July 7, 2021
Bali's cases rise, government tells hospitals to add isolation rooms, ICUs + Citizens, politicians voice opposition to foreigners entering during Emergency PPKM + Putin plans to visit Indonesia + 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: Bali's almost 5-month high of cases above 400 continued yesterday (424), the highest since Feb 9 (453). 54 of the cases had a history of domestic travel, 4 had returned from overseas, and there were 3 foreigners. The 5 deaths brought July's fatalities to 37. The 7-day average is now 332.
Click here to see the national numbers infographic and a Regency-by-Regency breakdown of yesterday’s local numbers.
The Big News
"Covid-19 Cases in Bali Continue to Increase, Provincial Government Asks Hospitals to Add Isolation Rooms and ICUs" from Tribun Bali (Indonesian): The Regional Secretary (Sekda) who is also the Daily Chair of the Bali Covid-19 Task Force, Dewa Made Indra said that the daily cases of Covid-19 in Bali were increasing again. This makes the pressure on existing hospitals also increase. Therefore, his party through the Health Office has made a circular letter for every existing hospital to add ICUs and isolation rooms. "The rooms actually already exist, they were used for general patients when cases went down. Meanwhile, Covid cases have risen again, so the isolation rooms and ICUs need to be reactivated," he said.
"Opposition to Foreigners Arriving During Emergency PPKM is Voiced" from Indonesia Expat: Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan has commented on the government still allowing foreigners to enter Indonesia during the Emergency PPKM period. The arrival of foreigners has drawn public protests with Indonesians seeing this as unfair. Luhut explained that all foreigners entering Indonesia must meet strict requirements. Member of the House of Representatives Commission IX Netty Prasetiyani criticised the government for still allowing entry. Netty said that the Emergency PPKM would not guarantee the cessation of COVID-19 transmission if regulations were implemented half-heartedly. Netty quoted the opinion of the Indonesian Doctors Association (IDI), which said that the spike of cases in Indonesia was caused by new variants from abroad. Therefore, she said, it was not enough to fight the virus by simply showing vaccine certification and a negative PCR test result as a flight requirement. “Shouldn’t it be better if the entrance of foreign workers to Indonesia is closed to prevent the spread of a new variant of the virus?”
"Putin Plans to Visit Indonesia" from The Jakarta Globe: Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi and her Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov recently discussed Russian President Vladimir Putin's plans to visit Indonesia. "We continued to discuss the preparations for President Putin's proposed visit to Indonesia while waiting for the opportune time for the visit," Retno said. Retno said she hoped Indonesia and Russia could ink the strategic partnership agreement during Putin's visit. "This agreement will create a new and strong foundation to elevate the two countries' relations. In our bid to intensify Indonesia-Russia relations, we have also signed the plan of consultation between the two foreign affairs ministries for 2021-2023," she said. Indonesia and Russia seek a trade of $5 billion in 2020, but have yet met the target due the Covid-19 pandemic. The two countries then agreed to strengthen their commitment to bolster a mutually beneficial two-way trade. To this end, both countries can maximize the working groups in priority sectors, including agriculture, marine and fisheries, trade, investments, and industries.
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Other Headlines
"Delta Variant Caused 90% of Jakarta’s Covid-19 Cases: Luhut" from Coconuts Jakarta: The Delta variant is now the major cause of current COVID-19 infections in Jakarta, the government said, while urging citizens not to take the pandemic lightly. Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Minister Luhut Pandjaitan, who’s overseeing the implementation of the Emergency Enforcement of Restrictions on Public Activities (Emergency PPKM), announced new data on the spread of the more infectious Delta variant in the capital. “From the data we have, we know that 90% [of cases] in Jakarta are from the Delta variant,” Luhut said. “If we mess around, we will see people around us [get COVID-19].” The government began implementing Emergency PPKM on July 3, and the measures are expected to be enforced until at least July 20. On the first Monday since Emergency PPKM was enforced, several of Jakarta’s major roads were gridlocked during the morning work commute hours, possibly pointing to general disregard for the full work from home policy under the restrictions.
