July 29, 2021
Bali sees its deadliest pandemic month yet as hospitals start to fill up + Flight for Australians stuck in Indonesia, 800 registered + Indonesia world's most generous country during pandemic + 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: It was a sad day for Bali yesterday as the province recorded its highest daily death toll, 44, passing the previous record by 10. There have been 500 deaths in July, around 24% of all Covid fatalities throughout the pandemic. The highest daily new case total was also announced, 1452, with 6 returned overseas travelers and 289 domestic travelers among them, or just over 20% of all cases.
Click here to see the national numbers infographic and a Regency-by-Regency breakdown of yesterday’s local numbers.
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The Big News
"Bali Sees Its Deadliest Pandemic Month Yet as Hospitals Start to Fill Up" from Coconuts Bali: Indonesia’s beloved holiday destination of Bali is experiencing the most devastating wave of the COVID-19 outbreak yet, and though the rapid escalation appears manageable so far, experts are warning officials to step up measures in order to prevent an even more devastating outcome. The island has been reporting around 1,000 new infections every day this past week as hospitals are starting to fill up. “Right now, all the beds are occupied,” said Cokorda A Wahyu, a doctor at the Udayana University Hospital in Jimbaran. The hospital is among several that have run out of beds to treat COVID patients in Bali, though Wahyu gave his reassurance that there are still enough hospitals in the province to handle the recent spike in cases. At this point, the alarming rise in coronavirus cases and deaths in recent weeks have not led to a total collapse of the local healthcare system, but it doesn’t negate the fact that more and more patients have had to look at several hospitals before securing a bed for treatment. Bali broke its record on daily new infections and death toll on Wednesday, at 1,452 cases and 44 deaths, respectively. That brings the number of COVID deaths to 500 people in July alone for the province, or almost a quarter of its total death toll, making July its deadliest month yet in the pandemic.
"Qantas Flight Organised for ‘Vulnerable’ Australians Stuck in Indonesia" from The Sydney Morning Herald: The Australian government is working with Qantas to organise a flight for expats stranded in Indonesia, with nearly 800 registered as wanting to return home from a country that is now the global epicentre of the virus. The halving of the quarantine cap in Australia and a major reduction in commercial flights by cash-strapped airline Garuda Indonesia has left seats on the remaining weekly Jakarta to Sydney service booked out for the rest of the year and led prices for one-way ticket to soar beyond $12,000. As Singapore is blocking passengers from Indonesia from transiting through the city state because of the severity of the Delta outbreak in the archipelago, Australians wanting to return have been forced to consider expensive charter flights and even the extreme option of coming back by boat. A spokesperson for Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said on Wednesday it was “looking at all available options to assist vulnerable Australians in Indonesia to return”. “We are working with Qantas on an option for a facilitated commercial flight for vulnerable Australians departing from Indonesia,” the spokesperson said.
"In the Midst of the Pandemic, Indonesia is the Most Generous Country in the World" from Kontan (Indonesian): Indonesia is ranked first as the most generous country in the world according to the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) World Giving Index 2021. Throughout 2020, Indonesia recorded a total score of 69, up from the previous score of 59 in 2018, when the annual Index was last published. At that time, Indonesia also ranked first as the most generous country in the world. When compared to other countries, most western countries have dropped in ranking due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. For example, America, which has fallen to 19th in the world, has consistently been in the top 5 positions. In the report, more than 8 people out of 10 Indonesians donated money and the country's volunteer rate is more than three times the global average. During the Covid-19 pandemic, Indonesia was also the country with the highest volunteer rate. According to the Charities Aid Foundation, this shows Indonesia's enthusiasm to always work together to face difficult times.
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Other Headlines
"6,869 Covid-19 Patients in Bali Undergo Self-isolation" from Republika (Indonesian): "If we refer to the data on active cases on Tuesday (27/7) there were 10,618 people, 6,869 people who underwent self-isolation, about 64.7% of the total active cases," said Secretary of the Bali Province COVID-19 Task Force I Made Rentin. For patients treated at referral hospitals, he said, as many as 2,254 people (21.2 percent) and those undergoing quarantine in centralized isolation places as many as 1,495 people (14.1 percent). According to Rentin, the Bali Provincial Government together with the district/city governments have prepared 30 points of centralized isolation, using hotels, guesthouses, and training centers with a capacity for 3,055 people. "The governor also asked us to explore hotels that can be used as a place for centralized isolation," said the man who is also the Chief Executive of the Bali Province BPBD. Even though there are many hotels in Bali, Rentin continued, not all hotels are ready to accept COVID-19 sufferers who are asymptomatic (OTG) and mild symptoms (GR).
