Monday, March 1
First drive-thru vaccination center opens, 5k tourism workers to to receive jab this week + Covid isolation hotels not paid in months facing power cutoff + Hospital bed crisis eases slightly + more!
Good morning! Welcome to The Bali Beat for Monday, March 1. If you’re not a subscriber, sign up here to get this update delivered directly to your Inbox every Monday-Friday morning, along with each evening’s Covid-19 update. If you are already a subscriber, thank you! Please be sure to share it with others in the island community by clicking the button below.
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Weather & Waves
Today’s Weather for Southern Bali
Today’s Tides
Surf Outlook
Weather forecast from Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology & Geophysics Council (Link)
Tide table from Tide-forecast.com.
Surf outlook via Windy.com.
Local Covid Numbers
*NOTE: New cases bounced back up yesterday, though they could still be at "Weekend" levels. Meanwhile, recoveries dropped and the island recorded the fewest deaths in a single day since January 24. The 7-day death toll (48) is as low as it's been since February 4.
For the week, cases ticked upwards just a bit (1,943, +44), with Denpasar (818, +23) and Badung (378, +108) leading the way. Deaths fell (53, -13) and a surge in recoveries pushed the In Treatment caseload ⬇️10%, the fourth straight week of decline, which has eased the capacity crisis at hospitals slightly (see below).
For the month, the island added 8,063 cases, second only to January's 8,559. The 239 deaths in February were by far the most of the pandemic, ⬆️48% from January & ⬆️15% from September, even with two fewer days.
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. (NOTE: Due to a technical error, last night’s Covid-19 update e-mail did not go out to all subscribers, but you can view it at the above link.)
The Big News
"Almost a Month of Covid-19 Vaccination, the Filling Level of Isolation Room Beds in Bali Has Decreased" from Tribune Bali (Indonesian): After almost a month of Covid-19 vaccination in Bali, the Bali Provincial Association of Indonesian Hospitals (Persi) recorded an average decrease in bed occupancy rate (BOR) in isolation rooms for the fourth week of February. Based on the data provided by the Head of Persi Bali, Dr. IGAN Anom, MARS to the Bali Tribun, as of Thursday, February 25, 2021, BOR for isolation rooms is in the range of 54.99%. Meanwhile, the BOR for the ICU room was still fluctuating, but the latest figure was 71.94%. "Yes (there is a decline). (Zone) It's starting to fall. But it has not been proven that vaccination has an impact on reducing BOR, because vaccination is only for health workers," he said.
"Government in Arrears to Pay Hotel Rentals for OTG in Bali, PLN Threatens to Cut Out the Electricity" from Tribune Bali (Indonesian): The owner of the hotel which was used as the OTG-GR quarantine by the Province of Bali complained. This is because in the past three months, the hotel rent has not been paid by the government. Meanwhile, the money for the hotel operation is running out. Since there are no operational costs, they cannot pay for electricity. As a result, the electricity supply was threatened by the PLN being cut off... "Our hotel is ready to help in the isolation of the OTG-GR, which yesterday was handled by the Provincial BPBD with Kalak Pak Rentin, I appreciate that I have handled the corona issue, but we ask that the payment can also be helped," said the GM of The Vasini Hotel, Pande Ketut Suartaya. Pande said the hotel rent for quarantine had not been paid from December to February. So that it has been three months with the total unpaid rent of Rp 1.3 billion.
Context: This news comes as officials in Denpasar are trying to find alternate arrangements to house mild & asymptomatic patients. Current plans are for boarding houses to be arranged within villages, which would greatly reduce the costs, as these buildings would be owned by the city or village governments.
Vaccination Update
"Bali Now Has Southeast Asia's First Covid Vaccination Drive-Thru" from The Jakarta Globe: Tech giant Grab and health platform Good Doctor have opened up Southeast Asia's first Covid-19 vaccination drive-thru in Bali to inoculate thousands tourism workers and ride-hailing drivers. The drive-thru is available at Grab's vaccination center at Bali Nusa Dua Convention Center (BNDCC) in Badung. In this program, the two start-ups teamed up with the Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry, Health Ministry, and Bali Provincial Government. The center targets to vaccinate 5,000 workers in the tourism sector, public transportation services, and Grab's ride-hailing and delivery drivers in Bali. "We are also targeting public transportation drivers. It is not just the online ride-hailing drivers," said Grab country managing director Neneng Goenadi.
More...
Nation: "Indonesia Has Administered 2.6 Million Doses of Covid-19 Vaccine" from The Jakarta Globe
Nation: "Some Foreigners Eligible for COVID-19 Vaccines Soon" from Indonesia Expat
Nation: "Vaccination in Mutual Cooperation Must Be Free of Charge: Minister" from Antara
Nation: "Second Phase of Covid-19 Vaccination to Be Completed in June" from Antara
Island: "Here are the Requirements for Participating in the Covid-19 Vaccination Program at the Grab Vaccine Center" from Nusa Bali (Indonesian)
Island: "5,000 Balinese Public Service Workers Will Be Vaccinated by Covid-19, Minister of Health Review the Implementation of Drive Thru Vaccination" from Tribune Bali (Indonesian)
Island: "60,000 Tourism Workers Registered to Get Covid-19 Vaccine, Kadispar Bali: the Essence of Gradual" from Tribune Bali (Indonesian)
>> Classifieds <<
Business is tough in the best of times, but these days- Wow. Thankfully, there’s a supportive spirit among the people who remain in Bali; this newsletter is proof. If you’ve got a product or service that needs local support to succeed, let this community know about it here.
