June 30, 2021
Ferry carrying more than 50 people sinks off Bali coast, 6 dead + Tourism minister wants daily Bali cases to drop to 30-40 before reopening + 40% of Bali flights canceled after new restrictions + 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 yesterday’s 238 new cases, Bali will pass 50,000 today. Yesterday’s total included 1 traveler returning from overseas, 45 domestic travelers, and 2 foreigners, bringing the total number of cases among foreign nationals to 201. Bali’s 7-day case average is now 205.
Click here to see the national numbers infographic and a Regency-by-Regency breakdown of yesterday’s local numbers.
The Big News
"Ferry Carrying More Than 50 People Sinks Off Coast of Bali, at Least Six Dead" from Associated Press: Rescuers have searched into the night for three missing people after a ferry sank with more than 50 on board in rough seas near Bali, killing at least six people. The KMP Yunice sank about half an hour after leaving East Java's Ketapang port, Bali Search and Rescue Agency chief Gede Darmada said. It was bound for Bali's Gilimanuk port, a 50-kilometre trip, with 41 passengers and 12 crew members. Mr Darmada said 44 people, many unconscious after drifting in choppy waters for hours, were rescued and at least six bodies were recovered. Rescuers were battling waves up to 4 meters high in darkness to search for the missing people. Ferry tragedies are common in Indonesia, an archipelago of more than 17,000 islands, with weak enforcement of safety regulations often to blame. In 2018, an overcrowded ferry with about 200 people on board sank in a deep volcanic crater lake in North Sumatra province, killing 167 people. In one of the country's worst recorded disasters, an overcrowded passenger ship sank in February 1999 with 332 people aboard. There were only 20 survivors.
Context: Head of Banyuwangi Military Command, Lt. Col. Inf. Yuli Eko, said 14 passengers are still being searched for. Fishermen helped rescue 6 of the passengers. 40 vehicles were also on board. Three health facilities in Jembrana are treating survivors. The Bali governor and Bali police chief rushed to the location of the sinking last night, and have announced that the families of victims will receive compensation.
"Bali Reopening to Foreign Tourists Delayed as Covid Surges: Sandiaga" from Reuters: The government will wait until COVID-19 cases fall significantly before opening Bali to foreign tourists, Tourism and Creative Economy Minister said. "We were targeting end of July, beginning of August, but we just have to be mindful of where we are in this recent spike (in coronavirus cases)," Indonesia's Minister for Tourism and the Creative Economy, Sandiaga Uno, said. "We will be waiting for the situation to be more conducive." Coronavirus infections have surged across Indonesia in recent weeks, including in Bali, where there has been a fourfold rise in the past month, albeit from a low base, to about 200 cases per day. Sandiaga said he wanted Bali's daily coronavirus infections to fall to 30 or 40 per day before reopening. The true extent of Bali's infections is masked by its low testing rates, which stand at 15% of the minimum recommended by the World Health Organisation.
"40% of Flights at Ngurah Rai Airport Canceled After New Conditions to Enter Bali" from Tribun Bali: The Bali Provincial Government will apply strict conditions for Domestic Travelers (PPDN) entering Bali using air, land and sea transportation which will take effect from today. PPDN using air transportation are required to show a negative certificate for a PCR-based swab test, while those using sea and land transportation modes need to include negative PCR information or rapid antigen test results. One day before the tightening for PPDN entering Bali, it was observed that domestic arrivals at Bali's I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport were not so crowded. Many airlines canceled their flights to Bali yesterday, which was confirmed by Angkasa Pura I International Airport Branch Office I Gusti Ngurah Rai Bali. "There have been cancellations, the amount is not known for sure, but the canceled flight planning is approximately 40%," said Stakeholder Relations Manager of PT Angkasa Pura I (Persero) I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport Branch Office, Bali, Taufan Yudhistira. On Tuesday there were 70 inbound and outbound flights scheduled, of which approximately 20 were canceled. Flights were dominated by Jakarta, Surabaya and Lombok.
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Other Headlines
"As Covid-19 Cases Soar, Government to Set New Restrictions" from The Jakarta Post (Metered Paywall): The government is set to introduce stricter restrictions in the fight against the second wave of COVID-19 infections, primarily driven by the more transmissible Delta variant, which has overwhelmed the healthcare system, an official has confirmed. President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has appointed Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan to lead the implementation of the new set of measures, called emergency public activity restrictions (PPKM Darurat) in Java and Bali, said the minister’s spokesperson Jodi Mahardi in a statement on Tuesday. But Jodi did not specify how strict the measures would be. He said that they were currently being drafted and would be announced soon by the government. Previously, The Straits Times quoted an anonymous member of House of Representatives Commission IX, which oversees health, who said that the new restrictions would include a full work-from-home policy for workers in non-essential sectors and a ban on dine-in services at restaurants. The lawmaker added that domestic air travel would require proof of a negative PCR test result and would only be allowed for vaccinated individuals.
