Monday, May 18
Rapid test results now req'd for Gilimanuk exits + Schools staying closed until at least July + Dozens of police guarding docks in Klungkung + more!
Good morning! Welcome to the COVID-19 Update for Bali for Monday, May 18. Please subscribe and share it with others in the foreigner community on the island. I happily put this daily newsletter together as a public service, and it will be free so long as the current emergency lasts. *A paid subscription is NOT required to access this content.* When signing up, select the "None" option and you'll get it delivered to your Inbox each day. But if you would like to support my work, please consider taking up a voluntary subscription at US$5/month. Thanks!
Status Update
National Numbers:
Bali Numbers:
Today's Regency Numbers
Overall Confirmed Cases Distribution:
Key: Red = Infected | Green = Recovered | Black = Died
Bali 30-Day Trends:
More details on the locations of positive cases within each Regency, as well as the number of suspected cases ("ODP") and people under in-patient observation ("PDP"), can be found in charts & infographics on the websites of each Regency's COVID-19 Task Force:
Badung | Bangli | Buleleng | Denpasar City | Gianyar | Jembrana | Karangasem | Klungkung | Tabanan
Sources:
The national update comes from the Indonesia National Disaster Management Agency: @BNPB_Indonesia
The Bali Numbers infographic comes from the Bali Provincial Government COVID-19 Task Force (link).
The Total Confirmed Cases Distribution map & Regency Numbers figures come from the Bali Provincial Government's data collection department (link).
The 30-day trend charts have been compiled using daily government data.
How You Can Help
Each weekday we'll let you know about an organization or a person who is trying to make a difference for the people of Bali in these difficult times, and how you can pitch in.
Glo Day Spa & Salon: 24-year Bali resident Georgia Sutherland, founder of the Glo Day Spa & Salon chain, has partnered with The Bali Children Foundation to raise funds to buy basic food supplies of rice, eggs, vegetables, oil and hygiene items for the villages of Kubu, Tianyar, and Tirta Ganga - around the base of Mt. Agung. The people there have been affected by periodic eruptions and are now suffering due to the effects of Covid-19. Ms. Sutherland's company is donating resources to handle overhead and delivery for this effort, so 100% of all money raised goes directly towards aiding the families in the area, with 90% used to buy food and 10% going to support The Bali Children Foundation's mission to help local children get back to school on the islands of Bali and Lombok. You can see updates on their progress on Day Glo's Facebook page, and on their Everyday Hero fundraising page, where you can make a donation.
Please visit this page to see a list of all of the efforts that we've featured so far. If you know anyone who is raising funds, delivering food, organizing volunteers, or otherwise trying to rally people to the cause of assisting our neighbors here in Bali, please let us know by sending an email to newsletter@migrationmedia.net.
The Big News
"Gilimanuk Exits Now Require A Rapid Test" from The Bali Post (Indonesian): In response to the discovery of a ring of people selling fake Health Certificates to people who wanted to exit Bali via the Gilimanuk ferry crossing, the Jembrana government's Covid-19 Task Force has rolled out additional requirements for any person who wants to travel off of the island by boat... In addition to a Health Certificate, any traveler exiting Bali is also required to submit to a non-reactive rapid test and show a negative result at any one of the 10 health centers in Jembrana that offer them.
"Schools In Bali to Stay Closed Until July 2020" from Kumparan (Indonesian): The Provincial Government of Bali through the Department of Youth and Sports Education asserted, there are no plans to re-open schools in the near future and that the current practice of teaching student online will continue... "We are still following the online education protocol," said the Head of the Bali Provincial Youth and Sports Education Office, Ketut Ngurah Boy Jayawibawa. He also said that online instruction will still be held until the new academic year is scheduled to begin on July 13. This includes the process of implementing new student admissions being carried out online. "Our focus is currently on continuing online instruction, so for a scheme to reopen the school, I am afraid that I have not thought that way," he said.
"On Third Day of PKM In Denpasar, 114 Turned Back for Not Having Official Business, 35 Cited for Not Wearing Masks" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian): Just like yesterday, the implementation of the city's Community Activity Restrictions (PKM) went smoothly with no crowds at the border checkpoints. And based on observations, the public is increasingly aware of and obeying the government's guidelines. In fact, most of the streets in Denpasar seem deserted... Of note, at least 35 people were stopped at the border checkpoints for not wearing masks, which was fewer than the day before. In addition, 114 people were turned back for not having proof of legitimate business in the city, which was also decreased compared to the previous day.
Other Headlines
"Dozens Of Police Secure Ports In Klungkung" from Antara (Indonesian): A total of 60 Klungkung Police personnel have been tasked with securing the flow of people into the Klungkung Regency at two posts, namely the docks at Goa Lawah and Lepang... "We set up a checkpoint at Goa Lawah. If there are people trying to go home to Java through this point we urge to make a U-turn, as well as at Lepang. Likewise, if people try to return via thee points we ask them to turn back," said the Klungkung Police's Head of Public Relations, I Putu Gede Ardana.
"Culinary Business Health Protocol In Denpasar: Reduce Chairs, Non-Cash Transactions" from Kumparan (Indonesian): As part of the Denpasar City Government's restrictions on community activities (PKM), the Denpasar City Tourism Office has provided information on health protocols in business activities for entrepreneurs in restaurants, food courts and cafes. Among other guidelines, it provides an understanding of security protocols such as regulating the seating position of consumers with a minimum distance of 1.5 meters. There is also a rule not to allow consumers to dine in more than 4 people, providing a means of washing hands in running water along with soap each visitor is required to wash their hands before entering / sitting.
