May 12, 2021
Tourist sites to stay open during Eid, local tourists only says dep. gov. + Foreign visitors begin booking for July reopening + Nation continues AstraZeneca despite reported post-vaccine death + more!
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PUBLICATION ALERT: Due to the Eid holiday, there will be no morning edition tomorrow and Friday, but the evening Covid-19 updates will continue as normal.
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: New Covid-19 cases were back up yesterday, but only to 101, bringing the 7-day average down to 111, the lowest it's been since December 28. Deaths rose to 11, meaning May is now tracking just 6 deaths below February (89 vs. 95), 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
"Tourist Attractions in Bali Open During Eid Holidays, Deputy Governor Cok Ace: Only for Local Tourists" from Kompas (Indonesian): The Provincial Government of Bali has decided to keep tourist attractions open during the Idul Fitri 1442 Hijriah holiday. All of the opened tourism spots are only intended for local tourists, namely tourists who have resided in Bali since the Lebaran homecoming ban was imposed from May 6-17, 2021. He asked prospective tourists from outside Bali who plan to travel to the Island of the Gods during the Eid holidays to obey the rules of the central government. "Those who cannot go to Bali because of the prohibition (Mudik 2021), they practically cannot visit tourism objects in Bali," he said. He also appealed to all managers of tourist attractions in Bali as well as tourists who will visit to pay attention to health protocols during the Idul Fitri 1442 Hijriah holiday. "So tourists who are already in Bali they can visit tourist attractions while still paying attention to health protocols," he said.
"Ahead of the Opening of Bali Tourism, Tourists Start Booking Hotels" from Bisnis Bali (Indonesian): Room bookings are starting to be made by foreign and domestic tourists ahead of the opening of Bali tourism in July 2021. Adiwana and Amatara Hotels & Resorts CEO Adiguna Kusuma said foreign tourists do not only place bookings until the end of 2021. In fact, room bookings are made until 2022. These foreign tourists come from the United States, England, France, and Russia. Even though orders have started to be made, the number is considered not too significant to increase occupancy. "You can't go straight to the maximum for sure, it's still on all fours," he said.
"Indonesia to Continue With AstraZeneca Vaccine Despite Reported Post-Vaccination Death" from The Jakarta Globe: Indonesian authorities said there is no plan to suspend the use of AstraZeneca vaccine amid reports that a man in East Jakarta died after receiving the first jab of the UK vaccine. The family of the deceased has blamed the vaccine for causing his death but a lack of postmortem examination makes it unlikely the claim can be verified. National Covid-19 Task Force spokesperson Wiku Adisasmito said the government won't halt AstraZeneca use, but will monitor further investigation by the National Commission for Post-Vaccination Effects. Commission chair Hindra Irawan Satari said earlier AstraZeneca vaccine is not associated with the death due to a lack of evidence. “The National Commission and its Jakarta chapter conducted a joint audit and we came to a conclusion that this incident is not associated with the vaccination drive. We need further investigation into the matter,” Hindra said.
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Other Headlines
"Bali Tourism Infrastructure Projects Continue During the COVID-19 Pandemic" from Suara Bali (Indonesian): Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan emphasized that infrastructure development in various sectors in Bali must continue even in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. First, the Sarbagita area (Denpasar-Badung-Gianyar-Tabanan) will become an urban area; Ceginangan or Celuknginang (Celukan Bawang-Gilimanuk-Negara-Pengambengan) will be used for industry, metals and fisheries; Sikubatula (Singaraja-Kubutambahan-Batur-Tulamben-Amed) as marine tourism and geopark; Ulikalung (Ubud-Bangli-Karangasem-Klungkung) will become cultural tourism; Santipiversityi (Sanda-Baturiti-Pancasari-Plaga-Kintamani) as a location for agro-industry and agro-tourism; and Nusa Penida and its surroundings (Nusa Penida-Nusa Ceningan-Nusa Lembongan) for marine tourism, aquaculture, and animal husbandry. "Even though we are currently in a pandemic period, development must continue," said Luhut.