Context: This is The Strait Times article referred to above, which, when first published, used the headline “Indonesia to Impose Hard Covid-19 Lockdown From June 30 as It Battles Second Wave of Infections, Say Officials.” This has since been updated to the headline “Indonesia Expected to Impose Stricter Covid-19 Restrictions by Saturday.” The use of the term “lockdown” in the original headline did, however, predictably lead to some Indonesian media outlets reporting that Singapore media had leaked news of a lockdown. The Indonesian Covid task force responded immediately by saying that the new measures are still being discussed and citizens should wait for official government information.
Vaccination Update
Nation: "13.3 Million Indonesians Fully Vaccinated Against Covid-19" from Antara
Nation: "Indonesian Child Commission Applauds Vaccination for Children" from Antara
Nation: "Japan to Send 2 Million Vaccine Doses Amid Indonesia's Worst Covid-19 Wave" from The Jakarta Post (Metered Paywall)
Nation: "Indonesia’s Health Ministry Enlists Kawaii Anime Character to Convince Young Japanophiles to Get Jab" from Coconuts Jakarta
Buleleng: "Vaccination Continues, Buleleng Covid-19 Task Force: Approaching 50% Target" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian)
Jembrana: "Inspection of Boarding Houses, Satpol PP Find Many Cafe Workers Have Not Been Vaccinated Against Covid-19" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian)
Klungkung: "Klungkung Regent Monitors Stagnant Covid-19 Vaccinations" from Antara Bali (Indonesian)
Health Protocols (Prokes) & Patrols
"Bali Increases Covid-19 Tracing to 15 People" from Bisnis Bali (Indonesian): The Bali Provincial Health Office has increased Covid-19 contact tracing from 10 people to 15 people per case to prevent the spread of Covid-19. The head of the Bali Health Service, Ketut Suarjaya, said contact tracing was an effort to prevent the spread of Covid-19. Because currently in Bali there is an increase in cases which is an average of three digits per day, contact tracing has been increased to 15 people per case. Previously it was carried out on 10 people per case. "We are doing this as an effort to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in Bali, because currently the case is increasing, we are also increasing the tracing," he told. According to him, the positivity rate of contact tracing on the Island of the Gods currently reaches above 20%. Whereas previously it was below 10%.
More...
Nation: "Covid-19: Ministry Highlights Need for Double Masks" from Antara
Nation: "People With High Mobility Should Wear Mask at Home: Ministry" from Antara
Nation: "BPOM Gives Nod for Clinical Trials on Ivermectin as Covid-19 Treatment" from The Jakarta Globe
Gianyar: "6,000 Liters of Disinfectant Sprayed in Ubud Tourism Area" from Bali Express (Indonesian)
Jembrana: "GeNose Test No Longer Valid at Gilimanuk Harbor, Rapid Retests for Madurase Still Conducted" from Tribun Bali (Indonesian)
Economy & Infrastructure
"Bali Medical Tourism Association (BMTA) Builds New Optimism for Bali Tourism" from Antara Bali (Indonesian): The new association, which was initiated by the Indonesian Hospitals Association (PERSI) Bali Province and comprises government and private hospitals and clinics, is determined to build new optimism for tourism by promoting Bali as a medical tourism destination. It will also establish cooperation in the field of developing health technology, and developing skills and competencies of medical officers, so that Bali is able to become a medical tourism destination for domestic and international tourists. BMTA has officially become part of the Bali Tourism Board (BTB). It is hoped that hospitals in Bali can jointly promote Bali as a medical tourism destination. "So that the optimism of Indonesian tourism, through medical tourism, for the Bali awakening program can be realized," said Ida Bagus Agung Partha Adnyana, Chair of the Bali Tourism Board.
More...
