June 29, 2021
Air travel to Bali requires PCR test from June 30 + Bali being prepared as vaccination tourism destination, governor hopes can begin in July + Health minister leads push for tighter Covid curbs + 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: Among the 212 new cases recorded yesterday there were 7 Indonesians who had returned from overseas and 62 who had traveled domestically. The 7-day average was pushed up to 189, the highest since April 10 (208). There are now 1,464 active cases, the highest since April 19 (1,491).
Click here to see the national numbers infographic and a Regency-by-Regency breakdown of yesterday’s local numbers. And in case you missed it, check out Sunday’s update for a summary of last week’s overall totals, with perspective on how they stack up against previous weeks, detailed breakdowns of the virus’ spread on a Regency-by-Regency level, and the national task force’s risk assessment for each district/city across the country.
The Big News
"Air Travel to Bali Requires PCR Swab Test Starting 30th June" from Indonesia Expat: Bali’s Governor, I Wayan Koster, stated that domestic flight passengers entering the Island of the Gods via Ngurah Rai International Airport must have a PCR swab test document showing a negative COVID-19 result. With this new ruling, the results of tests such as antigen swabs and GeNose will no longer apply to airplane passengers. To avoid passenger fraud, the Bali government will check the authenticity of the PCR swab document by scanning the QR code. In addition to the air travel restrictions, the local government will tighten travel rules for passengers entering by land and sea. Koster emphasised that passengers who enter Bali by boat through the ferry ports must have antigen swab test or a PCR swab. “Therefore, GeNose does not apply,” he said. The number of domestic tourist visits to Bali by air during June 2021 reached 8,000-9,000 people per day. Meanwhile, domestic tourist visits by land reach 10,000 per day.
"Tourism Ministry Prepares Bali to Become Vaccine Tourism Destination, Koster Hopes It Can Be Realized by End of July" from Tribun Bali (Indonesian): Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy (Menparekraf), Sandiaga Uno, is still preparing a tourism program based on the Covid-19 vaccination in Bali. "I have received a lot of WhatsApp messages from interested friends, and big data monitoring shows the enthusiasm of the community to get vaccines as well as take a vacation. This is finally our mission, why do we have to go abroad for vacations? Why not just go to Bali?” Sandiaga said. "I can state that our vaccine supply is sufficient, and Bali is the President's priority. So this will not reduce Bali's vaccine supply of 6 million doses, we hope to finish the program before the reopening of Bali (July 2021)." So far, he said, the vaccine tourism concept is planned to be offered directly by official travel agencies. The duration of the tour would be 14 days so there is a time lag so tourists can get two doses while in Bali. The first dose is given on arrival while the second dose is given before returning. The vaccine that will be used is Sinovac, but in the future, it will be possible to use other vaccines.
Context: TX Travel President Director Anton Thedy has said that the 14 day/13 night tour packages would start at IDR4.1 million per person, which includes two doses of Sinovac vaccine but not airfares. He said his party had deployed 256 branch offices and 12,000 resellers throughout Indonesia to promote the packages. "We have tried several locations, such as the Ubud area, as well as other areas. The most important point of this vaccine tour is how to increase the length of stay, which may now average a week to two weeks.”
"Indonesia Health Minister Leads Push for Stricter Covid Curbs" from Reuters: Indonesia's health minister is leading a push for stricter controls as coronavirus cases surge to unprecedented levels, according to sources familiar with government discussions. Coronavirus infections in Indonesia have tripled in the past three weeks, overwhelming hospitals in the capital Jakarta and on the heavily populated island of Java. Three sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said health minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin had urged government leaders to enact tougher social restriction measures but his request was overruled. He is continuing to push his case, they said. One of the sources said government meetings on the issue would take place this week. The health minister's position was supported by the country's tourism minister Sandiaga Uno, who confirmed that a tougher lockdown was under active consideration. "I am encouraging a tougher lockdown (but) we would need to provide the basic necessities for the people," he said. "If the number of cases is increasing, then we need to adjust very quickly." Citing the need to safeguard Southeast Asia's biggest economy, Indonesia has mostly rejected the lockdowns imposed by its neighbours and large developing countries like India.
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Other Headlines
"President Targeting Two Million Daily Vaccinations by August" from Antara: Indonesian President Joko Widodo is targeting to scale up COVID-19 vaccinations to cover two million people per day by August this year. He has reiterated his request to all staff to maintain the distribution of one million vaccine doses every day until the end of July. "I would like to express the highest appreciation for the distribution of 1.3 million vaccine doses on Saturday, June 26 (2021), exceeding the target of one million vaccinations per day that was set starting July 2021," he said. Widodo lauded all parties, especially the Ministry of Health, the military and police forces, the Ministry of State-Owned Enterprises, and private sector players who took part in the vaccination drive for their hard work, as well as the people who willingly received the shots. "I remind all parties to work hard to meet the target of one million vaccinations per day and to maintain it until the end of July, and we can double that for August 2021 and reach two million doses per day," Widodo said.