Context: Here in Bali, a message has been circulating on WhatsApp claiming that the Delta variant has already entered Denpasar. Just as it did at the beginning of this month, the Bali Health Office has said the results from samples taken in Bali that are being tested for the variant have not yet been received from the Health Ministry.
Vaccination Update
"Indonesia, Russia Finalizing Cooperation in Vaccine Production: FM" from Antara: Indonesia and Russia are in the process of finalizing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the joint production of COVID-19 vaccines, Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi has said. The MoU will lay the basis for medium- and long-term cooperation in the field of health and short-term cooperation in the joint production of vaccines, therapeutic drugs, and diagnostic equipment, Marsudi said. The chief of the Indonesian Food and Drug Control Agency (BPOM) has visited Russia to get first-hand information on the facilities used for the production of the Sputnik V vaccine. The two countries have cooperated in dealing with COVID-19 since the start of the health crisis, with Russia delivering drugs and medical equipment to Indonesia. Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov expressed his country's readiness to strengthen cooperation with Indonesia not only in supplying vaccines, but also in relocating a Russian plant to produce vaccines in Indonesia. He also welcomed the initiative to promote scientific cooperation between the two nations in other areas, including the fight against the coronavirus.
More...
Nation: "President Keen That Daily Vaccination Rate Reaches Five Million Doses" from Antara
Nation: "Over 14.26 Million Indonesians Fully Vaccinated Against Covid-19" from Antara
Nation: "Indonesia, Russia Finalizing Cooperation in Vaccine Production: FM" from Antara
Nation: "How to Get a Vaccine for Children 12-17" from Indonesia Expat
Karangasem: "Karangasem Health Office Targets Vaccines for 47,000 Children" from Nusa Bali (Indonesian)
Tabanan: "Tabanan Targets Vaccination of 30,000 Children" from Nusa Bali (Indonesian)
Health Protocols (Prokes) & Patrols
"‘Like a War Zone’: Doctors, Hospitals Plead for Help Amid Covid-19 Upsurge" from The Jakarta Post (Metered Paywall): Health workers and hospitals have likened their daily struggle against COVID-19 to a “war zone”, urging the government to step in and provide financial support to frontliners who must face the alarming surge of infections across Java. Indonesia reported record-breaking new infections and deaths in the past week, with many hospitals in Java becoming overwhelmed with patients and running out of oxygen. On Tuesday, the country broke its previous daily record of 29,745 new infections and 558 deaths on Monday with 31,189 new infections and 728 deaths. Meanwhile, hospitals have yet to receive payments for COVID-19 treatment from the government, according to the Indonesian Medical Association (IDI), which demanded that the government immediately pay hospital claims in full and simplify bureaucracy.
More...
Nation: "Indonesia Adds 31,189 Daily Cases in Another Record Spike" from Antara
Nation: "Minister Necessitates 50% Mobility Decline to Flatten Covid-19 Curve" from Antara
Province: "Emergency PPKM, Bali and East Java Have Lowest Decline in Mobility" from Bali Post (Indonesian)
Province: "TNI Increases Security at Bali's Ports During Emergency PPKM" from Antara Bali (Indonesian)
Province: "Bali Police Conducts Emergency PPKM Insulation at 30 Points" from Tribun Bali (Indonesian)
Badung: "Badung Regional Secretary Ensures Medical Oxygen at Mangusada Hospital is Safe" from Bali Express (Indonesian)
Badung: "During Emergency PPKM, Badung Police Urges the Public Not to Travel from Home" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian)
NTB: "NTB Offers Free Antigen Rapid Tests to Tourists from Outside Region" from Bisnis Bali (Indonesian)
Economy & Infrastructure
"Panic Strikes, Denpasar Residents Rush for Oxygen Cylinders" from iNews Bali (Indonesian): Purchases of oxygen cylinders in Denpasar have increased. It is suspected that there was panic due to the depletion of medical oxygen cylinder stocks in several areas on the island of Java. "Up to 200 sets in 3-4 days. If it's normal sales, it's perhaps 2 sets a day," said Andries Trikartono, distributor of Sanidata Group medical devices in Denpasar. He said the panic was seen in the last week. Many residents came to his shop to buy oxygen cylinders measuring 1 cubic meter for Rp.1.5 million. As a distributor, he also tries to suppress purchases so that there is no wholesale action in a day. "If we continue to let them go freely, in two days they'll be gone," he said. Currently, in his shop, there are only 8 oxygen cylinders left. However, oxygen refills are still available at a price of Rp.80,000. According to him, public panic buying oxygen cylinders need not occur. This is because hospitals in Bali are currently still able to receive patients and have an adequate supply of oxygen.