Nation: "Minister of Home Affairs Instructs Local Governments to Accelerate Realization of Incentives for Health Workers" from Antara Bali (Indonesian)
Nation: "Sri Mulyani Defends Tax Bill" from The Jakarta Post (Metered Paywall)
Nation: "Indonesia Records US$623 Million Trade Surplus With Switzerland" from Antara
Nation: "‘Blue Economy’ Not Enough to Make Oceans Sustainable, Experts Say" from The Jakarta Post (Metered Paywall)
Nation: "Accelerating the $6.07 Billion Jakarta-Bandung High-speed Railway Project" from The Jakarta Post (Metered Paywall)
Province: "'Bali Kembali Movement' Supports Development of the Creative Industry" from Antara Bali (Indonesian)
Badung: "Finances in Disarray, Employees' Salaries Cut, Badung DPRD Cries Out" from Radar Bali (Indonesian)
Badung: "Badung Continues to Develop the Agricultural Sector During the Pandemic" from Antara Bali (Indonesian)
Badung: "Governor Koster, Gives Green Light to Donate 8 Are of Land to Tanjung Benoa Traditional Village" from Bali Prawara (Indonesian)
Denpasar: "Denpasar City Government Promotes Digital Transformation in Traditional Markets" from Bali Prawara (Indonesian)
Denpasar: "Denpasar City Government Accelerates Tourism Recovery Amid Covid-19" from Antara Bali (Indonesian)
Bali Reopening
"Hotel Association in Ubud Urges International Open Border Not to Be Postponed" from Radar Bali (Indonesian)
"Indonesia's Covid-19 Situation Nears 'Catastrophe' - Red Cross" from Reuters: Indonesia’s COVID-19 surge is on the edge of a “catastrophe” as the more infectious Delta variant dominates transmission and chokes hospitals in Southeast Asia’s worst epidemic, the Red Cross said. “Every day we are seeing this Delta variant driving Indonesia closer to the edge of a COVID-19 catastrophe,” said Jan Gelfand, head of the Indonesian delegation of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), urging better vaccine access globally. Hospitals in several designated “red zone” areas have reported overcapacity, including the capital Jakarta, with its isolation beds 93% occupied as of Sunday. “Hospitals are full because of the case surge caused by mobility and loosening health protocol adherence, worsened also by the Delta variant,” said senior health ministry official Siti Nadia Tarmizi, when asked about the IFRC’s assessment.
"Bali, Jakarta Bombings Suspect Hambali to Be Tried on Aug 30 by US Military" from The Straits Times: The world will soon get a new look at the man accused of plotting the October 2002 bombing in Kuta, Bali, that killed 202 people, and the 2003 attack at the JW Marriott hotel in Jakarta that killed 11. Riduan Isamuddin, also known as Hambali, and his two associates will face a formal arraignment in front of a United States military commission in Guantanamo Bay on Aug 30. It has been some 18 years coming. Hambali, now about 57, was captured in Ayutthaya, Thailand, on Aug 14, 2003 in a joint US-Thai operation and transferred to Guantanamo in September 2006. Two others who will stand trial with him are Mohammed Nazir Lep, alias Lillie, and Mohammed Farik Amin, also known as Zubair. The trio is standing trial on Aug 30 for "offences triable by military commission, including murder in violation of the law of war, attempted murder in violation of the law of war, intentionally causing serious bodily injury, terrorism, attacking civilians, attacking civilian objects, and destruction of property in violation of the law of war".
"Bali Tourism Actors Ask for Subsidized Tourist PCR Swabs" from Bisnis Bali (Indonesian): Deputy Chairperson of the Bali Chamber of Commerce for Accommodation and Tourism Development, I Made Ramia Adnyana, said tourism industry players believe the government should help reduce the cost of the test, either by providing subsidies or finding a PCR-based swab test kit that is more affordable or equivalent to the price of a rapid antigen test. Furthermore, even though it is good in terms of health, this new policy will still have an impact on decreasing tourist visits to Bali, especially for the domestic market. If in June 2021 the number of tourists to Bali averages 8,000-9,000 people, with the new rules it is predicted that the number will drop to 5,000-6,000 people per day. The chairman of the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) Denpasar, Ida Bagus Gede Sidharta Putra, said the regulation requiring tourists to use PCR-based swab tests would certainly have an effect on the tourism industry, because the costs incurred to go to Bali using air transportation become more expensive, and will reduce people's interest in working from Bali and leisure tourism.
Of Interest
"Critics Slam UI ‘Repressive’ Move Against Student Body’s Criticism of Jokowi" from The Jakarta Post (Metered Paywall)
"Responding to Criticism of 'The King of Lip Service', Jokowi Reminds About the Culture of Manners and Politeness" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian)
"Police Have Not Successfully Revealed the Perpetrators of Medical Waste Disposal in Gianyar" from Radar Bali (Indonesian)
"9 Residents Bitten by Rabid Dog, This Village Becomes Red Zone" from Bali Post (Indonesian)
"Theft Becoming More Widespread, Two Temples in Tabanan Attacked by Thieves" from Radar Bali (Indonesian)
"Indonesia Sends 28 Athletes to 2021 Olympics in Tokyo" from Antara Bali (Indonesian)
"Ten Emerging Writers Pass Selection of Ubud Writers & Readers Festival 2021, Two from Bali" from Tribun Bali (Indonesian)
"Indonesian Icons: the Street Food Haven of Cibadak" from The Jakarta Post
"South Sulawesi Fisherman Floating 15 Days Found Safe in Karangasem" from Bisnis Bali (Indonesian)
"Bali Enters The Dry Season, But Why Does It Often Rain?" from Nusa Bali (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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