Vaccination Update
"Chinese Vaccines: Sinovac Needs Outweigh Doubts in Indonesia" from Nikkei Asia (Metered Paywall): So far, all but a small fraction of vaccines delivered to Indonesia have come from China's Sinovac Biotech - shots declared halal by the nation's Islamic authorities. But some health workers inoculated with Sinovac jabs have been hospitalized. Some have even died despite being fully immunized. Chinese President Xi Jinping vowed in May 2020 that his country's COVID-19 vaccines would be a "global public good," promising developing countries "vaccine accessibility and affordability." Fast forward a year, and China has arguably delivered. But where do the questions about efficacy leave Indonesia? Vaccines made by China's Sinovac, Sinopharm, and CanSino Biologics make up 58.5% of Indonesia's confirmed dose orders. Indonesia would not have been able to start its mass vaccination program in January without Sinovac shots. The vaccines made up 90% of the 104 million doses the archipelago nation had received as of late June. Sinopharm vaccines accounted for a further 1.9%, with the rest consisting of AstraZeneca vials obtained through COVAX, the international program for equitable vaccine access. "Indonesia is dependent on vaccines from China ... because only China can meet the number of vaccines needed for Indonesia," said an official at Indonesia's Health Ministry.
Context: 10 out of 26 Indonesian doctors who have died from Covid-19 in June had been fully vaccinated with Sinovac, prompting authorities to consider whether medics should receive alternative doses.
More...
Nation: "Covid Vaccinations to Begin Soon for Children Aged 12-17: President" from Antara
Nation: "In Indonesia, Anti-vaccine Messages Come With a Dose of Religion, Anti-Chinese Sentiment, and Conspiracy Theories" from South China Morning Post
Nation: "National Police Instructs Staff to Establish Precision Vaccine Outlets" from Bali Post (Indonesian)
Province: "Bali Launches Banjar-Based Vaccination, Pursues Target of 50,000 People per Day" from Bisnis Bali (Indonesian)
Tabanan: "Tabanan Regency Government Forms Team, Monitoring People Who Have Not Been Vaccinated" from Bali Express (Indonesian)
Health Protocols (Prokes) & Patrols
"Indonesia’s Static Positivity Rate Highlights Persisting Gaps in Testing Capacity, Capability" from The Jakarta Post (Metered Paywall): While Indonesia has been seeing a surge in COVID-19 cases in the past few weeks, the official public health records on the positivity rate has remained relatively unchanged, raising questions about the country’s testing capability. The country has recorded a rise in daily cases nationwide since June 17. However, the nation’s overall positivity rate has ranged from 17 to 22% throughout. According to Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, the positivity rate, also called the “percent positive” or the “percent positive rate”, is “the percentage of all coronavirus tests performed that are actually positive”. The rate is “a critical measure because it gives us an indication how widespread infection is in the area where the testing is occurring – and whether levels of testing are keeping up with levels of disease transmission”, it adds. Essentially, it is the key data for health officials to monitor the spread of COVID-19 in an area and to make policy decisions on its pandemic response, including mobility restrictions.
More...
Nation: "Hospital Bed Occupancy Rate on Java Island Above 90%: PERKI" from Antara
Nation: "BPOM Gives Nod for Clinical Trials on Ivermectin as Covid-19 Treatment" from The Jakarta Globe
Province: "Govt Asked by Tourism Observer to Enforce Lockdown in Bali for 14 Days" from Tempo
Denpasar: "Micro PPKM Prokes Raid, 5 People Fined" from Nusa Bali (Indonesian)
Economy & Infrastructure
"Denpasar City Government Cooperates With Darwin City, Australia" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian): The Denpasar City Government has officially established international cooperation with the Darwin Northern Territory City Government, Australia for the development of tourism and cultural promotion, creative economy development, and human resource capacity development. This was marked by the signing of a Letter of Intent (LOI) between the Mayor of Denpasar, I Gusti Ngurah Jaya Negara, and the Mayor of Darwin, the Hon. Kon Vatskalis. The Mayor of Denpasar conveyed the signing of the two cities as an effort to collaborate with each other in order to achieve the vision and mission of the development of the two cities. "One of the developments of this collaboration can be in the form of providing training and certification for Denpasar workers who will be ready to work and contribute skills in Darwin City," said Jaya Negara. "This cooperation is also a form of support between the two countries, namely through the Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IA-CEPA)."
More...
