May 26, 2021
Bali health office responds to media reports of post-vaccine death of resident + Governor targets end of June for vaccination completion + 198 foreigners deported from Bali during pandemic + 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: With 55 new cases yesterday, Bali’s cumulative total is just shy of 47,000 (46,973). Recoveries have reached 44,733, which is 95.23% of all cases. With 5 more deaths yesterday, total fatalities are approaching 1,500 (1480).
Click here to see the national numbers infographic and a Regency-by-Regency breakdown of yesterday’s local numbers.
The Big News
"Bali Communications Office and Health Office Respond to Reports of Post-vaccine Death of Resident" from Berita Bali (Indonesian): Head of Bali Province Communications, Informatics and Statistics Office, Gede Pramana, said, "It is very unfortunate that there is a lot of news that says there are victims who died due to vaccines, even though there has been no official explanation from the competent parties about it. I request that media crews be more careful in reporting and help educate the public through news that comes from reliable sources and data." Head of Bali Provincial Health Office, Ketut Suarjaya, also regretted the circulation of news that said the victim died due to the Covid-19 vaccine. Suarjaya said the victim had been sick for more than a week and only rested in his room, and complained about a persistent headache, vomiting, and cold sweats. The victim was also said to have had a history of high blood pressure, diabetes, and cholesterol. When the deceased was vaccinated, all screening processes had been carried out and his condition at that time made it possible to receive the vaccine. "We cannot conclude that he died because of the vaccine. Let us first look for accurate data from competent people before we report it to the public, so that information is not biased and the public is worried about vaccines.”
"Bali Leading to Green Zone, Koster Targets of End of June for Vaccination Completion" from Radar Bali (Indonesian): To date, the center has dispatched 2.6 million doses of vaccine to Bali. Currently, 1.3 million Balinese have received the vaccine, aka 45% of the target of 3 million people. Governor Koster said, "Of the population of 4.3 million, 3 million will be vaccinated. Currently, only 1.3 million are vaccinated, or about 45%. With this vaccination, according to him, Bali will go to a green zone. The strategy carried out by the Bali Provincial Government so far is to carry out village or banjar-based vaccination. "Mass vaccination is a short-term savior of Bali, so Bali is currently heading to a green zone, thus tourism will slowly rise. Later we are preparing for a transformation," said Koster.
Context: It was not specified in the article whether the target of June for completion of the province's vaccination program includes both doses of the vaccine or just the first dose.
"198 Foreigners Deported from Bali During Covid-19 Pandemic" from Merdeka (Indonesian): The foreign nationals (WNA) were deported by the Bali Province Regional Office of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights (Kemenkum HAM), through local immigration, to their home countries. Head of Sub-Division of Public Relations, Bureaucratic Reform and Information Technology of the Bali Provincial Office of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights, Putu Surya Dharma, said of those deported, there are those who violate their stay permit in Bali, then there are those who have served a crime, violate public order, and violate health protocols.
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Other Headlines
"Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry Takes Preventive Measures for Oil Spills on Saba Beach" from Tempo (Indonesian): The discovery of black liquid from an oil spill along Saba Beach towards Purnama Beach, Gianyar, Bali originated from a report by a resident named I Ketut Sumastika to the Denpasar Coastal and Marine Resources Management Agency (BPSPL). Head of BPSPL Denpasar, Permana Yudiarso, said, "Many black lumps were found on the beach sand that look like rocks and are shaped like liquid asphalt. To be sure, the team in the field took several samples of oil clumps. Meanwhile, Turtle Conservation activist, I Made Kikik, said that the black lumps and liquid had been found three days ago and it was suspected that oil was coming from a ship. At night, most of them are in the form of lumps, but during the day, they melt because of the heat from the sun. Support also came from the Marine Research and Observation Center of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Research and Human Resources department.
Vaccination Update
"Indonesia's Covid-19 Vaccination Program Ranks 11th Worldwide" from Antara: Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati expressed pride while highlighting that with 24.84 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine administered to the public, Indonesia's vaccination program was ranked 11th internationally. "During the fasting month, COVID-19 vaccination tended to decrease. Today, (the program) has begun to be increased again above 300,000 per day," she said.
Context: For vaccinations administered per 100 people, with 9.2 per 100, Indonesia ranks 97th worldwide. 5.5% of the population has received the first dose, and 3.7% have been completely vaccinated.
More...
Bangli: "Vaccination in Bangli Continues to the City District" from Bali Express (Indonesian)
Economy & Infrastructure
"Buleleng Regency Government Begins Drafting Spatial Plan for New Airport" from Antara: The Buleleng Regional Government held a focus group discussion to begin compiling the technical material for the Detailed Spatial Planning (RDTR) for Bali Baru Airport, Buleleng Regency, which was attended by representatives from the Directorate General of Spatial Planning of the Agrarian and Spatial Planning Ministry. “With this FGD, we are trying to see the macroeconomic structure of the Balinese people who have shifted from agriculture to the tourism industry, conditions in the field to details both social and cultural, said Buleleng Regent Putu Agus Suradnyana. Muhammad Arifin Siregar, Head of the Spatial planning Sub-directorate for Area I Environment Supporting Capacity, said it is hoped that the RDTR will be completed within a maximum of 12 months. “This is actually a good opportunity for Buleleng and Bali Province, and it is hoped that the New Bali Airport area will become a center of growth which in the future is expected to improve people’s welfare.”
