June 18, 2021
Minimal direct international flights ahead of reopening + Local govt. warns not to jump to conclusions over alleged vaccine-related deaths + 350 healthcare workers positive despite vaccination + 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: 65 new cases were recorded yesterday, with three of them contracted by Indonesians who had returned from overseas. This pushed the 7-day average up to 50, after 17 days below 50. 39 recoveries were reported, and 1 death, bringing total fatalities to 1,528.
Click here to see the national numbers infographic and a Regency-by-Regency breakdown of yesterday’s local numbers.
The Big News
"Bali Tourism Opens in July, Still Only a Few International Flights" from Radar Bali (Indonesian): Except for special flights in accordance with applicable regulations, international flights arriving at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport for foreign tourists have not yet been opened, despite the discourse that Bali tourism will open in July 2021. Taufan Yudhistira, Stakeholder Relations Manager of Angkasa Pura I Ngurah Rai Airport, admitted that the international flight plan at Ngurah Rai, whether it can be direct or not, cannot be ascertained. He also did not dare to give further information. So far there has been no discussion about this. "There is no further information whether there will be direct flights into Ngurah Rai Airport or transit from Jakarta, there has been no discussion," explained Taufan.
"Bali Provincial Government: Don't Conclude People Allegedly Died Due to Vaccination" from Antara Bali (Indonesian): Bali Provincial Secretary Dewa Made Indra asked the public not to make conclusions about the case of one resident in Banjar Sukajati, Abiansemal, Badung, who died allegedly due to the AstraZeneca vaccination. "Research is currently being carried out by the Badung Health Office. So don't rush to conclusions. Don't directly link vaccination with death. There must be research and medical testing. Please don't draw conclusions yourself." According to him, the emergence of allegations that are not necessarily true can interfere with the smooth vaccination rollout. He explained that every vaccination process always begins with rigorous screening to find out whether the person meets the criteria for being vaccinated or not. "1.6 million people have been vaccinated [in Bali]. There is this incident, can it be concluded (they died from vaccination). No! Don't be like that. Wait for the result of tests carried out by the Health Service."
"Hundreds of Indonesian Healthcare Workers Contract Covid-19 Despite Vaccination, Dozens Hospitalised" from Reuters: More than 350 Indonesian doctors and healthcare workers have contracted COVID-19 despite being vaccinated with Sinovac and dozens have been hospitalised, officials said, as concerns rise about the efficacy of some vaccines against more virulent virus variants. Most were asymptomatic and self-isolating at home, said Badai Ismoyo, head of the Kudus district health office in Central Java, but dozens were in hospital with high fevers and declining oxygen saturation levels. Kudus is battling an outbreak believed to be driven by the more transmissible Delta variant which has pushed bed occupancy rates above 90% in the district. Designated as a priority group, Indonesian healthcare workers were among the first to be vaccinated when the inoculation drive started in January. Almost all have received the COVID-19 vaccine developed by Chinese biopharmaceutical company Sinovac, according to the Indonesian Medical Association (IDI). While the number of Indonesian healthcare workers dying from COVID-19 has decreased significantly – dropping from 158 deaths this January to 13 this May, according to data initiative group LaporCOVID-19 – public health experts say the Java hospitalisations are cause for concern.
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Other Headlines
"Indonesia Reports Highest Daily Covid-19 Rise in Four Months With 12,600 New Cases" from The Jakarta Post: Health authorities reported 12,624 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday, the highest daily rise since February, bringing the total number of cases to 1.95 million. The national COVID-19 task force also reported 277 new deaths from COVID-19 on the same day, taking the total to 53,753. Meanwhile, a total of 1.77 million patients have recovered. According to the official count, the number of active cases has risen by nearly 5,000 to 125,303. The highest number of active COVID-19 cases in Indonesia was recorded in February, when there were up to 177,000 active cases in one day. Jakarta recorded the highest single-day jump in the archipelago with 4,144 additional cases. Significant surges were also reported in West Java and Central Java with 2,800 and 1,752 cases, respectively.
