (Metered Paywall)
Nation: "Calls Mount for Indonesia to Extend Oil Palm Moratorium" from The Jakarta Post (Metered Paywall)
Province: "Number of Domestic Flights from Bali Down 21.40%" from Bisnis Bali (Indonesian)
Province: "First Semester Period, Bali Nusra Regional Office Customs Receipt Achievement Exceeds Target" from Tribun Bali (Indonesian)
Buleleng: "Emergency PPKM, Turtle and Underwater Conservation Continues" from Nusa Bali (Indonesian)
"Dare to Reject Vaccines, Koster Asks Perbekel to Give Sanctions to Citizens" from Radar Bali (Indonesian): Of the total 3 million people eligible for the vaccine in Bali, as many as 85% have carried out stage 1 vaccination and 25% have completed stage 2 vaccination. The Governor of Bali, Wayan Koster, also instructed lower-level leaders, such as perbekel, lurah, and bendesa adat to record residents who have not been vaccinated. If there are people who have not been vaccinated, Koster asked the village leaders to immediately vaccinate their residents. However, if the resident refuses to be vaccinated, Koster expressly asks that the resident should not be given services. "If there are residents who meet the requirements but don't want to be vaccinated, don't serve their needs. If they need anything at the office, don't serve them," he said. "Make the community follow this well-aimed central policy. And we can all be healthy and free from Covid-19 transmission.” In addition, his party also asked the public not to be influenced by hoax news. "No one should be influenced by hoaxes, that vaccines are dangerous is not true. We have vaccinated more than two million people. No one has died from the vaccine, no one has gotten sick from the vaccine," he claimed.
"Igniting Balinese Cultural Memory With the Afghan Box Camera" from The Jakarta Post (Metered Paywall): Foreigners often yearn for the supposed “real Bali”, the precolonial era when the island was without modern influences. There is, too, a growing sentiment among the Balinese in search of change and a return to the wisdom of the past. Balinese photographer I Gusti Agung Wijaya Utama S. Sn is a changemaker who is endeavoring to reignite cultural memory while inspiring awareness and discussion. Gung Ama, as he is known, doesn’t use digital cameras. He believes technology and the modern mindset are destroying the art of photography. He prefers the manual, handmade processes of the past. His instrument of choice is the Afghan box camera.
"6 Forms of Foreigner Violations in Bali During the Pandemic" from IDN Times Bali (Indonesian): Deportation is an administrative sanction for Foreign Citizens (WNA) who are proven to have violated the Immigration Laws in Indonesia. Although international flights at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport have not yet opened, the Bali Ministry of Law and Human Rights Regional Office has deported several foreigners. The following are some of the violations committed by foreigners in Bali during the COVID-19 pandemic which ended in deportation.
Of Interest
"Subtle Spirits, Difference Between Cetik and Bebai in Bali" from Tribun Bali (Indonesian)
"Six Balinese Artists Receive 'Adi Sewaka Nugraha' From the Provincial Government" from Antara Bali (Indonesian)
"Allegedly Involved in Drug Abuse, Jakarta Celebrity and Discotheque Manager in Bali Arrested" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian)
"Indonesian Doctor Arrested after Saying Covid is a Deadly Lie" from The Jakarta Globe
How You Can Help
In response to the collapse of the tourism sector in Bali and the resulting economic crisis, dozens of individuals and organizations have sprung into action, raising funds and distributing badly needed food and everyday essentials to the innumerable families who have suddenly found themselves without any source of income. We've been making an effort to document and raise awareness of these efforts. We will add information on projects in this space as we are able to confirm them. If you'd like to see a list of the efforts that we've featured so far and contribute to them with either time or money, visit our complete list here. You can also see a list of projects that have registered themselves at BaliSolidarity.org. If you know of an effort and would like to have them listed, please send their information to TheBaliBeat@outlanders.global.
About This Newsletter
This newsletter is a product of Migration Media, the hub for stories from and about the international migrant experience.
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