July 5, 2021
Foreigners entering Indonesia must be fully vaccinated, quarantine for 8 days from July 6 + Search for 17 missing ferry passengers ends today + Cases expected to rise despite Emergency 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, the second official day of Emergency PPKM, Bali recorded 355 new cases, the highest since February 17 (374). Among the new cases were 58 Indonesians who had traveled domestically and 3 foreigners. The 7-day average is now 279, the highest since February 26 (285).
Click here to see the national numbers infographic and a Regency-by-Regency breakdown of yesterday’s local numbers, which includes a look back at last week’s overall totals.
The Big News
"Only Vaccinated Foreigners Can Enter Indonesia Starting July 6, 2021" from Antara: Jodi Mahardi, spokesperson of the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment, said, "Every foreigner, starting July 6, 2021, is required to present a vaccine card (showing that he or she has been fully vaccinated) and a negative COVID-19 PCR test result before entering Indonesia.” Meanwhile, vaccination certificate exemption is given to foreign diplomats and ministerial-level officials in accordance with diplomatic relations practices that are also applied by other countries, he said, quoting a statement of the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan. Indonesian citizens who will enter Indonesia but do not have a vaccine card, are required to present a negative COVID PCR test result. After being quarantined and proven to be free from COVID-19, they will immediately get vaccinated. "Quarantine rules are applied to both foreigners and Indonesian citizens. They have to undergo quarantine for eight days with two PCR tests, namely on arrival and on day 7," he added. As for the quarantine limit for 8 days, this is in accordance with the Ministry of Health's directives.
"KMP Yunicee Sinking Accident, 17 Victims Not Found, Team Stops Search Today" from Radar Bali (Indonesian): Up until Sunday, the sixth day since KMP Yunicee was declared missing, the SAR team was still trying to find victims. In total, of the 19 missing victims, the team managed to find 2. Meanwhile, 17 other missing victims have not been found. Unfortunately, although there are still victims missing, both those listed in the manifest and those who are not listed, officers from the joint SAR team plan to stop the search on the seventh day, Monday (5/7). The head of the Bali Search and Rescue Office, I Gede Darmada, stated that in accordance with the provisions of Law Number 29 of 2014 concerning Search and Rescue, the search and rescue operation was carried out within a maximum period of seven days. "We will see progress until tomorrow afternoon (Monday (5/7). If there are no signs, we will decide Monday afternoon that the search operation will be closed," he said. The search operation could be extended if there is new information or signs of finding the location of the victims. His party will continue to monitor the waters of the Bali Strait.
Context: 19 passengers were not listed in the ferry’s passenger manifest. A member of the House of Representatives has asked the Ministry of Transportation and the National Transportation Safety Committee to investigate and determine the cause of the sinking. Fishermen have shared their stories of helping to rescue victims.
"Indonesia Expects Covid-19 Cases to Rise Despite Stricter Curbs" from Reuters: The next two weeks are critical for the success of Indonesia's efforts to rein in the coronavirus, as infections could rise until Saturday's tougher curbs, affecting more than 100 million people, begin to show results, a minister said. As it battles one of Asia's worst virus outbreaks, Indonesia reported 27,913 new infections in the latest of many peaks over the past two weeks. "In the next 10 days, maybe two weeks, cases can continue to rise," despite tougher curbs on the islands of Java and Bali, as some infections could now be in the incubation period, said Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Minister Luhut Pandjaitan, who was appointed by President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo to oversee the COVID-19 response. "This two weeks is a critical time for us." The new curbs, such as tighter travel checks, a ban on restaurant dining and outdoor sports, and the closure of non-essential workplaces, run until July 20, but could be extended, if necessary, to bring daily cases below 10,000.
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Other Headlines
"Fears Linger Emergency Covid-19 Curbs May Fall Short" from The Jakarta Post (Metered Paywall): The government’s move on Thursday to impose vast emergency health and mobility restrictions across Java and Bali is designed to stem the alarming surge of COVID-19 cases, but experts remain unconvinced that the policy can halt the pace of the outbreak given what some regard as the lackluster provisions. Some experts believe the measures are insufficient to curb the spread of the coronavirus nationwide, noting how some of the provisions are still too lenient for comfort. Dicky Budiman, an epidemiologist at Griffith University in Australia, claimed that the measures detailed in the PPKM Darurat would not be able to show immediate results if the aim was to lower the number of daily new cases. “With this level of response, we will still see cases spikes in July and August,” Dicky said. He also predicted that healthcare facilities would remain overwhelmed with patients within the designated PPKM Darurat timeframe, even in spite of the restrictions on public activities.
