June 2, 2021
If reopening delayed again, tourism will "die even more" + Sanur should be Work From Bali location says Denpasar govt. + French and British couple injured in suspected gas leak explosion + more
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Weather & Waves
Today’s Weather for Southern Bali
Today’s Tides
Meteorology, Climatology & Geophysics Council (Link)
Tide table from Tide-forecast.com.
Local Covid Numbers
*Note: 28 new cases were recorded yesterday, the lowest daily total since August 6’s 27. This brought the 7-day average down to 45, the lowest since August 18’s 42. A total of 166 deaths were recorded last month; 73 fewer than the total recorded in February, which was the deadliest month so far.
Click here to see the national numbers infographic and a Regency-by-Regency breakdown of yesterday’s local numbers.
The Big News
"If Opening of Bali for Foreign Tourists is Delayed Again, Tourism Will Die Even More: Observers" from Tribun Bali (Indonesian): The government's plan to reopen the gates of Bali tourism for foreign tourists in July 2021 is highly expected by tourism actors. Especially now that we have entered the month of June, which means that Bali will be open for foreign tourists in approximately one month. However, for Bali tourism observer Puspa Negara, if the plan is not realized it will be extremely unfortunate. "That's just the winds of heaven (planned July opening) without a definite scheme or timeline, which should be made so that tourism business actors can open advance bookings." When asked whether the June-July opening is still on track, Head of the Bali Provincial Tourism Office, Putu Astawa, said, "I can't be pessimistic, and I'm always not overly optimistic, but realistic, because the dynamics of COVID-19 in this world are hard for us to predict. As a tourism person, I must always think optimistically and realistically."
Context: Elsewhere it has been reported that the Deputy Governor of Bali, Cok Ace, said the central government has been "quite intense in conducting various studies and evaluations related to opening Bali,” and that his party is still optimistic Bali can be opened in July. "Until now there has been no change.”
"Announced as Green Zone, But Sanur Not A Work From Bali Destination" from Tribun Bali (Indonesian): State employees from 7 ministries under the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment will be part of the Work From Bali (WFB) agenda in Nusa Dua from the third quarter of 2021. This has made the Denpasar City Government jealous, because one of the areas in Denpasar, Sanur, has also been declared a green zone. "Yes, why only Nusa Dua, Sanur should be too, it has been declared a green zone," said Head of the Denpasar City Tourism Office, MA Dezire Mulyani. He added that the central government should do an even distribution, so that all regions declared as green zones get the impact. Dezire has conveyed this to the Indonesian Tourism Industry Association (GIPI) Denpasar. "Hopefully it can reach the center. But to this day there has been no follow-up.”
"French and British Foreigners Become Victims of Suspected Gas Cylinder Explosion" from Indo Bali News (Indonesian): The sound of an explosion was heard from inside a house at Palm Loft Cluster B-30 Buana Gubung, Jimbaran Village, South Kuta. The house was contracted by a French foreigner who was a victim of the incident. According to the Head of Public Relations of the Denpasar Police, Iptu Ketut Sukadi, the explosion caused two victims to suffer burns. "The victims are Hugo Gaetan Houthoofd, 35-year-old French citizen, and Elouise Fiona Michelle Houthoofd, 20-year-old British citizen." The two victims were then taken to the hospital by a witness who lives near the crime scene. According to witness IB Gede Arimbawa Putra, he heard the sound of an explosion which was thought to have been caused by the leak of the 12 kg gas cylinder at around 06.30 WITA.
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Other Headlines
"Bali's Covid-19 Risk Zone Has Not Improved" from Bali Post (Indonesian): In the past week when compared to the previous week, additional COVID-19 cases in Bali showed improvement. Daily additions reached double digits, down from the previous week which had reached triple digits. However, in the evaluation of the risk map for the spread of COVID-19 as of May 30, which was reported by the National COVID-19 Handling Task Force on Tuesday, the handling of COVID-19 in Bali has not shown any improvement. The risk zone for the spread of COVID-19 is still orange. All districts/cities, namely Jembrana, Tabanan, Badung, Denpasar, Gianyar, Bangli, Klungkung, Karangasem and Buleleng have orange zone status. This is the third week for Bali where all regencies/cities have orange zone status.
Vaccination Update
Nation: "Over 10.7 Million Indonesians Fully Vaccinated Against Covid-19" from Antara
Nation: "Minister of Health Plans COVID-19 Vaccination for People with Physical and Mental Disabilities" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian)
Buleleng: "Buleleng Regent's Precise Moves to Anticipate Limited Number of Covid-19 Vaccines" from Suara Bali (Indonesian)
Health Protocols (Prokes) & Patrols
"Jakarta Extends Micro-scale Activity Restrictions Against Covid-19" from Antara: The Jakarta metropolitan administration has again extended the implementation of Micro-scale Community Activity Restriction (PPKM) for a two-week period, from June 1 to 14, 2021. "To continue to support efforts to handle the pandemic and the vaccination program, the Jakarta provincial government has decided to again extend PPKM," said Widyastuti, head of the Jakarta Health Office. The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases rose following the Eid al-Fitr holiday in mid-May. The number of confirmed cases had reached 10,658 as of May 31, an increase of 3,365 cases from the earlier two weeks. However, the spike in cases this year is slightly better than last year's 30 thousand confirmed cases.
More...
