June 25, 2021
Local health office to research suspected Delta variant + Travelers must now present QR code test results, GeNose not accepted + President calls for more discipline as daily cases pass 20,000 + 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: After 185 new cases recorded on Wednesday, Bali recorded 181 yesterday, pushing the 7-day average up to 135. 1 of the cases was contracted by an Indonesian returning from overseas, and 39 by domestic travelers. Active cases surpassed 1,000 (1,028) for the first time since May 15 (1,001). There were 70 recoveries and 2 deaths. One of the fatalities was a traveler returning from overseas.
Click here to see the national numbers infographic and a Regency-by-Regency breakdown of yesterday’s local numbers.
The Big News
"Koster Asks Head of Health Office to Research Alleged New Virus Variant in Bali" from Radar Bali (Indonesian): The suspicion of Virology and Molecular Biology experts from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Udayana University (FKH Unud), towards the presence of a new variant of the Covid-19 virus was immediately responded to by Bali Governor Wayan Koster. Professor of Virology and Molecular Biology, FKH Unud, Prof. Dr. I Gusti Ngurah Kade Mahardika, suspects that the Delta variant, which is a new variant of Covid-19, had entered the province because the travel entry requirements are not strict, creating the opportunity for people to bring the Delta variant to Bali. Responding to this, Wayan Koster immediately ordered the head of the Bali Provincial Health Office in collaboration with Sanglah Hospital Denpasar and Unud to conduct research on new cases to find out whether the new cases of Covid-19 was a new type variant.
"No Fakes: Travelers Must Now Present Test Results Contained in QR Code Upon Entering Bali" from Coconuts Bali: Domestic travelers visiting Bali will now be required to present negative swab test results that come with a QR code to prevent fake documentation, as the province announces tighter restrictions to battle the ongoing national COVID-19 surge. “Domestic travelers headed to Bali via air, land, and sea will have their [entry] requirements tightened,” Governor Koster said. The main points cover several aspects, including increasing tracing, testing, and treatment, though more details are not specified. One notable change in the latest announcement is an updated requirement for domestic travelers visiting Bali, who are now obliged to provide negative results from either a PCR or antigen rapid test that must come with a QR code. Previously, travelers visiting Bali can present negative results from three COVID-19 test options, namely PCR, antigen rapid, and the GeNose breathalyzer — the last of which has been heavily scrutinized by many public health experts. Other points include tightening health protocols across all public facilities and implementing random antigen rapid tests in highly active locations, preparing quarantine facilities, and speeding up Bali’s vaccination drive.
Context: The tighter restrictions are listed in a statement released via the provincial government's Facebook page. Yesterday we included several stories about public health experts reiterating concerns about the accuracy of the GeNose test.
"Mask Up Please: Jokowi Calls for More Discipline as Covid-19 Cases Break Daily Record" from The Jakarta Globe: President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has called Indonesians to improve discipline in wearing masks and implementing health protocols to curb the Covid-19 spread, which has been on the rise again and broke new daily records in the past 24 hours. "We must remain disciplined in taking care of ourselves, especially wearing masks," Jokowi said on his official account on Twitter on Thursday. He also asked the public to stay at home to reduce the potential for contracting Covid-19. “I ask this one simple thing, stay at home if there is no urgent need [to go out for]. Only together we can stop this epidemic," Jokowi said. Indonesia reported 15,308 new Covid-19 cases on Wednesday, the highest daily record, reflecting a faster spread of the disease among the 270 million population. The world's 4th most populous country reported a total of 2.03 million cases today, the highest in Southeast Asia and 18th in the world, according to data collected by Worldometer.com.
Context: With 355 deaths recorded yesterday, the death toll reached 55,949. Active cases increased by 11,018 to reach 171,542, while suspected cases stood at 126,696. Jakarta added the highest number of daily cases with 7,505, followed by Central Java (4,384), West Java (3,053), East Java (945), DI Yogyakarta (791), and Banten (599). Nationwide cases have increased 42% in the past week.
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Other Headlines
"Parents Urged to Keep Children at Home in Bali After Nearly 5,000 Adolescent Cases Recorded" from Coconuts Bali: As many as 4,980 children in Bali have been infected with the coronavirus since the onset of the pandemic, and the province’s pediatrician association is now urging parents to limit children’s outdoor activities. “Children should stay home. Even if they must be taken outside it must be with strict health protocols, avoid the crowds and use masks for children above two years old,” I Gusti Lanang Sidiartha, who heads the Indonesian Pediatric Society (IDAI) in Bali, said. According to Sidiartha, COVID-19 cases among children are seeing a spike in the last week, after having declined previously. The majority of cases in Bali stem from their activities outside the home, he explained, from increased contact between individuals and the lack of mask use. “This week wasn’t the highest, but it doubled from the week before,” he said. Children make up more than 10% of COVID-19 cases in Bali generally, Sidiartha said, with 55 active cases as of yesterday. Meanwhile, one in eight COVID-19 patients across Indonesia are those below 18 years of age, according to IDAI.