Nation: "Recycling Industry Processing Just One-third of Nation's Waste: Govt" from Antara
Nation: "Indonesian Homeownership Slides as Affordability Issues Arise" from The Jakarta Post (Metered Paywall)
Province: "State Revenue Drops, What's the Fate of National Priority Projects in Bali?" from Bisnis Bali (Indonesian)
Province: "2,000 Tourist Vehicles Withdraw Leasing" from CNBC Indonesia (Indonesian)
Province: "Prof. Windia Criticizes Koster About Alignment to Agriculture" from Radar Bali (Indonesian)
Badung: "Tourism Entrepreneurs Can Apply for Assistance" from Bali Express (Indonesian)
Buleleng: "Lake Buyan-Lake Tamblingan Recedes 200 Meters" from Nusa Bali (Indonesian)
Gianyar: "Sukawati Village Now Has Jogging Track Through Rice Fields" from Nusa Bali (Indonesian)
NTB: "NTB Targets 16 New Tourism Villages in 2021" from Bisnis Bali (Indonesian)
Bali Reopening
"Kemenparekraf Continues to Finalize Bali Travel Corridor Arrangement (TCA) Program" from Tribun Bali (Indonesian): Despite the sharp increase in Covid-19 cases nationally, the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy continues to prepare for the finalization of the Travel Corridor Arrangement (TCA) for Bali. "Indeed Covid-19 cases are increasing but, that doesn't mean we stop preparing, especially in terms of the end-to-end CHSE. So, as soon as we land until we return, we will prepare for foreign tourists," said the Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno. He added that his party would adjust the Covid-19 pandemic situation to improve coordination at the ministerial level on the TCA discussion for Bali, and it would be brought to the President for a final decision after the Covid-19 conditions are conducive.
More...
"Decision to Open International Tourism is With the Center" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian)
"Get Your Covid Jab and Climb Up a Tank, Bali’s Military Command Says" from Coconuts Bali: The Udayana Military Command (Kodam IX/Udayana) offered something different to reward those getting their vaccine shots in Bali over the weekend: a chance to climb up a real military tank. “This is the only one in Indonesia, there is no such thing [in other regions],” I Made Mardika, who heads Kodam IX’s health department, said. About five military tanks were stationed at the Praja Raksaka Sports Arena in Denpasar, as military officers sought to attract more public interest for the COVID shots. A recently finished swimming pool was also opened to the public to add more flair to the vaccination experience. “[Usually] people getting vaccinated only come, sit, receive service and then go home. For that reason, the Military Commander [Maruli Simanjuntak] had an idea for them to climb up the tanks,” Mardika said. “This is to add to the public’s belief that the vaccines are safe. We should be happy getting vaccinated.” On Saturday, 546 people from different parts of Bali reportedly got their COVID shots at this location. Kodam IX has yet to decide if they will continue to incorporate the tanks in future vaccination events.
"New Airline Super Air Jet Offers IDR426k Jakarta-Bali Fare Ahead of Launch" from Coconuts Jakarta: Indonesia’s aviation industry is set to welcome a new player in the game in the shape of Super Air Jet, a low-cost carrier that, according to its executives, is aimed at millennials. The airline announced that it has secured an Air Operator Certificate (AOC) meaning its aircrafts have fulfilled technical and safety regulations in Indonesia. While Super Air Jet requires several more certifications from regulators before it could take off, the airline has already placed airfares for its exclusively domestic routes on its website. A one-way fare from Jakarta to Bali, for example, starts at IDR426K, which, after taxes, should put it in the range of fares offered by established low-cost carriers such as Indonesia’s Lion Air and Malaysia’s AirAsia. The lowest fare from Jakarta is a one-way flight to Palembang (IDR252K), while Jakarta to Medan Kualanamu was advertised at IDR536K. No bookings can be made at the time of writing, and the airline has not given an exact launch date.
Some Covid Context
"Talking Indonesia: the Worsening Covid-19 Crisis": Sixteen months after announcing its first case of Covid-19, last week Indonesia passed the ominous milestone of two million officially recorded cases, amid a surge in daily numbers. In response, local government officials in some parts of Java are moving to declare ‘red zones’ and limit movement in their regions. What are the causes of this recent spike in Covid-19 cases? What does it tell us about the way the government has handled the crisis over the past 16 months? How dire will the situation become, and can the vaccination rollout help to mitigate its impacts? In this special episode of Talking Indonesia, Jemma Purdey talks to Dr Dicky Budiman, a medical doctor, epidemiologist, and advisor to governments and international organisations for more than 20 years.
*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
"Home in a Warm Bowl: How Instant Noodles Unite Portugal’s Indonesian Diaspora" from The Jakarta Post (Metered Paywall)
"Mami' Vera Dedicates Her Life to Caring for People With HIV/AIDs" from The Jakarta Post (Metered Paywall)
"Balinese Gamelan Goes Worldwide Through PS5 Game Hit: Bridge of Spirits" from Detik (Indonesian)
"Indonesian Tourist Drowns While Swimming at Bali’s Seminyak Beach" from Coconuts Bali
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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