Vaccination Update
"Vaccinations at Tourism Destinations Should Be Welcomed: Observer" from Antara: Any plans to make tourism and creative economy centers as COVID-19 vaccination centers should be welcomed, said tourism observer from Universitas Jenderal Soedirman Chusmeru. Chusmeru made the statement in response to Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga Salahudin Uno’s push for the establishment of vaccination centers at tourism and creative economy centers in order to expedite the process in the country. "Three aspects should be taken into account for vaccinations at tourism centers. The first is that vaccination should be offered free to tourists, as it is a national program. The second area of focus is that vaccination should be conducted in open tourism locations, such as beaches or recreation parks, as they are well-ventilated compared to closed tourism destinations. The third point was for the government to consider conducting free vaccinations for tourists staying at hotels or other lodging locations in addition to tourism destinations. "This is also conducted to revive the hotel sector that has experienced a slump since the pandemic struck," Chusmeru pointed out.
More...
Province: "Kadinkes Believes Bali Will Achieve Herd Immunity if Phase Two of Covid-19 Vaccination Accelerated" from Tribun Bali (Indonesian)
Badung: "Regarding Badung Residents Who Don't Want to Get Vaccinated Against Covid-19, This is the Bali Governor's Response" from Tribun Bali (Indonesian)
Jembrana: "Ahead of Crossing to Java, Dozens of PPDNs Vaccinated at Gilimanuk Health Center" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian)
Health Protocols (Prokes) & Health Services
"Bali Satpol PP Admits it is Difficult to Supervise Dine-in in 30 Minutes" from Tribun Bali (Indonesian): The head of the Bali Civil Service Police Unit (Kasatpol PP), Dewa Nyoman Rai Dharmadi, admitted that he had difficulty supervising diners eating on the spot. This happens because his party has limited personnel to oversee all the restaurants throughout Bali, which number in the thousands. Therefore, his party asked for cooperation from business actors to remind their customers to obey the rules. "It's not easy, the standard time of 30 minutes to eat at a place (dine-in). We cooperate with the TNI/Polri to help supervise. In the regions, the gotong royong task force and business people must jointly supervise and educate the public."
More...
Nation: "A Total of 598 Doctors Have Died During the Covid-19 Pandemic" from Bali Express (Indonesian)
Nation: "Better Late Than Never: Indonesia Readies HIV Prevention Drug PrEP" from The Jakarta Post (Metered Paywall)
Nation: "Lawmakers With Covid-19 May Now Choose Hotel Quarantine, and We’re Paying for It" from Coconuts Jakarta
Province: "Positive Covid Cases Soar, Demand for Convalescent Plasma Increases, UTD PMI Bali Fulfills 50%" from Tribun Bali (Indonesian)
Province: "Bali Provincial Government Receives 50,000 Masks" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian)
Denpasar: "Denpasar City Government Establishes Public Kitchen to Help Communities During the Pandemic" from iNews Bali (Indonesian)
Gianyar: "Covid-19 Patients Increase, Sanjiwani Hospital Adds 22 Isolation Beds" from Bali Express (Indonesian)
Karangasem: "Limited Oxygen Availability at Karangasem Hospital" from Bali Post (Indonesian)
Klungkung: "Regent Suwirta Prepares Humor Therapy for Covid-19 Patients" from Nusa Bali (Indonesian)
Tabanan: "Entering PPKM Level 4, Sanjaya Accuses Traditional Ceremony Clusters of Being the Cause" from Radar Bali (Indonesian)
Economy & Infrastructure
"Long-term Tourism Recovery, Bali Should Refocus on These 4 Potential Areas" from Bali Post (Indonesian): Deputy Head of Bank Indonesia Bali Office, Rizki E. Wimanda, said in an effort to restore long-term tourism, Bali is advised to refocus into a quality tourism destination. There are four potential areas that can be developed, he said, namely medical, maritime, MICE, and nomadic tourism. He believes Bali has the potential to be developed into a cruise ship tourism hib with a strategic position. This effort can be seen from the development of Benoa Harbor as a Bali Maritime Tourism Hub. The development of medical tourism infrastructure also needs to be carried out in order to refocus Bali tourism. The further development of MICE tourism in Bali, according to Rizki, does not need to be done because it has already hosted several international events and already has international MICE infrastructure. Nomadic tourism has become a new trend, as the pandemic has made working remotely popular, so nomadic tourists have the potential to increase. "Bali is one of the world's top destinations for nomadic tourism. This shows Bali's potential as one of the markets for future tourism trends."