Vaccination Update
"Bali Becomes First Region to Vaccinate Children 12-17 Years Old, Over 1,000 Have Been Vaccinated Already" from Tribun Bali (Indonesian): The province of Bali became the first region in Indonesia to vaccinate children aged 12-17 years, at the Army Hospital (RSAD) Kodam IX/Udayana, Denpasar. The enthusiasm of teenagers aged 12-17 years old was also seen in the vaccination event organized by the Military Command IX/Udayana at the Indoor Tennis Praja Raksaka Dormitory, Denpasar, over the weekend. “Children aged 12-17 years are injected with the Sinovac Vaccine, while adults 18 years and over can adjust to the Sinovac or AstraZeneca vaccines according to demand," said Head of Health Department IX/Udayana Colonel CKM Dr I Made Mardika said. In three days Colonel Made Mardika stated that there have been more than 1,000 children in Bali who have received vaccinations. "The only condition is to bring a family card or an identity with the child's NIK," he explained.
More...
Nation: "Over 13.92 Million Indonesians Fully Vaccinated Against Covid-19" from Antara
Nation: "Indonesia Approves Moderna Covid-19 Vaccine" from The Jakarta Globe
Nation: "Moderna Vaccines Will Need Special Storage Technology: BPOM" from Antara
Gianyar: "281,673 Gianyar Residents Complete Vaccination Phase I" from Nusa Bali (Indonesian)
Health Protocols (Prokes) & Patrols
"Not Accepting Closed Beach Access, Residents Secretly Dismantle Police Line" from Radar Bali (Indonesian): Access to the main entrance to Batu Belig Beach and Kuta Beach in Badung is temporarily closed during the implementation of the Emergency Community Activity Restrictions (PPKM) from 3-20 July. The head of the Badung Satpol PP I Gusti Agung Ketut Suryanegara confirmed this. Even though it has been closed, however, Suryanegara added there were people from the community who deliberately dismantled the barrier at the main entrance to Batu Bolong Beach. “Earlier we received a report that there was a violation. So we were forced to close again," said Suryanegara. It is suspected that the dismantling of the barrier was carried out while the officers were resting. "Indeed, when it was installed (police line) there was no rejection. But when the officers were on a break, the demolition took place. So we went down again to re-install the police line,” he explained. Furthermore, to anticipate the occurrence of violations, his party will prepare officers to tighten security at each post and surveillance at crowded points.
More...
Nation: "Emergency PPKM: Domestic Travel Rules" from Indonesia Expat
Nation: "Taiwan Adds Indonesia to List of Covid-19 High-Risk Countries" from Bali Post (Indonesian)
Nation: "Overworked, Demoralized: Indonesian Health Workers Battle Unprecedented Case Wave" from The Jakarta Post (Metered Paywall)
Province: "Bali Police Chief Threatens to Criminalize Emergency PPKM Violators" from Nusa Bali (Indonesian)
Province: "15 Months Hit by Pandemic, Residents Exposed to Covid-19 in Bali Reaches 51,000" from Bali Post (Indonesian)
Province: "Bali Governor Asks for PCR Prices to be Lowered" from Bali Prawara (Indonesian)
Badung: "Dozens of Merchants on Kuta Beach Break Closing Hours During Emergency PPKM" from Radar Bali (Indonesian)
Denpasar: "Closing Art Center Due to Emergency PPKM, Head of Bali's Culture and Education Office Ensures PKB Continues Virtually" from Tribun Bali (Indonesian)
Denpasar: "First Day of Emergency PPKM in Bali, Police Still Find Stalls Serving Diners" from Radar Bali (Indonesian)
Economy & Infrastructure
"Passenger Traffic at Ngurah Rai Airport Predicted to Drop 50%" from Tribun Bali (Indonesian): "It is undeniable that indeed, with strict travel requirements for users of air transportation modes, there will certainly be a decline," said Stakeholder Relations Manager of PT Angkasa Pura I (Persero) I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport Branch Office Bali, Taufan Yudhistira. "However, we certainly support the Government's policies, especially in terms of preventing the wider spread of Covid-19, such as the issuance of the Emergency PPKM rules. For planning flights and planning pax for Saturday, 1,770 passengers will be served by 46 flights, while at departure 2,477 passengers will be served by 45 flights. It's more or less a 50% decrease compared to the realization of passenger and airplane traffic on July 1, 2021," said Taufan.
Context: During June 2021, Ngurah Rai Airport served 462,000 passengers.
More...