Vaccination Update
"Indonesia to Begin Receiving Shipments of Pfizer Vaccine in August" from Coconuts Jakarta: At least 50 million doses of a vaccine from American pharmaceutical and biotechnology company Pfizer is expected to arrive gradually in Indonesia starting in August, the country’s Health Ministry said. “The Pfizer [vaccine] will arrive gradually starting August. There will be a total of 50 million doses, with an estimated 5 to 12 million doses coming in every shipment each month,” the Health Ministry’s vaccination spokeswoman Siti Nadia Tarmizi said. Nadia said the arrival of the Pfizer vaccine will help accelerate the national vaccination program for the second half of the year. Indonesia has so far brought in 104.7 million vaccine doses in bulk form and ready-for-use form. The national vaccination program has been largely dependent on a vaccine developed by Chinese pharmaceutical firm Sinovac and a vaccine developed by Anglo-Swedish pharmaceutical firm AstraZeneca, the latter of which the country has received through the WHO-backed COVAX initiative. Indonesia is also expected to receive 50 million doses of a vaccine developed by American biotechnology company Novavax, with the first shipments slated to arrive in July.
More...
Nation: "Ministry Eyes Daily Administration of 2 Million Covid-19 Vaccine Jabs" from Antara
Province: "Governor of Bali Targets Covid-19 Vaccination for 50,000 People/Day" from Antara Bali (Indonesian)
Buleleng: "Buleleng on a Deadline to Use Rest of Vaccines by End of the Month" from Nusa Bali (Indonesian)
Klungkung: "Many Residents Don't Want to be Vaccinated, Officers Go to Their Homes" from Bali Post (Indonesian)
Health Protocols (Prokes) & Patrols
"Hong Kong Bans All Passenger Flights From ‘Extremely High Risk’ Indonesia" from Coconuts Jakarta: Hong Kong has indefinitely banned all passenger flights from Indonesia amid a rise in imported cases from the archipelago nation. As confirmed by Indonesia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Hong Kong has categorized Indonesia as an “extremely high risk” travel origin, and thus, starting June 25, is enforcing the ban until further notice. Indonesia is the fifth nation to be placed under the category by Hong Kong, after the Philippines, India, Nepal, and Pakistan. The Foreign Ministry said Indonesian migrant workers affected by the ban are urged to contact their employers and/or agents. The Indonesian Consulate General in Hong Kong can be reached for assistance, particularly related to employment rights. Previously, Hong Kong specifically banned flights operated by Garuda Indonesia until at least July 5 after four passengers from Jakarta tested positive upon arrival on June 20.
More...
Nation: "Retailers Not Overly Concerned About Latest Microrestrictions" from The Jakarta Post (Metered Paywall)
Nation: "Indonesian Official Caught With Covid-19 in Italy as Cases Spike at Home" from The Jakarta Post (Metered Paywall)
Province: "Governor of Bali: Tighten Prokes at Village/Banjar Level to Deal With Spike in Covid-19" from Antara Bali (Indonesian)
Denpasar: "List of 4 Quarantine Hotels in the Sanur Area, Bali" from Kompas (Indonesian)
Jembrana: "Without Bringing Covid-19 Free Letter, Citizen Passes in and Out of Bali at Gilimanuk Port" from Kompas (Indonesian)
Economy & Infrastructure
"Tourism Industry Players Agree They are Helped by Government Stimulus and CHSE Program" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian): Christine Hutabarat, Director of Business Development of PT. HIN, said that tourism industry players are starting to adapt to the demands of the pandemic situation and prepare themselves to face the post-pandemic era through strengthening standards of cleanliness, health, safety and environmental sustainability. This certification is known as CHSE. Christie believes that CHSE is not just jargon, but has become an identity in providing services in the tourism industry. So that later it can grow public trust, as well as educate on health protocols as recommended by the government. In addition to the efforts made by adapting to the situation, the stimulus from the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy since 2020 in the form of Tourism Grants and other assistance is recognized as very helpful for the tourism sector industry to survive. "Stimulus from the government we use for several things, besides helping to finance our operations in times of low demand, it also helps improve the quality of CHSE implementation and workforce training at HIN," explained Christie.
More...