More...
Nation: "Indonesia Orders 10,000 Oxygen Concentrators From Singapore" from Antara
Nation: "Health Ministry Receives 500 Tons of Oxygen From C Sulawesi" from Antara
Nation: "Govt Pushes Ahead With Papua Games Preparations Despite Covid Surge" from Antara
Nation: "Menparekraf: Tourism Grant Funding Process Will Be Accelerated" from Antara Bali (Indonesian)
Nation: "Indonesia Extends, Accelerates Social Aid Amid Latest Covid-19 Restrictions" from The Jakarta Post (Metered Paywall)
Nation: "Indonesia Sets Coal Benchmark Price at Highest in a Decade on Chinese Demand" from Reuters
Nation: "Widespread 5G Still Far Ahead for Indonesia" from The Jakarta Post (Metered Paywall)
Denpasar: "Revitalization of Gajah Mada Area in Denpasar Will Present a New Statue" from Bali Post (Indonesian)
Education
Badung: "Badung Delays PTM" from Bali Post (Indonesian)
Tabanan: "Again, Tabanan Postpones Face-to-face Learning" from Nusa Bali (Indonesian)
"Russian National Claiming to be Interpol Officer Arrested for Alleged Extortion in Bali" from Coconuts Bali: Police in Bali arrested a Russian national for allegedly extorting a businessman while claiming to be a member of Interpol, with the victim reportedly losing IDR400 million (US$27,661) worth of cash and 21 motorcycles. The head of Bali Police’s General Crimes Unit Djuhandhani Rahardjo said that the crime began when the suspect — identified by his initials EB — went to the victim’s vehicle rental business in Canggu in February. There, EB reportedly claimed to be a member of Interpol and accused the victim of running an illegal business. EB extorted the victim and demanded him to hand over 21 of his motorbikes, threatening to report the issue to Indonesian authorities if he didn’t comply. He would send the victim messages via WhatsApp accusing him of drug trafficking as well. In late May, EB contacted the victim and requested IDR400 million and one Yamaha N-Max motorbike as a “security fee.” The victim reportedly complied with his request as he’d feared prison time, but grew suspicious and eventually reported the matter to actual authorities on July 1. Police say they are in pursuit of two other Russian nationals, identified as OB and MZ, who may be involved in the scam operation.
"Kuta Beach Closed, Foreigners Desperate for Surfing Expelled by Pecalang" from iNews Bali (Indonesian): Desa Adat Kuta Pecalang Patrol found a number of people including foreign tourists surfing at Kuta Beach. The pecalang took decisive action by expelling them from the beach. Kuta Beach is officially closed during the implementation of the emergency PPKM from 3-20 July. The Kuta Beach Task Force and the Desa Adat Kuta Pecalang routinely patrol to ensure that this famous beach in Bali is free from activities and crowds. Residents and tourists who were surfing were asked to leave the beach immediately. "This rule has criminal sanctions, you know. This beach is a public facility that must be closed," said Bendesa Adat Kuta, I Wayan Wasista.
Of Interest
"Soup Kitchens Spring Up Across Java Amid Latest Covid-19 Restrictions" from The Jakarta Post (Metered Paywall)
"Police Headquarters Take Over Case of KMP Yunicee Sinking" from iNews Bali (Indonesian)
"Instagram Account Lost Twice, Jerinx Reports to Bali Police" from Kompas (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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