Vaccination Update
Bangli: "Kayuambua Market Traders Receive Covid-19 Vaccinations" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian)
Denpasar: "Safe Covid-19 Vaccine Supply, Hundreds of Logistics Workers Vaccinated" from Bali Express (Indonesian)
Karangasem: "Covid-19 Mass Vaccination in Selat District, Karangasem was Enthusiastically Welcomed by Residents" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian)
Health Protocols (Prokes) & Patrols
"Bali Police Bust 3 for Forging Covid-19 Results for Travel" from Coconuts Bali: Three people were arrested in Bali’s Jembrana regency for allegedly forging COVID-19 results, as authorities tighten security measures amid the ongoing Eid homecoming mudik ban. Jembrana Police Chief I Ketut Gede Adi Wibawa said officers grew suspicious after the driver of a private vehicle showed several negative COVID-19 test results for his passengers at a checkpoint in Gilimanuk, Jembrana on Sunday. RHH, who was in charge of making the fake results, said he had forged the required travel document several times in the last five months. The results were sold for about IDR50,000 (US$3.52) each. All three suspects are reportedly from different parts of East Java, though they reside in Bali province. They have been charged with violation of articles from the criminal code (KUHP), which carries a maximum sentence of six years in prison.
Nation: "More than 1.2 Million People Leave Jakarta during Prohibition of Homecoming" from Bali Express (Indonesian)
Nation: "Jakarta Malls, Restaurants in High-risk Covid-19 Zones Ordered to Shut During Eid Holiday" from Coconuts Jakarta
Badung: "Badung Regent Launches GeNose And E-Ticketing at Uluwatu Temple Area" from Bali Prawara (Indonesian)
Denpasar: "Homecoming from Bali Continues to Occur, 242 Vehicles Are Forced To Turn Back" from Bisnis Bali (Indonesian)
Karangasem: "Hundreds of Passengers Traveling to NTB Use GeNose in Padangbai" from Antara Bali (Indonesian)
Economy & Infrastructure
Province: Java-Bali Electricity Load Begins to Rise, a Sign That the Economy is Reviving" from Kompas (Indonesian)
Province: "Restoring Tourism, Deputy Governor Cok Ace Will Boost Exports Of Agricultural And Craft Products" from Bali Prawara
Province: "Package Delivery Via Post in Bali Raised 33%" from Bisnis Bali (Indonesian)
Buleleng: "Munduk Village Red Rice Genetic Engineering Entered Phase III Trial" from Nusa Bali (Indonesian)
Buleleng: "Construction of the Bung Karno Park in Buleleng Has Resumed" from Antara Bali (Indonesian)
Gianyar: "Benawah Traditional Village Builds Waste Bank" from Nusa Bali (Indonesian)
Education
"There are Prokes Violations, Face-to-face Learning in Jembrana is Evaluated" from Radar Bali (Indonesian): Face-to-face learning (PTM) in a number of schools in Jembrana Regency, which began last Wednesday (5/5), is evaluated regularly. At the beginning of PTM in schools, students still violated health protocols outside of classroom learning hours. However, the violations were relatively minor. Because students do not bring and do not use masks, but also not wear them properly. "In general, it's been going well. Students who are PTM at school, have used masks, washed their hands, and kept their distance. It's been run with discipline," said Head of Basic Education I Nyoman Wenten. According to him, based on the results of the evaluation during the PTM week at school, there were no students or teachers who were symptomatic of Covid-19.
More...
Tabanan: "Tabanan Designs PTM for New Academic Year 2021" from Nusa Bali (Indonesian)
West Papua Watch
"‘We Are Living in a War Zone’: Violence Flares in West Papua as Villagers Forced to Flee" from The Guardian: Violence has flared in West Papua, with journalists and activists targeted, an internet blackout, and villagers forced to flee into the jungle. The military crackdown in Puncak has escalated since the death of a senior Indonesia police chief in a shootout with the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) in late April. President Joko Widodo told Indonesian media he had ordered security forces to “chase and arrest all rebels”, while Bambang Soesatyo, chairman of the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR), told the government to “destroy them first. We will discuss human rights matters later.” Lanikwe, a women’s community leader, from Wamena, near Puncak, said the situation for local people as a result of the crackdown was dire. “Thousands are displaced in Puncak, five villages fled into the jungle. Health clinics and schools have been taken over by the military. Soldiers are everywhere. We are living in a war zone.”
