May 10, 2021
Gili Islands to be connected to Sanur green zone for Bali reopening + Contact tracing for UK and South African variants finds no positive cases + National police prohibits tourism in red zones + more!
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PUBLICATION ALERT: Due to the Eid holiday, there will be no morning editions on Thursday and Friday, but the evening Covid-19 updates will continue.
Weather & Waves
Today’s Weather for Southern Bali
Today’s Tides
*Note: The correct table isn’t available.
Meteorology, Climatology & Geophysics Council (Link)
Tide table from Tide-forecast.com.
Local Covid Numbers
*Note: A drop to 103 new Covid-19 cases yesterday suggests the "Weekend Effect," where reduced testing capacity results in reduced reporting of cases, impacted the numbers. Recoveries were also at the lower end of the spectrum with 119. With 5 deaths, May is now tracking just below February for total fatalities (71 vs. 73), 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, which includes a look back at last week’s overall totals.
The Big News
"Menparekraf Prepares Travel Pattern for Sanur Bali-Three Gilis in NTB" from Tribun Bali (Indonesian): The Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno, will immediately prepare a travel pattern that connects the green zone of Sanur in Bali with Lombok. The Sanur area will be linked to the three Gili areas (Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno, Gili Air) in North Lombok. "We will build a travel pattern because this zone (the three Gili islands) is a green zone with no cases of (Covid-19) here. Because of these zero cases, it is interesting to be interconnected with another green zone, namely Sanur in Bali. "We will work together with actors in the tourism sector in Bali to sell packages that can be alternatives. In June or July, with a better Covid-19 condition, Bali can be opened (for foreign tourists) and Gili can also be opened."
"Bali Covid Task Force Trace 25 People for New Variants from Foreigners, All Negative" from Tribun Bali (Indonesian): Contact tracing of two patients who were confirmed positive for new Covid-19 variants in Bali has been carried out, and it was found that 25 people had close contact with the two of them. The test results of the 25 people have come out and all tested negative. "One patient was tracing 12 people, and the other 13 people. So a total of 25 people were in close contact, one patient recovered and the other patient died," said Secretary of the Bali Province Covid-19 Task Force, I Made Rentin. Furthermore, he conveyed that one patient who recovered was a health worker at a hospital in Bali and had close contact tracing, both with friends at work and his family. One patient who died was not an employee and rarely leaves the house, but there are indications of transmission instead from his close family activities outside the home and then coming to the house concerned."
Context: The variants being traced were the B117 UK variant, which was detected in a 23-year-old woman who recovered, and the B1351 South African variant, which was detected in a 47-year-old male foreigner who died in mid-February.
"There is One Bali, the National Police Chief Affirms That Red Zones Are Prohibited From Opening Tourist Areas" from Bali Post (Indonesian): The Indonesian National Police Chief (Kapolri) General Listyo Sigit Prabowo said that tourist areas that are in the red zone should eliminate tourism activities because it could lead to an increase in COVID-19 cases. For tourism outside red zones, insulation is still carried out by strengthening supervision and inspection of tourist visitors. Based on the data of the Covid-19 Handling Task Force as of May 2, Bali has 1 red zone, namely Buleleng Regency. Meanwhile, 8 districts/cities have the status of medium risk zone or Orange. The details are Jembrana, Tabanan, Badung, Denpasar, Gianyar, Bangli, Klungkung, and Karangasem.
Context: The latest available data from the Covid-19 Task Force on the number of red and orange zones in Bali is from May 2.
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Other Headlines
"Foreigner Who Organized Orgasm Class Deported, Governor Koster: His Actions Damaged the Image of Bali Tourism" from iNews Bali (Indonesian): The controversial drama of the orgasm yoga class advertised in Ubud, Bali has ended with the deportation of a 38-year-old Canadian who advertised and organized the yoga class. The Governor of Bali, I Wayan Koster, hopes that this incident can be a lesson for all tourists. According to the PDIP politician, Martin deserves to be deported because in addition to violating immigration, the Canadian man has damaged the image of Bali tourism. He emphasized that Bali is not allergic to receiving foreign tourists. But tourists are also asked to respect the laws and cultural values of the local community. "It's been too long that these kinds of things have been left alone," he said.