Nation: "Bukalapak Eyes IDX Listing in July" from The Jakarta Post (Metered Paywall)
Nation: "Indonesia Still Undecided Over 25-year Gap in Net Zero Deadlines" from The Jakarta Post (Metered Paywall)
Nation: "Bahlil: Electric Car Battery Factory Starts Production From 2023" from Antara Bali (Indonesian)
Province: "Canang Sari, Cayenne Pepper, and Red Chili Contribute to Deflation" from Bali Express (Indonesian)
Province: "Number of Vehicles in Bali Rises, But Tax Revenue Slumps" from Bisnis Bali (Indonesian)
Bangli: "Ground Breaking Development of Bangli City Square Park" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian)
Buleleng: "Weather Factors, Production and Prices of Wanagiri Coffee Drop" from Bali Express (Indonesian)
Denpasar: "Council Highlights Chaos of Electric Cables and Poles" from Nusa Bali (Indonesian)
Gianyar: "Residents Can No Longer Pay Bills, PDAM Gianyar Revenue Drops" from Radar Bali (Indonesian)
Karangasem: "High Waves, Loading and Unloading Process at Padangbai Pier 2 Closed" from Radar Bali (Indonesian)
Bali Reopening
"Covid Rises, Bali Tourism Opening Canceled, Tourism Actors: Stop Politicizing" from Radar Bali (Indonesian): The cancellation of the opening of Bali tourism next July due to the increase in positive cases of COVID-19 on the island of Java disappointed tourism actors on the Island of the Gods. The various preparations that have been made seemed to have been in vain. Meanwhile, the Balinese economy is getting worse due to the endless pandemic. This disappointment was expressed by the Head of Bali Tourism Transport I Nyoman Sudiartha. According to Sudiartha, the statement [from the head of the Bali task force] that Work From Bali [is one of the causes] behind the increase in COVID-19 cases is detrimental to Bali's tourism. "Is it true because of Work From Bali? This WFB really helps Bali tourism even though the volume is still small at this time. We really feel it. Please, please, don't politicize our condition. We really hope that tourism can recover. Or we will take to the streets for our survival. We have many responsibilities besides our business.”
More...
"Vaccination on Target, Bali Tourism Opening Canceled? This is Koster's Response" from Radar Bali (Indonesian)
"Menparekraf Asks Balinese People to Obey Prokes to Open Tourism" from Antara Bali (Indonesian)
"Business Actors in Sanur Anxious About Tourism Opening" from Bali Express (Indonesian)
"Three Green Zones in Bali Ready to Accept Tourists" from Nusa Bali (Indonesian)
"Regarding Tourism, Balinese Leaders and Citizens Are Too Confident" from Bali Express (Indonesian)
"Garuda Weighs Options, Including Setting Up New Flag Carrier" from The Jakarta Post (Metered Paywall): National flag carrier Garuda Indonesia is leaning toward two options to extricate itself from a debt crisis without placing an additional burden on government finances. Garuda president director Irfan Setiaputra said the airline's board was considering four major options in negotiations with creditors but was learning to the second or third. The first option — a loan or capital injection from the government — was not preferred as it would weigh on the state budget. The second option would involve a debt postponement petition (PKPU) to restructure Garuda’s liabilities, such as debt, owed lease, and owed salaries. Should Garuda choose that path, it would have 270 days under the Bankruptcy Law to reach agreements with lenders and lessors. Failing to do so, Garuda would automatically be declared bankrupt. The third would require the government to establish a new national flag carrier, while Garuda would be left to restructure its debt. The fourth option would be to liquidate Garuda without replacing it, rendering its market share to be taken over by private carriers.
"Lack of Reference to Past Human Rights Abuses in New Plan Raises Concerns" from The Jakarta Post (Metered Paywall): The government’s commitment to addressing past human rights violations has been called into question following the issuance of the latest National Action Plan for Human Rights (RANHAM) that omits policies pertaining to past cases, contradicting President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s recent vow to resolve them. The latest action plan, stipulated in a presidential regulation signed by President Jokowi on June 8, will be in effect from this year until 2025. It serves as a guideline for central and regional governments in planning and implementing actions or policies to “respect, protect, fulfill, uphold and advance” the rights of key target groups, namely women, children, people with disabilities, and indigenous people. Among the strategic targets in the plan are reducing discriminatory regulations against women and improving legal protection for children who are victims of violence and exploitation. But National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) commissioner Beka Ulung Hapsara regretted the notable absence of measures to address past human rights violations in the plan, saying it highlighted the lack of urgency from the government to resolve such cases.
Of Interest
"Hundreds Arrested as Rizieq Sentenced to Four Years in Jail" from The Jakarta Globe
"New Guidelines Not a Substitute for Electronic Information and Transactions Law Revision, Activists Say" from The Jakarta Post (Metered Paywall)
"145 Indonesian Migrant Workers Deported From Malaysia" from Antara
"Instagram Music Finally Available in Indonesia" from The Jakarta Post
"Wild Monkeys Enter Gardens and Houses, Manggis Residents Restless" from Radar Bali (Indonesian)
"Possessing Methamphetamine and Guns, French Citizens Sentenced to 16 Months" from Bali Express (Indonesian)
"Estuary Crocodile in Tukad Sangsang Gianyar Still Hasn't Been Caught" from Radar Bali (Indonesian)
"More Than 100,000 Foreigners Still in Bali, Most From Russia" from Bali Prawara (Indonesian)
Weekend Reads
"Guys, Interrupted: Indonesian Trans Men Set Their Sights on More Visibility" from The Jakarta Post
"Pandemic Has Increased Trust in Media: Report" from Agence France-Presse
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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