More...
Nation: "PLN Planning 'NewCo' Coal Power Holding Company" from The Jakarta Post (Metered Paywall)
Nation: "HappyFresh Raises $65 Million in Series D, Plans Expansion in Indonesia" from The Jakarta Post (Metered Paywall)
Nation: "59% of Indonesian Rivers Heavily Polluted: Environment Ministry" from Antara
Province: "Amid Pandemic, Bali Fish Exports Increase 18.71%" from Tribun Bali (Indonesian)
Province: "Long-term Tourism Recovery, Bali Should Refocus on These 4 Potential Areas" from Bali Post (Indonesian)
Karangasem: "Besakih Area Redevelopment Enters New Stage" from Bali Post (Indonesian)
"598 Doctors Have Died During Covid-19 Pandemic" from Bali Express (Indonesian): A total of 598 doctors died during the Covid-19 pandemic until July 27, 2021. This was conveyed by the Chief Executive of the IDI Doctor Mitigation Team, Dr. Mahesa Paranadipa Maikel. Seeing that number, he was worried that the total death toll of his fellow doctors would surpass 600 people. Based on statistical data from the IDI Mitigation Team, general practitioners experienced the highest number of deaths, namely 319 people (5 of them professors), followed by specialist doctors, as many as 270 (29 professors), and residents as many as 9 people. Meanwhile, based on gender, 84% or 502 doctors were male and the remaining 16% were female. By region, the highest number of doctor deaths came from East Java, namely 127 people, followed by DKI Jakarta (92 people), Central Java (89 people), West Java (83 people), and North Sumatra (41 people). "Seeing this figure, we doctors are heartbroken to see how many of our teachers have died, our brothers and sisters," he said.
"Indonesian Military Police Officers Step on Papuan Man’s Head During Humiliating Assault" from Coconuts Bali: Two members of the Indonesian Air Force (TNI AU) are facing sanctions after footage showed them assaulting a visibly unarmed person with a disability, the clip of which has been widely circulating since last night. In the video, a Papuan man, who has been identified by his initial S, appears to be in the middle of an argument with the owner of a food stall. Two uniformed military police officers soon arrived at the scene before one of them aggressively put S’ arm in lock, while demanding S to explain himself and accusing him of being drunk. S, who did not react aggressively and clearly had a speech disability, was then dragged out of the stall to the sidewalk, where he was forced onto the ground with one officer’s knee on his back. As S was being threatened, the other officer placed his foot on S’ head in an apparent show of arrogance. TNI AU has moved swiftly to address the viral video, with top officials offering an apology and promising that the officers involved will be “punished accordingly.”
"PANDI Registers Javanese, Balinese, Sundanese Scripts to BSN" from Antara Bali (Indonesian): The Indonesian Internet Domain Name Manager (PANDI) will soon register the standardization of keyboard fonts and transliteration of Javanese, Sundanese, and Balinese scripts to the National Standardization Agency (BSN). The Balinese script will be proposed together with the standardization of Javanese and Balinese scripts after PANDI gets direction from BSN that the submissions are simultaneous and not separate. "After we discussed with Balinese script activists, it was afreed that Bali would also be registered along with Java and Sunda," explained PANDI's Deputy Head of Business Development, Cooperation and Marketing, Heru Nugroho. Heru added that other script registrations, such as Batak, Lontaraq, Lampung, and Incung, among others, are predicted to follow next year.
Of Interest
"Rahmat Erwin Wins Third Medal for Indonesia" from Bali Express (Indonesian)
"Family of Late Tycoon Donates Us$138 Million for Covid-19 Mitigation Efforts" from The Jakarta Post
"Former Minister Juliari Faces 11 Years in Prison for Alleged Graft in Covid-19 Aid Program" from The
"Overtaking Vehicle, Car with Jakarta License Plate Free Falls into Abyss in Buleleng" from Radar Bali
"Foreigners Riding Motorcycles Without Helmets Goes Viral, Indonesian Netizens Angry: If in Bali, It's Normal" from Suara Bali (Indonesian) (Indonesian) Jakarta Globe
"Video: Australians Try to Flee Bali Covid Outbreak on Charter Flight" from ABC News
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 with Bali Solidarity. If you know of an effort and would like to have them listed, please send their information to TheBaliBeat@outlanders.global.
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