May 19, 2021
Java to Bali backflow begins to increase after mudik ban + Indonesia may see 30-80% post-Eid spike says health ministry + Chinese navy lifts sunken submarine fragments from depth of 839 meters + more!
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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 cases edged up slightly yesterday to 79, bringing the 7-day average down to 73, the lowest since November 20 (69).
Click here to see the national numbers infographic and a Regency-by-Regency breakdown of yesterday’s local numbers.
The Big News
"Prohibition Ends, Back Flow From Java to Bali Begins to Increase" from Bali Post (Indonesian): The Bali Police Chief, Inspector General Pol Putu Jayan Danu Putra, said requirements at Ketapang Port (Java) have been tightened, especially for the Antigen and GeNose rapid test requirements. "In Bali (Gilimanuk) re-validation is carried out, even those at the posts here will be tested randomly." From Monday morning to Tuesday morning, a total of 4,928 people entered Bali (both in vehicles and pedestrians). This was up from the previous day, which saw a total of 2,015 people. The number of vessels operating was also increased from 13 on Monday morning, to 20 on Tuesday morning.
Context: At Ngurah Rai Airport on Tuesday, there were 7,857 domestic arrivals and 6,755 departures. Throughout the prohibition on mudik from May 6-17, the airport served 12,896 “special interest” passengers traveling for business, medical reasons, or bereavement.
"Indonesia May See a 30-80% Post-Lebaran Cases Spike: Health Ministry" from Coconuts Jakarta: Indonesia is gearing up for a potential surge in COVID-19 cases, the Health Ministry said, following the five-day Lebaran long weekend for Eid and the Ascension of Christ. Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said religious activities and increased mobility during the period may contribute to the spike in the coming weeks. The minister added that of the 70,000 hospital beds for isolating COVID-19 patients, 20,000 are currently filled, while of the 7,500 ICU units for COVID-19 patients, 2,500 were occupied as of May 16. During this year's mudik (Eid homecoming tradition), an estimated 18 million Indonesians traveled to their hometowns despite the government ban. Indonesia is currently recording around 4,000 new cases daily, meaning that if the Health Ministry’s prediction was accurate, we could see the rate increase by 1,200 to 3,200 in the coming weeks.
"Assisted by the Chinese Navy, These are Fragments of KRI Nanggala Raised From a Depth of 839 Meters" from iNews (Indonesian): The Chinese Navy helped evacuate pieces of KRI Nanggala 402 in northern Bali waters with three ships. A number of light debris were lifted by the robotic system of the Chinese Navy ships. Commander of Koarmada II Rear Admiral Iwan Isnurwanto said most of the debris is ship components, namely the ESM antenna, torpedo cable protector, personal life-raft, PRS hydrophone, outer body plate, C-type wrench, and technical manual.
Context: The evacuation team has not yet found the bodies of the crew, which are suspected to be in a seabed crater with a diameter of 38 meters and a depth of 10-15 meters, according to Iwan Isnurwanto. The deadline for the evacuation is May 26, 2021.
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Other Headlines
"During Lebaran Holidays, Hotel Occupancy in Bali is Only Single Digits" from Bali Express (Indonesian): Chairman of PHRI Badung, I Gusti Ngurah Rai Suryawijaya, said the occupancy rate of hotels in the Badung area is averaging between 5 and 8%. Director of Sales at Hilton Garden Inn Bali, Bianca Rosetta, said that some of the guests staying at her hotel were foreign nationals who had been living in Bali for a long time. Apart from that, there are also domestic guests who only stay for one or two nights. "I checked the data for Lebaran 2020 and Lebaran 2021, the exact same number of rooms were sold. There was no improvement. 10% occupancy or about 30 rooms that were sold for the period 11 to 16 May." According to Bianca, hotel occupancy is expected to be better after Lebaran or starting on 18 May. "There has already been an increase in bookings. Occupancy estimates are up to 15%. Maybe over time, it can go up to 20%."
Vaccination Update
"Indonesia Begins Self-Funded Vaccination Involving 22,700 Companies" from The Jakarta Globe: The “gotong royong” (mutual assistance) vaccination program allows companies to procure and distribute vaccines for their own workers. More than 22,700 companies with around 10 million workers have registered for this program, according to Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) Chairman Rosan Perkasa Roeslani. Among those companies is Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indonesia, the local arm of the Japanese auto giant. Toyota said it has registered 16,000 employees and their immediate family members with the gotong royong vaccination program, with 3,000 receiving the jab on Tuesday. The government has targeted to vaccinate 181.5 million people or 70% of the population. “Hopefully by August or September at the latest, at least 70 million people have received the shot,” President Jokowi said.
More...