Vaccination Update
"Covid-19 Vaccination in Bali Has Reached 35% of the Total Population" from Bali Prawara (Indonesian): According to the Deputy Governor of Bali Tjok. Oka Artha Ardhana Sukawati, according to recorded data, to date, Bali has received 1.9 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine intended for residents. He said the awareness of the Balinese people for the success of Covid-19 vaccination is high. This can be seen from the number of residents who participate in vaccination services.
Context: It was not stated in the article that the 35% figure only represents those who have received the first dose of the vaccine.
More...
Nation: "Gotong Royong Vaccination Starts Immediately, Accelerate Herd Immunity" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian)
Nation: "Indonesia Receives 1.3 Million AstraZeneca Doses, Backs Vaccine Patent Waiver" from The Jakarta Globe
Badung: "Vice Regent Suiasa: Make Vaccination in Canggu Succsefful for Badung to Become a Green Zone" from Bali Prawara (Indonesian)
Denpasar: "Hundreds Of People With Disabilities Received Covid-19 Vaccination" from Bali Prawara(Indonesian)
Health Protocols (Prokes) & Patrols
"Many Eating and Entertainment Venues in Kuta Violate Prokes" from Tribun Bali (Indonesian): A joint team from Kuta Police, Kuta military command, and Satpol PP Badung, combed Jl. Dewi Sri Kuta reminding business owners that activities in restaurants/stalls are limited to 22.00 WITA. A number of crowds of motorbike communities that hang out on the edge of Jl. Kuta Beach were also urged to leave the location immediately because their activities exceed curfew. Several nightlife spots on Jl. Legian, Jl. Dhyana Pura and Jl. Camplung Tanduk, which were still operating, also did not escape the join team's disciplinary warnings. 12 food stalls and nightclubs were found to be violating operational limits beyond 22.00 WITA. Kuta Police Commissioner Nyoman Gatra said, "If it is found that there is another violation, I will automatically encourage my colleagues from the municipal police to enforce the law at the 12 places recorded tonight."
More...
Nation: "'Mudik' Travelers Find Ways Around Ban as Thousands of Vehicles Told to Turn Around" from The Jakarta Post (Metered Paywall)
Nation: "Frequency of Flights Dipped 90% Owing to Mudik Ban" from Antara
Nation: "Govt Prepares Health Protocol SOPs for '3B' Tourist Destinations" from Antara
Province: "Balinese Muslims in the Orange and Red Zones are Asked to Pray for Eid at Home" from iNews Bali (Indonesian)
Badung: "Passenger Movement Traffic at Ngurah Rai Airport Has Dropped Drastically" from Tribun Bali (Indonesian)
Badung: "Prohibition of Going Home, Private Cars and Dozens of Travelers in Badung Were Asked to Make a U-turn" from Antara Bali (Indonesian)
Denpasar: "Wearing Masks Incorrectly, Three Receive Push-up Sanctions" from Bali Express (Indonesian)
Denpasar: "Dozens of Prokes Violators were Fined and Sentenced to Recite Pancasila" from Radar Bali (Indonesian)
Karangasem: "6 Travelers Caught Carrying Fake Antigen Tests" from Nusa Bali (Indonesian)
Klungkung: "Two Covid-19 Variants Have Entered Bali, Klungkung Tightens Prokes for Traditional and Religious Activities" from Bali Post (Indonesian)
Tabanan: "Prohibition of Going Home, Visitors in Tanah Lot and Ulun Danu Have Slumped Sharply" from IDN Times (Bali)
Economy & Infrastructure
"2020 Rice Production Dropped Drastically" from Nusa Bali (Indonesian): Buleleng Regency Agriculture Office stated that [despite the drop] rice production throughout 2020 was still in surplus. Although it is still safe and still exceeds the population's per capita demand for rice, the amount of production compared to 2019 has decreased drastically. Rice production in 2020 was only a surplus of 1,727 tons, a sharp decline from production in 2019 which reached a surplus of 13,231 tons. Head of the Buleleng Regency Agriculture Office, I Made Sumiarta, said one of the reasons is due to climate and weather factors in 2020. "We experienced a long drought, so farmers' yields were not optimal." The crucial problem in the dry season is the availability of irrigation water, some of the farmers' rice fields were finally left unemployed and missed two planting periods because there was no water.