"Partial Travel Bubble in Bali Ineffective in Restoring Tourism Says Academic" from Bisnis Bali: A tourism observer from Udayana University I Nyoman Sunarta said foreign tourists visiting the Island of the Gods would still see the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic as a whole in the province. Even though Bali has determined 3 areas, namely Ubud, Sanur, and Nusa Dua as green zones, tourists will still consider the status of the province of Bali. The steps to reduce cases and vaccinate 70% of Bali's population are considered the most relevant to ensure that the Island of the Gods is safe from the spread of Covid-19. "Even if Bali is opened in 3 zones, if outside the three areas it is still red, what's the point of having a green zone. Foreigners do not see the green zone, they see Bali red or not, not three zones."
"Projected 49,682 Indonesian Migrant Workers to Return Home in April-May" from Antara: The migrant workers will return as their work contracts have expired, according to Chief of the Committee for COVID-19 Handling and National Economic Recovery (KPC-PEN) Airlangga Hartarto. He remarked that 24,215 Indonesian migrant workers had terminated their work contracts in April 2021 and another 25,467 in May 2021. The minister stressed the importance of the government adopting precautionary measures for the repatriation of migrant workers through stringent health protocols that encompass a five-day quarantine and PCR tests. The results of testing show that positive cases are relatively high, Hartarto said. To this end, entry points in the provinces of North Sumatra, Riau Islands, North Kalimantan, and West Kalimantan are encountering challenges with a dearth of quarantine and treatment rooms for migrant workers that tested positive.
"Late Incentives Haunt Medical Workers Deployed at Covid-19 Frontlines" from The Jakarta Post (Metered Paywall): The government drew criticism for failing to disburse timely incentives to medical workers stationed at COVID-19 frontlines after a nurse was allegedly removed from her position as punishment for publicly raising the issue. Medical workers, including those recruited as volunteers, who meet certain government criteria are promised financial incentives that vary according to their roles. Nurses can earn up to Rp 7.5 million (US$529) per month and doctors up to Rp 10 million. But data from the Health Ministry has revealed that tens of thousands of medical workers have yet to receive their monthly incentives for late 2020 to April this year.
Context: Yesterday it was reported that medical workers in Buleleng who handle Covid-19 cases have not received incentives owed from September to December 2020. After meeting with the Buleleng Health Office, Chair of DPRD Commission IV Buleleng, Luh Hesti Ranitasari, said that in 2020, the central government provided a budget of Rp.7.6 billion for incentives, which was only sufficient to cover them until August 2020. However, for September to December, an additional budget of Rp.3.6 billion is still needed. The central government has asked local governments to cover the shortfall.
Of Interest
"Language Body Adds Subentries to 'Perempuan' (Woman) in KBBI" from The Jakarta Post (Metered Paywall)
"75 Corruption Eradication Commission Employees Failed Official National Insight Test" from Nusa Bali (Indonesian)
"Bali Provincial Government Donates Rp. 517 Million for Victims of Cyclone Seroja Disaster" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian)
"Regarding the Perception of Traditional Villages and Their Functions, This is an Explanation from the MDA Bali" from Tribun Bali (Indonesian)
"Otonan in Bali, its Meaning and Procession Series" from Tribun Bali (Indonesian)
"See Balinese History from the Bajra Sandhi Bali People's Struggle Monument Museum" from Nusa Bali (Indonesian)
"Many Traditional Villages Close the Sampradaya Non Dresta Bali Ashram, This is the Attitude of the MDA Bendesa Agung" from Tribun Bali (Indonesian)
"Drenched in Sweat, Stigma, Frontline Nurse Shares Struggle Treating Covid-19 Patients" from The Jakarta Post
"Triggered by a Short Current, Four Denpasar Residents' Houses Burned Down" from Radar Bali (Indonesian)
"Seven Killed in Landslide at West Sumatra Gold Mine" from Agence France-Press
"The Ambassador of the European Union Called Balinese Arak Delicious With a Good and Warm Aroma" from Bali Prawara (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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