More...
Nation: "BI Holds 3.5% Benchmark Rate Amid Weak Rupiah, Unusually Low Inflation" from The Jakarta Post
Nation: "PLN's Net Profit Climbed 36% in 2020" from Antara
Province: "Bali Proposes IDR 260 Billion for Infrastructure Improvement" from Radar Bali (Indonesian)
Denpasar: "The Czech Ambassador Met With the Mayor of Denpasar to Establish Economic-tourism Cooperation" from Antara Bali (Indonesian)
Buleleng: "Discussion on Tax Incentives for Struggling Farmers, Rice Insurance Subsidies Suggested" from Radar Bali (Indonesian)
Buleleng: "Interested in International Market, Artha Dharma Weaving Develops Naturally-Dyed Endek" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian)
Karangasem: "Facilitate Access to Hospitals and Offices, Jalan Ngurah Rai, Amlapura Opened in Two Directions" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian)
Klungkung: "Construction of Retention Basin Worth Rp.7.7 Billion in Getakan Village Has Begun" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian)
Klungkung: "Tourism Quiet due to Pandemic, Nusa Penida's Coral Reef Recovered" from Radar Bali (Indonesian)
Education
Nation: "Indonesian, Taiwan Firms Design Laptops to Back School Digitization" from Antara
Badung: "Honorary Opportunity, Badung Opens Vacancies for 1,770 Primary and Junior High School Teachers with First Aid Status" from Radar Bali (Indonesian)
"Integrated Post Closed, Ngurah Rai Airport Serves 103,000 Passengers in the Mudik Prohibition Period" from Tribun Bali (Indonesian): The Integrated Air Transportation Control Post at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport, Bali, which has been open since May 6, 2021, officially closed on May 24. The post involved 1,677 personnel. General Manager of the Branch Office of PT Angkasa Pura I (Persero) International Airport I Gusti Ngurah Rai Bali, Herry AY Sikado, said, "Most air traffic during the integrated post was departures on May 18, with 7,868 passengers and 67 airplanes carrying them." Meanwhile, the highest number of arriving passengers also occurred on the same day, namely 9,349 passengers transported by 69 aircraft.
"Rejected by Community, Construction of Medical Waste Factory Will be Re-socialized" from Bali Post (Indonesian): Commission III DPRD Jembrana held a coordination meeting related to the construction of a medical waste factory in Pengambengan, Negara, in response to the community's rejection of the project. From the discussion, it was decided to conduct socialization targeting those who refused. The coordination meeting led by the Chairperson of Commission III, Dewa Putu Mertayasa, involved related regional apparatus organizations, including the Public Works Agency, the Environmental Office, and the Health Office. Mertayasa said that his party recommended that it be reviewed or re-socialized. "We do not reject the medical factory, at the beginning, it is necessary for the benefit of the region. But the aspirations of the community are related to the proposed site being near the residents' houses. And it turns out that it is admittedly still lacking in socialization. Therefore, we ask for a review or re-socialization."
"Distribution of 5G in Indonesia Begins May 27" from Kompas (Indonesian): Internet users in Indonesia will soon be able to enjoy the 5G network. The debut of 5G in Indonesia was started by Telkomsel, the first operator in Indonesia to officially roll out 5G services commercially. Telkomsel's 5G launch is planned to take place on May 27. However, not all internet users in Indonesia will be able to enjoy this fifth-generation internet service. This is because Telkomsel will only deploy 5G services in six residential areas in Jabodetabek, namely Kelapa Gading, Pondok Indah, PIK, Widya Chandra, BSD, and Alam Sutera, and South Tangerang. Several other cities will follow, namely Batam, Medan, Solo, Bandung, Surabaya, Makassar, Denpasar, and Balikpapan. Meanwhile, it is still not known when cities and other locations in Indonesia will get a 5G network.
"Waisak Night Service at Bali Dharma Buddhist Temple Attended by Limited Number" from Tribun Bali (Indonesian): A number of Buddhists at the Bali Dharma Buddhist Temple solemnly participated in a limited series of services for the Waisak 2565 BE/2021 night, while still implementing health protocols. The series of Waisak night worship services began with pradaksina or circling the Vihara three times, as a form of respect for Gautama Buddha. "The peak of the Waisak night service was Dhammadesanna, which is a message that we convey to the people to motivate them to do good, to direct them or to encourage them to do good, and not to do evil," explained Bhante Bhadra Vardhana. "We have reduced a lot from last year. We have shortened the duration of the Waisak night service and the peak of the Waisak holiday according to health protocols. It is also our goal to support the prevention of the spread of Covid-19."
Of Interest
"East Java Governor Reported to Police Over Birthday Party" from Coconuts Jakarta
"18 Underage Girls Rescued From Prostitution Ring in West Jakarta" from Coconuts Jakarta
"Man Who Snatched Russian Woman's Phone While Carrying a Machete Arrested by the Police" from Radar Bali (Indonesian)
"US Citizen Sentenced for Destroying Neighbor's Gate" from Bali Post (Indonesian)
"Illegal Racing Action Rampant, Police Start Targeting Several Jembrana Mechanics’ Workshop" from Radar Bali (Indonesian)
"Tens of Billions in Scholarships Distributed to Children of KRI Nanggala-402 Crew" from Bali Post (Indonesian)
"Live Streaming Link for Total Lunar Eclipse, Wednesday, May 26, 2021" from Suara 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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