More...
Nation: "New Platform Launched in Indonesia for Sustainable Spice Exports to EU" from The Jakarta Post (Metered Paywall)
Nation: "Job-loss Fears Trump Covid-19 Fears: Survey" from The Jakarta Post (Metered Paywall)
Nation: "PLN Pledges Carbon Neutrality by 2050" from The Jakarta Post (Metered Paywall)
Badung: "Nearly 20 Years of Drought in Subak Balangan, Badung Officials Come to the Location" from Bali Post (Indonesian)
Bangli: "To Maintain Continuity of Production, Kintamani Citrus Farmers Are Encouraged to Harvest Out of Season" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian)
Karangasem: "Ahead of Lebaran, Chili Prices Skyrocket to Rp.55,000 Per Kilogram" from Radar Bali (Indonesian)
"Tens of Thousands of Foreigners Have Limited Stay Permits, These Are the Top 3 Countries of Origin" from Bali Post (Indonesian): In addition to 2,246 foreign nationals who hold a permanent residence permit (Kitap), three immigration offices in Bali up until April 2021 recorded tens of thousands of foreigners as holders of a limited stay permit (Kitas). A total of 29,070 foreigners hold Kitas from 133 countries. The majority of those with limited stay permits are from Australia (4,656), followed by France with 2,852, and the United States in third position with 2,843. The rest who entered the top 10 citizens with limited residency permits are Britain (2,261 people), Japan (1,834 people), the Netherlands (1,660 people), Russia (1,415 people), Germany (1,222 people), Italy (1,020 people) and South Korea (706 people). Meanwhile, there were 668 foreigners from India who held a limited stay permit, and 656 from China.
"Consumption of Plastic Bags Increases, Bali Provincial Government Summon Market Managers" from Radar Bali (Indonesian): The tendency of decreasing discipline in reducing single-use plastic waste was revealed by the Head of Waste Management, B3 Waste and PPKLH Bali Province Forestry and Environment Service (DKLH) I Made Dwi Arbani, based on a survey of 50,000 respondents. At the beginning of the Governor's Regulation No. 97 of 2018 concerning the limitation of single-use plastic, traders on the 1st floor of Badung Market were disciplined in providing mandatory cloth bags for buyers. But recently in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, discipline began to loosen and the use of plastic bags tended to be tolerated. In Denpasar City there are 51 supermarkets and 50 public markets. Head of Bali Satpol PP I Dewa Nyoman Rai Dharmadi said, "We all have to care [about plastic waste reduction]. We also have limitations because currently almost all of our resources are focused on handling Covid-19."
"Health Ministry Expands Immunization Program to Offer 14 Vaccines" from Antara (Indonesian): The Health Ministry intends to expand its national immunization program, with the inclusion of three other vaccines, in a bid to lower maternal and child mortality rates. Health facilities have earlier administered 11 vaccines to children in the national immunization program, and in 2022, the program will include three other vaccines: PCV, HPV and rotavirus. PCV, or pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, is given to safeguard infants, young children, and adults from the disease caused by the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae, including meningitis and pneumonia. HPV, or human papillomavirus vaccines, are vaccines that prevent infection by certain types of human papillomavirus that cause a greater risk of cervical cancer. The Rotavirus vaccine is administered to protect against rotavirus infections, which are the leading cause of severe diarrhea among young children.
Of Interest
"Bali & Beyond Travel Fair (BBTF) 2021 To Be Held in June" from Nusa Bali (Indonesian)
"Denpasar Documentary Film Festival Will Be Held Again" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian)
"'Don't Scapegoat Migrant Workers for Covid-19 Surge': Activists" from The Jakarta Post (Metered Paywall)
"67 Dogs Headed for Slaughter Rescued at Traffic Checkpoint" from Coconuts Jakarta
"Video of Quiet Padang Bai Port, Passenger Tickets are Closed" from iNews Bali (Indonesian)
"Heard Crying and Asking for Help, Two Visitors at the Sukawati Art Market Trapped in an Elevator" 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.
About This Newsletter
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