Nation: "Starting June 1, These Are the Micro PPKM Rules That Apply Throughout Indonesia" from Kompas (Indonesian)
Nation: "National Traffic Police: Operation Ketupat 2021 Safe and Smooth" from Nusa Bali (Indonesian)
Economy & Infrastructure
"Badung Signs Agreement on Source-Based Waste Management in Village Areas and Traditional Villages" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian): Deputy Regent of Badung, Ketut Suiasa, signed an agreement with the Governor of Bali in the context of a joint commitment. The Vice Regent of Badung explained that regarding the handling of waste in Badung, his party has handled waste at the Mengwitani TPST with the principle that from upstream to downstream, waste is processed using a waste processing machine and sorted, then the organic waste is used as fertilizer. For the waste management scheme in Badung Regency, the waste can be categorized as household waste, ceremonial waste, and waste from public areas. It is hoped that household waste can be used by the community for self-management and use, for example for fertilizer or economically for household compost, for infiltration wells, or organic biogas.
More...
Nation: "Indonesia's Investment Score Low due to Bureaucratic Constraints" from Kompas
Badung: "Bali and Beyond Travel Fair Held This Week" from Tempo (Indonesian)
Badung: "List of 16 Nusa Dua Hotels Supporting Work from Bali" from Suara Bali (Indonesian)
Denpasar: "Bali's Export Value Begins to Show Improvement, Decorative Products Become Favorite" from Tribun Bali (Indonesian)
Denpasar: "Improving Image, Department of Industry and Trade Holds Arak Packaging Design Competition" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian)
Gianyar: "Dry Season, Fishers Rarely Get Lobster" from Bali Express (Indonesian)
"Newest Tourist Destination in Tabanan, Tasta Wildlife Park Officially Opened" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian): Dr. I Komang Gede Sanjaya, SE, MM as the Regent of Tabanan accompanied by the Deputy Regent of Tabanan I Made Edi Wirawan, SE., inaugurated the soft opening of the Tabanan Wildlife Park, known as the Tasta Wildlife Park. The park is in Banjar Tegeh, Angseri Village, Baruriti District. The Regent of Sanjaya appreciates Tasta as a zoo with a creative concept, not only as a wildlife park but also as an educational center for the community, especially in terms of nature conservation. "We hope that in the future, animal conservation tourism will become a new alternative in Bali tourism and have a positive impact on the younger generation, especially in the preservation of flora and fauna in Tabanan Regency and even Indonesia," he said. Located in the cool highlands, with a total area of 20 hectares, Tasta has a diverse collection of animals and plants.
"US Lays on the Charm, Highlights Indo-Pacific Values During RI Leg of SEA Tour" from The Jakarta Post (Metered Paywall): The United States touted its shared values with Indonesia for the Indo-Pacific concept during a high-level visit on Monday, a first diplomatic offensive launched under President Joe Biden’s administration to Southeast Asia, where Chinese diplomatic influence has been growing rapidly. Deputy Foreign Minister Mahendra Siregar hosted his American counterpart Deputy Secretary of State Wendy R. Sherman, who is on a diplomatic tour in the region this week, visiting Indonesia, Thailand, and Cambodia. Sherman said Indonesia was a leader within ASEAN and “an anchor of the rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific". “Indonesia and the US also share a vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific region, including a commitment to freedom of navigation and overflight and other lawful usages of the sea,” she said. The Indo-Pacific concept is a strategic reimagining of the Asia-Pacific region that is interpreted differently by different countries and interests.
"Police Arrest Two Turkish Foreigners Skimming ATM in Bali" from Radar Bali (Indonesian): The arrest of two male foreign nationals from Turkey suspected of skimming by members of the police stirred up residents on Jalan Imam Bonjol, Denpasar, on Sunday morning at around 01.48 WITA. The arrest of the two foreigners in front of the ATM near the Jalan Imam Bonjol gas station, West Denpasar, was dramatic, because during the process, they fought back against the officers and tried to escape. A police source said that the two foreigners had become targets of police operations after they began hanging around the ATM. It is suspected that they had installed skimming equipment. "Yes, the situation in front of the ATM is indeed dark and quiet. However, their actions became known which led to their arrest," said the source.
"Villagers of Abang Village, Karangasem Hunt for Protein-rich Gayas Caterpillars" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian): The Gayas caterpillar that often attacks corn, cassava, and banana plants is rich in protein. In Bumi Lahar Karangasem, especially in Abang Village, residents hunt Gayas caterpillars to make various foods. I Nengah Adi Suda Darma, one of Abang's residents, said that Gayas can be processed into several dishes, ranging from fried Gayas, Gayas sausages, Gayas nyat-nyat, to pepes Gayas. He admits that he likes Gayas nyat-nyat the most. "Wuih, the taste is great, the texture is chewy." Gayas can be said to be an enemy of farmers because it lives in the soil and often attacks the roots of plants which causes plants to wither and dry up. They usually appear during the transition from the rainy season to the dry season, and live in soil to a depth of about 10 cm. After cleaning, the Gayas are boiled for 30 to 45 minutes and then can be processed to make various foods.
Of Interest
"Bali Tsunami and Great Midnight Earthquake, November 1815, Destroyed Buleleng Kingdom" from Suara Bali (Indonesian)
"Already Know Them? These are the Parts and Names of Traditional Balinese Homes" from Detik Travel (Indonesian).
"Search Continues for KM Karya Indah's Missing Passenger: SAR Agency" from Antara
"Back to Nature: How the Pandemic Made the Outdoors Fashionable" from The Jakarta Post (Metered Paywall)
"Frontline Medical Worker Succumbs to Covid-19 After Giving Birth" from Antara
"Photo Spot in Raja Ampat Collapses, Five Tourists Injured" from Nusa Bali (Indonesian)
"Python Enters House on Jalan Gunung Agung, Geger" from Bali Post (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.
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