Nation: "Over 9.24 Million Indonesians Fully Vaccinated Against Covid-19" from Antara
Badung: "9,792 People in Kerobokan Kelod Targeted for Vaccination in 5 Days" from Bali Express (Indonesian)
Klungkung: "21,000 More Klungkung People Receive Second Stage Vaccination, the Number of Covid-19 Cases in Klungkung Tends to Decrease" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian)
Health Protocols (Prokes) & Patrols
"Tabanan No Longer in the Red Zone" from Bali Post (Indonesian): As of Tuesday the regency has succeeded in downgrading its status to the orange zone. Secretary of the Tabanan Regency Task Force, I Gede Susila, said that even though they have succeeded in being downgraded, the public is still urged to remain disciplined in health protocols. From the results of the evaluation of the implementation of micro-scale community activity restrictions (PPKM) from May 10 to May 16, of a total of 133 villages in Tabanan, none of them showed red zone status. This includes the village of Banjar Anyar, Kediri sub-district, which has contributed to making Tabanan a red zone status because of its high population mobility. "There are currently 55 villages with yellow zone status and 78 villages in the green zone," he explained.
More...
Nation: "Korlantas Turned Back 461,626 Vehicles During Prohibition of Homecoming" from Antara Bali (Indonesian)
Denpasar: "17 People Netted for Prokes Violation in East Denpasar" from Suara Bali (Indonesian)
Economy & Infrastructure
Nation: "Forbes Global 2000 Crowned BRI as the Most Valuable Company in Indonesia" from Antara Bali (Indonesian)
Province: "Medical Tourism is Still a Discourse, Dispar Bali Calls for In-depth Study, it Takes Two to Three Years" from Tribun Bali (Indonesia)
Jembrana: "The Regent of Tamba Explained the Jembrana Tourism Strategic Program" from Bali Post
Karangasem: "Tourist Visits Decreased, 109 Besakih Temple Area Management Employees Sent Home" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian)
Education
Badung: "Face-to-face Learning in Badung Back-pedaling Again, This is the Cause" from Radar Bali (Indonesian)
"Task Force Asks Arrivals to Self-isolate" from Bali Express (Indonesian): The Denpasar City Covid-19 Handling Task Force has appealed to those from outside Bali, who aim to go to Denpasar, to isolate independently. "We appeal to residents who have just come from homecoming, even though they have brought negative rapid antigen letters, to continue to isolate independently for 14 days," said Dewa Gede Rai, spokesperson for the Denpasar City Covid-19 Handling Task Force. After this reverse flow, the Denpasar City Government will also conduct a population inspection that will be carried out by the Population and Civil Registry Service together with the Task Force and local village officials. "This is an effort to collect data and administration regarding the arrival of residents."
"Fighting for 61 Years, Sumberklampok Residents Get Land Rights" from Suara Bali (Indonesian): 720 certificates of land ownership rights were granted to residents of Sumberklampok Village, Buleleng Regency. They have fought for ownership since 1960. Residents of the village have been occupying the land since 1923, when the Dutch government cleared the forest to become a plantation area (eigendom verpoonding). The land occupied and cultivated is 612.93 hectares. After Indonesian Independence in 1945, the plantation area became state-owned land (Central Government). Then the Central Government handed it over to the Bali Provincial Government, which employed residents of the village, though they did not have proof of ownership.
"Cruise Ship Agent Scams Dozens of Prospective Workers in Bali" from Radar Bali (Indonesian): PT Dunia Insansi Mandiri (PT DIM), on Jalan Muding Batu Sangiang, Kerobokan, North Kuta, turned out to be a scam. This company does not have a permit to recruit and place Indonesian migrant workers, said Nengah Yasa Adi Susanto, legal counsel for dozens of prospective migrant workers. This company promises migrant workers will be dispatched immediately to cruise ships such as Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, and other luxury cruise companies, and even promises work opportunities in Australia. The 15 migrant workers handled by Susanto deposited tens of millions of rupiah each, or a total of Rp.403 million. However, after handing over the money a year passed, and the victims had not yet been summoned to be interviewed. The company promised to return the money, but until now it hasn’t been returned.
"BBPOM Finds 8 Food Samples Containing Hazardous Materials" from Radar Bali (Indonesian): The Food and Drug Supervisory Center (BBPOM) conducted a food inspection at the Gilimanuk public market. From laboratory examinations, officers found that the food contained ingredients such as borax and rhodamine which are dangerous if consumed. From dozens of traders in the Gilimanuk public market, BBPOM Loka Buleleng officers took 17 food samples suspected of containing hazardous substances. The Head of BBPOM Loka Buleleng Made Ery Bahari Hantana explained that the examination of food samples was tested with four parameters, namely rhodamine B, formalin, borax, and methanyl yellow. "We will provide guidance so that we no longer use these hazardous materials," he concluded.
Of Interest
"Rijksmuseum Slavery Exhibition Confronts Cruelty of Dutch Trade" from The Guardian
"Pilgrimage of Wali Pitu and the Traces of Islam on the Island of Bali" from Bali Antara (Indonesian)
"Dinpustaka Holds Socialization of Language and Script Preservation Through Ancient Manuscripts Protection" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian)
"Found Lifeless at the Bottom of a Ravine, Student Allegedly Jumped Over Bridge" from Bali Prawara (Indonesian)
"Man Kills Own Father After Getting Drunk Together in Bali’s Buleleng Regency" 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
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