Nation: "Finance Minister Raises Health Budget to Rp185.98 Trillion" from Antara
Nation: "8 Social Assistance Types to Reduce Impact of Emergency PPKM" from Bali Post (Indonesian)
Nation: "Emergency PPKM, AirAsia Stops Flights Until August" from CNN Indonesia (Indonesian)
Nation: "Garuda Indonesia Adjusts Flight Services During Emergency PPKM" from Antara Bali (Indonesian)
Nation: "Government Extends Electricity Discount Until September 2021" from Antara Bali (Indonesian)
Nation: "Government Issues Decree to Fix Ceiling Price for Covid-19 Drugs" from Antara
Nation: "Taking Aim at Foreign Goods, Ministry Vows to Tackle ‘Price Manipulation’" from The Jakarta Post
Province: "Demand for Helicopter Tourism in Bali Rises Amid the Pandemic" from Merdeka (Indonesian)
Gianyar: "563 Blahbatuh General Market Traders Immediately Receive Stimulus Funds" from Radar Bali (Indonesian)
Karangasem: "Logistics and Passenger Flows From Padangbai Drop 50%" from Bisnis Bali (Indonesian)
Karangasem: "Governor Socializes Phase I of Besakih Area Arrangement Project, Rp.908 Billion" from Nusa Bali (Indonesian)
Bali Reopening
"New Curbs Keep Bali’s International Reopening a Distant Dream" from The Jakarta Post (Metered Paywall): Cipta Gunawan, an expert staff member for Bali Governor I Wayan Koster, said that the postponement would definitely have an adverse impact on the region, as Bali would have to wait longer for its tourism rebound, given that most of the island’s tourists came from overseas. For now, he said, Bali would focus on alternative options, such as attracting domestic visitors, whose number had increased over the past few days to more than 9,000 per day. On top of that, he said, Bali was trying to capitalize on a government policy that still allowed foreigners to conduct essential business trips. The policy has also been used to enable tourist visits to Bali. “We are trying to [arrange for] direct flights from abroad [into Bali], including the quarantine, so that foreigners do not have to enter Bali via Jakarta,” Cipta said. “Our lobbying with the central government is continuing,” he added.
More...
"Bali Tourism July Opening Canceled, Koster: Travel is Restricted, How Can It Be Opened?" from Tribun Bali (Indonesian)
"Emergency PPKM Hits Bali's Economy & Tourism Again, Practitioners: Our Condition is Worsening, We Are Miserable" from Tribun Bali (Indonesian): Tourism Practitioner who is also the Chair of the Legian Community Empowerment Institute (LPM), Wayan Puspa Negara admitted that the implementation of the Emergency PPKM has increasingly made the Balinese people economically slumped and helpless. "Our economic impact is getting worse and worse," he said. Puspa Negara also said that the implementation of this Emergency PPKM also made the fate of Bali tourism again unclear. He also questioned the implementation of the Emergency PPKM policy which was only carried out in Java and Bali. In fact, many areas outside the region have a higher Covid-19 spread rate than Bali. "After PPKM, it seems that tourism is not clear whether it is opened or not. "PPKM has been implemented 9 times but it has proven to be ineffective, in fact cases have increased. This PPKM has proven to be ineffective, especially without incentives. It kills the people's economy. Why are we half-hearted, even quarter-quarter, this is weird. See Europe, they lockdown for 1 month after that it's fine," he said.
"Dewa Putu Berata, Figure Who Made Balinese Gamelan Feature in PlayStation 5 Game" from Nusa Bali (Indonesian): The latest game from PlayStation 5 (PS5) makes Indonesia proud. In the game titled "Kena: Bridge of Spirits," you can hear Balinese gamelan chanting as the music. The figure behind the gamelan turned out to be from Ubud. Dewa Putu Berata (55) is the owner and founder of Sanggar Cundamani in Pengosekan, Ubud, Gianyar. His achievements in the field of Balinese gamelan music are not only inscribed in Bali, but at the world level. When he was 16 years old and still studying at Kokas (SMK 3 Sukawati), he was already actively teaching, especially in the Pengosekan area of Ubud. "At a young age, I have been challenged to teach people who are older than me, there I was mentally trained to teach, until in 1997 I founded Sanggar Cundamani," he said. Previously, in 1994 Dewa Putu Berata was already actively teaching abroad. “In America there is a Balinese gamelan association consisting of Americans, the name is Gamelan Sekar Jaya. Americans themselves actually have an interest in traditional Balinese music, especially Balinese gamelan, and the existence of these associations has survived to this day,” he said. Regarding the music for the game "Bridge of Spirits" by EmberLab, Dewa Putu Berata collaborated with composer Jason Gallaty. "Of course, as an artist and performer of Balinese gamelan art, we are very proud to be able to work with an international class composer like Jason Gallaty," he said.
Of Interest
"Rachmawati, Daughter of Sukarno, Dies from Covid-19" from The Jakarta Globe
"‘Wayang Kulit’ Master Ki Manteb Sudarsono Dies of Covid-19" from The Jakarta Post
"Tracing Tempe's Appeal in Indonesian Culinary History" from Antara
"Padang Vegan Restaurants: 'Blasphemy' or a Better Option?" from The Jakarta Post
"Indonesian Broadcasting Commission Bans 42 Songs From Being Played Before 10 p.m." from The Jakarta Post
"Tambora Geopark UNESCO Global Geopark Nominee" from Republika (Indonesian)
"Several Trucks Laden with Sand Seized by Authorities on Penelokan Route" from Bali Post (Indonesian)
"Tumpek Kandang, Form of Harmonization of Hindus Towards Animals in Bali" from Nusa Bali (Indonesian)
"China's Foreign Minister Says Indo-Pacific Strategy Should Be Dumped" from Kyodo News
"This Cafe in Seminyak Gives Crypto Rewards for Burger Buyers" from Bisnis Bali (Indonesian)
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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