Vaccination Update
Nation: "Over 11.96 Million Indonesians Fully Vaccinated Against Covid-19" from Antara
Nation: "Gojek Undertakes Massive Vaccination Drive Across 29 Cities" from Antara
Province: "Kadisnaker: 8,000 Bali PMI Have Been Vaccinated Against Covid-19" from Antara Bali (Indonesian)
Buleleng: "Hundreds of Residents of Singaraja Prison Injected with AstraZeneca Vaccine" from iNews Bali (Indonesian)
Denpasar: "Pursuing Herd Immunity, First Dose of Covid-19 Vaccination in Denpasar Reaches 80.90%" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian)
Denpasar: "Teacher Vaccination in Denpasar Completed 88.5%" from Nusa Bali (Indonesian)
Karangasem: "Pawana Targets 90% of Citizens for Covid-19 Vaccination" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian)
Health Protocols (Prokes) & Patrols
"Epidemiologists Say Spike in Covid-19 Due to Quarantine for Only 5 Days" from Bali Post (Indonesian): Head of the Professional Development Division of the Association of Indonesian Epidemiologists (PAEI), Masdalina Pane, said the spike in Covid-19 was not the impact of the Eid homecoming. The spike actually occurred because of the failure of deterrence, which resulted in the entry of Indian and South African variants into Indonesia. "Many people enter Indonesia from abroad with the provision of quarantine for only five days. In fact, it should have been 14 days based on the provisions for the optimum incubation period and this has become the standard of the World Health Organization," she said. She advised the public to temporarily stop unnecessary activities in order to suppress the surge. "In this situation, there should be no further mobility, especially next month as Muslims will celebrate Eid al-Adha. It is better to tighten again to prevent a bigger spike."
More...
Badung: "Yustisi Team Still Finds Many People Don't Apply Prokes" from Radar Bali (Indonesian)
Bangli: "Yustisi Team Again Finds Residents Violating Prokes During Raid in Front of Uhm Sugriwa" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian)
Jembrana: "Covid-19 in Java Increasing, These are the Steps of Regent Tamba to Take Care of Gilimanuk" from Radar Bali (Indonesian)
Jembrana: "Travelers Confused About Covid-19 Testing in Gilimanuk" from Antara Bali (Indonesian)
Economy & Infrastructure
"Ngurah Rai Immigration Office Holds Immigration Stay Permit Policy Socialization to Increase Investment During Covid-19 Pandemic" from Tribun Bali (Indonesian): This event was attended by 75 participants consisting of elements of government, university academics, related organizations such as PHRI Bali, DPD ASITA Bali, Head of Socialization for Foreign Workers, and Indonesia Hotel General Managers Association. Also attending were the Korean Bali Association, the Immigration Service Association, the Indonesian Mixed Marriage Society Bali Regional Representative. The public also participated online via Zoom. Head of Immigration Information and Communication Technology, Jesaja Samuel Enock, said, "It is hoped this socialization can provide knowledge, understanding, and answer questions on issues related to immigration residence permits, foreign workers, and investment during the Covid-19 pandemic, especially in the Bali area."
More...
Nation: "Indonesia's New Wealth Fund Keen to Invest in Digital Economy" from The Jakarta Post (Metered Paywall)
Nation: "Health Ministry to Cut Health Equipment Imports This Year" from The Jakarta Post (Metered Paywall)
Nation: "Rupiah Appreciates 0.49% Against Greenback in June: BI" from Antara
Province: "First Quarter of 2021, Consumption of All Fuel Products in Bali Fell by Around 25%" from Tribun Bali (Indonesian)
Badung: "Investment in Tourism Sector in Badung Still Primadonna During Covid-19 Pandemic" from Bali Prawara (Indonesian)
Bangli: "Not a Month After Repair, Road in Apuan Sinking Again" from Bali Express (Indonesian)
Gianyar: "Heavy Rain, Gianyar Residents' House Wall Collapses Closing Road Access" from iNews Bali (Indonesian)
Jembrana: "Toll Road as a 'Portal' for Jembrana Tourism" from Antara Bali (Indonesian)
Jembrana: "Balancing Prices of Grain and Rice, Regent Tamba Plans to Collaborate with Investors" from Nusa Bali (Indonesian)
Karangasem: "Tirta Gangga Pond Wall Broken, Residents Struggle to Catch Goldfish" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian)
Bali Reopening
"Covid Numbers in Bali Dropping Becomes Capital for Opening Tourism Doors in July" from Radar Bali (Indonesian)
"Regarding Plan to Open Bali Tourism in July 2021, Provincial Government Continues Efforts to Convince Foreign Tourists" from Tribun Bali (Indonesian)
"Regarding Plan to Open Tourism, Tabanan Ready to Follow Rules of the Game" from Bali Express (Indonesian)
"Jerinx Accuses Bunga Citra Lestari of Jeopardizing Bali’s Tourism Reopening With Her Covid-19 Diagnosis" from Coconuts Bali
"Domestic Tourist Visits to Bali Reach 50% of Normal Conditions" from Bisnis Bali (Indonesian): Head of the Bali Tourism Office I Putu Astawa said the number of domestic tourist visits (wisdom) to the Island of the Gods under normal conditions was around 16,000 people per day. Whereas at the beginning of the emergence of the Covid-19 pandemic, wisdom visits were only 2,600-3,000 people per day. Then, after more than a year of Covid-19, currently wisdom visits to Bali reach 8,000 people per day. According to Astawa, with the arrival of 8,000 wisdom per day, hotel occupancy in Bali can reach 11%. This number has the potential to continue to increase with the existence of Work from Bali (WFB) and the plan to open international tourism in July. "We need an open border for international tourists such as those from Dubai and the Maldives," he added. Furthermore, he continued, Bali is also targeting foreign tourists to visit for Christmas and New Year celebrations through the travel bubble. This collaboration will be built with countries that are willing to make reciprocal visits and who have a low risk of spreading Covid-19.