Other Headlines
"As Many as 10,000 Units of GeNose C19 Have Been Prepared to Help Detect the Spread of Covid-19 in Java and Bali" from Republika (Indonesian): With the use of the inflatable test kit made by Gadjah Mada University (UGM), it is hoped that it can help the government in reducing the rate of infection and the spread of the virus in the community. "Our target is that we prepare 10 thousand units for the Java-Bali region which will be carried out for 36 days. Furthermore, we will prepare another 10 thousand for areas outside Java for 60 days," said Dr. Mochammad Isnaini, GeNose project leader from PT Sigma Andalan Nusa. GeNose is able to detect the virus in the body after two days of infection in less than two minutes. Furthermore, this tool has an affordable price for people in Indonesia with a one-time detection fee of around Rp. 20-40,000.
Context: Officials at I Gusti Ngurah Rai Bali International Airport said yesterday that this new rapid testing tool will be rolled out there by April 1 for a trial run.
Health Protocols (Prokes) & Patrols
Bangli: "Four Residents 'Netted' Violate Prokes in Kintamani" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian)
Karangasem: "Soaring Confirmed Cases, Micro PPKM Implemented in Padangaji Traditional Village" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian)
Klungkung: "Prokes Slack During PPKM, Regent Suwirta Goes Down to Galiran Market" from The Bali Post (Indonesian)
Economy News
"Sandi Asks for Government Activities to Be Brought to Bali" from Bisnis Bali (Indonesian): One of the steps taken by the Ministry of Pariwiasata to open up tourism in Bali is by encouraging the activities of the central government, BUMN, to be brought to Bali. The Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, Sandiaga Uno, explained that centralizing government activities such as coordination meetings and the like could be the first step in opening up Bali tourism. "We will also kick off this , I will meet Minister of BUMN Erick Tohir to discuss how MICE activities such as government meetings and the like can be directed to Bali, thus improving livelihoods for the Balinese people," Sandi said.
More...
"Vaccine-CHSE-Based Tourism Is the 'Vaccine' for the Revival of the Balinese Economy" from Antara (Indonesian)
"This Is the Preparation, Bali Will Become the Host of the G20 Summit in 2022" from The Bali Post (Indonesian)
"Unclear Pandemic End, Potential for Sale of Hotel Assets Increased" from Radar Bali (Indonesian)
"KFC to Open at Least 25 Stores in Indonesia This Year" from Coconuts
"Indonesia to Form ‘World’s Largest’ Geothermal Holding Firm" from The Jakarta Post (Paywall)
"The Government Signed a Contract for the Acceleration of 4G Equalization" from Antara (Indonesian)
"Schools Face-to-face July 2021, Pursue Vaccine Injection Target of 15,000 Teachers" from Radar Bali (Indonesian): The Ministry of Education and Culture ensures that face-to-face learning in schools when the Covid-19 pandemic opens starting this semester or July 2021. Head of the Bali Provincial Education Office, KN. Boy Jaya Wibawa, stated that the number of teachers and education personnel for SMA / SMK / SLB is 12,500 to 15,000 people spread across 9 districts / cities. As for students, they have not received any information. The vaccination schedule for teachers starts tomorrow March 1 to April 30. "There is no information for students," he said.
"Tourism School Students Difficult Place for Training Because Hotels Are Closed" from Radar Bali (Indonesian): A number of Vocational High School (SMK) students in Badung are now feeling dizzy. This is because the school provides practical field assignments or what is commonly known as training. Usually they are looking for hotels and restaurants for training. However, because many hotels and restaurants are closed or their operations are not running, these students find it difficult to find a place for training. If there are still those who have not found a place for training, Cintya said that they will be returned to school. Because, they are given a schedule for training for 3 months and get a certificate from a place that is suitable for training. The same thing is felt by those who sit in college, namely those who major in culinary and tourism. They also hope that this condition will not last long.
"Denpasar District Targets 80% of Dogs to Be Vaccinated Against Rabies (Video)" from Antara (Indonesian): "Our target is at least 80% of our population of 89,796 tails. So we expect herd immunity immunization coverage to be 80%. Meanwhile, vaccines are only 50,000 and it's still 25,000 less to reach the 80% target," said Head of the Denpasar Agricultural Service Animal Health Sector. Ngurah Sugiri. He said that currently he wants to maintain Denpasar City so that there is zero rabies disease. His team has deployed a team to carry out rabies vaccination at homes in the city of Denpasar. The "door to door" vaccination has been started since (5/01) in the Village of Padangsambian Kelod, Pemecutan Kelod, Tegal Harum and the area bordering Badung as well as Tabanan, Bali.
Of Interest
"Task Force Forms Supervision Team to Strengthen PPKM Micro in Java-Bali, This Is Its Function" from Sindo News (Indonesian)
"Russian Influencer Who Posed Naked on Elephant Didn’t Break Any Laws: Bali Police" from Coconuts
"Heavy Rain Fell, a Number of Roads in Kintamani Were Hit by Landslides" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian)
"East Bali Hit by Rain and Winds, Fallen Trees, and Bales Collapsed" from Radar Bali (Indonesian)
"Hundreds of Bali Police Personnel Secure National Vaccination in Nusa Dua, Targeting Thousands of Participants" from Tribune 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 newsletter@migrationmedia.net.
About This Newsletter
This newsletter is a product of Migration Media, the hub for stories from and about the international migrant experience.
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We only include news items from established media sources
We do not share rumors.
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For all stories marked "Indonesian" I have used Google Translate to convert it from Bahasa. In most cases I try to polish the excerpt and/or write a short summary in proper English to help clarify the details.
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