Context: According to Indonesia's Central Statistics Agency (BPS), the average daily arrival of domestic tourists in Bali in 2019 was approximately 28,000 per day, so just under double what the head of the Bali Tourism Office is quoting for "normal conditions." The average daily arrival of domestic tourists in 2020, according to BPS, was just over 12,000. At the beginning of the pandemic, March 2020, there were just over 18,000 daily domestic arrivals, and then after Indonesia suspended international arrivals and Bali’s border was closed to domestic tourist arrivals, this figure dropped to 5,500 per day in the following month.
"Indonesia May Cancel More Holidays in 2021 Amid Surge: Minister" from Coconuts Jakarta: The government says it’s considering shortening our time off for the remainder of the year after the last major holiday caused a surge in COVID-19 cases. Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Muhadjir Effendy said yesterday that the government is reviewing the remaining public holidays for the year, and may cancel any necessary to prevent another post-holiday COVID-19 surge. “We had a meeting yesterday with the president to discuss holidays, be it collective leave or individual leave, until December,” Muhadjir said. “The result [of the meeting] will be announced soon. But it’s certainly in the government’s agenda, in accordance with the president’s order.” Muhadjir did not say which holiday could be canceled this year. In previous cancellations, the government only cut down on collective leave days and not major public holidays, many of which are for religious celebrations.
"World Bank’s Worst-case Scenario for Indonesia Just Got Worse" from The Jakarta Post (Metered Paywall): The World Bank has maintained its forecast for economic growth in Indonesia but sees a greater downside risk following the emergence of more contagious COVID-19 variants. While the national economy is forecast to expand 4.4% this year and 5% next year, the global lender sees Indonesia’s GDP rise just 2.1% this year and 3.1% next year under a worst-case scenario, down from 3.1% and 3.8, respectively, in its December outlook. The World Bank’s June outlook states that “risks to the outlook are severely skewed to the downside,” given the uncertainty in the future path of the pandemic, global financial conditions, the scarring effect of the crisis, and the banking and financial sector’s performance.
Some Covid Context
“Talking Indonesia: Digital Literacy”: As the coronavirus pandemic extends into its second year, digital literacy is more important now than ever. Misinformation and hoaxes are everywhere. Cultural and political contests on social media have also become more intense, and politicians are already beginning to position themselves ahead of the 2024 elections. Being digitally literate entails not only the ability to use digital devices and platforms but also the capacity to ethically engage with other online users. Digital safety and privacy are also important. As is, of course, the capacity to understand whether information is true and reliable. But just how digitally literate are Indonesians?
*Note: Click on the embedded player above to listen or open the episode in Spotify. You can also find it in your favorite podcast app by searching for “Talking Indonesia,” or you can listen to it on the program’s website here. If you’ve heard a podcast or watched a video that you think can inform issues that we are facing here in Bali, let us know at TheBaliBeat@outlanders.global.
Of Interest
"National Police Chief Wants to Dismantle Central Jakarta’s IDR28 Billion Bike Lane" from Coconuts Jakarta
"Retired British Navy Soldier Sentenced to 3 Years in Prison for Methamphetamine Use" from Tribun Bali (Indonesian)
"78 Bali Tourists Deported From Indonesia So Far This Year" from Coconuts Bali
"Breaking Into Shop in Denpasar, Thief Beaten by Crowd" from Radar Bali (Indonesian)
"Celebrating 1st Anniversary, SOS Bali Kitchen Makes 3,250 Nasi Bungkus" from Nusa Bali (Indonesian)
Weekend Reads
"IDX’s Bait to Get GoTo, Traveloka and Others to List in Indonesia" from The Ken (Paywall)
"Which Covid Vaccine is Best? Here’s Why That’s Really Hard to Answer" from The Conversation
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
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