"Plant and Vegetable Seed Sales Increase by 20% Since Covid-19" from Bali Express (Indonesian): From monitoring at one of Wijaya Kusuma's ornamental plant sales stands on Jalan Hayam Wuruk in Denpasar, ornamental plant sales have increased. Even up to 20%. Types of ornamental plants that were sold during the pandemic were cactus and seculars... In addition to ornamental plants, vegetable crops are also widely hunted by residents. The most sought after are chilli and tomato seedlings. "What is now sought after is chili or tomatoes. Because now the people are turning to garden again. In addition there are also spinach seeds, seed form but yes. That's a lot of people looking for now," said shop owner Ni Nyoman Sutri.
The View from Outside
"Indonesia's Government Was Slow to Lock Down, So Its People Took Charge" from National Geographic: Across Indonesia, a sprawling nation of more than 15,000 islands, communities have used creative methods to impose their own, hyperlocal lockdowns since early March. These community-driven quarantines are now found in big cities and small towns, spacious suburbs and sparsely populated islands. They affect both rich and poor, though working-class people were among the first to organize themselves. "It's an indication of the frustration with the central government's crisis response," said Marcus Mietzner, an Indonesia-focused political scientist at Australian National University... Indonesian president Joko Widodo has argued that the economic and social cost of a complete lockdown is unfeasible. "Every country has its own character, culture, and discipline level," he said in late March. "With this in mind, facing this COVID-19, we don’t opt for lockdown."
"'Not Caring for Them Is Not An Option': The Australian Charity Caring for Bali's Forgotten Children" from The Sydney Morning Herald: Bali Kids (Anak Anak Bali) was founded in 2005 and provides critical medical or dental care for sick local children. Though it wasn't founded to treat HIV, primarily, that's how things have turned out. About 80% of the children who live on site have HIV or AIDS. The centre provides pre- and post-operative care to the kids, with short and long term accommodation available. It's not an orphanage, though one child lived there for 13 years... Most of the funding comes from Australian NGO the Global Development Group - though they take donations from around the world - and that funding has been smashed by two things: first, the bushfires that ripped through Australian in December and January and then the coronavirus, which has up-ended whatever passes for 'normal' life. The centre's general manager Nyoman Kusala says the centre is 100 per cent reliant on donations to operate.
"Stuck In Paradise: Stranded for Months In Bali, UAE Residents Now Find Their Jobs At Risk" from Gulf News: What was meant to be a tropical holiday has turned into a nightmare for several UAE residents who are currently stranded in Bali owing to travel restrictions necessitated by the coronavirus pandemic. Residents of various nationalities reached out to Gulf News narrating their struggles of having to pay for their house rent, utility, phone and internet connection in absentia in the UAE while also having to simultaneously pay for their accommodation and food expenses in Bali, Indonesia... Although many of those stranded are managing to work remotely, they are worried for their jobs if this uncertainty persists. Small business owners are struggling, with no work being commissioned, yet having to pay rent for their house and office space. Others have even been laid off from their jobs while in Bali.
Non-Covid News of Note
"African Swine Fever Suspected In Hundreds Of Pigs In Bali" from The Bali Sun: Pig farmers in Gianyar are concerned after hundreds of pigs have died from what they are suspecting is African Swine Flu. Breeders are reporting that many of their pigs stop eating followed by lack of movement and eventually death... In March, Bali’s Tabanan regency reportedly recorded 4,804 pig deaths since the beginning of the year saying an ‘unknown swine disease’ was the cause. Reports of mass swine deaths have plagued Bali since the beginning of the year, but authorities have yet to confirm what’s causing the mystery disease.
Resources
Important information for foreigners who are staying on the island, such as designated COVID-19 hospitals and emergency contact numbers, can be found by following this link.
The government has cancelled its visa-on-arrival process and rolled out enhanced entry requirements for people traveling to Indonesia; they have also granted automatic extensions to most foreigners who are still in the country on temporary stay visas. You can see a (translated) list of all of the relevant regulations on the Directorate General of Immigration & Ministry of Law and Human Rights' website here.
The British Embassy in Jakarta has recently posted a great summary of the Indonesian government's travel restrictions on their Facebook page. You can read it here.
If you are trying to plan travel anywhere, here are some of the best up-to-date resources that can help you:
IATA Travel Center Update - The International Air Transport Association is the global lobbying body for the aviation industry. Their Travel Information Manual Automatic (Timatic) database feeds into airlines' reservation systems, so it is the most reliable list of flight restrictions around.
Revolver Maps' Travel Restrictions Database - This list pulls directly from IATA's Timatic database and arranges the countries in lists that are easier to navigate and creates share-able links for every country. NOTE: This is a third-party service and they warn that the updates to their system can be delayed by several hours for certain countries.
Al Jazeera Travel Restriction & Border Shutdown Tracker - A companion list that includes less technical summaries of each country's travel restrictions, beyond just flights and airport access.
Common abbreviations to be familiar with:
PMI: Indonesian migrant worker
PSBB: Policy of extreme social distancing. Officially restricts forms of transportation and prohibits certain types of business from operating. Requires any permitted businesses to enforce strict social distancing guidelines.
OTG: Possible cases, with no symptoms.
ODP: Suspected cases, being monitored. People with fever or respiratory symptoms such as congestion, sore throat, cough, travel in countries or areas with local transmission, or contact with a confirmed case of Covid-19. Tracked and placed under out-patient observation.
PDP: Probable cases, under observation. People with acute respiratory illness with at least one symptom such as cough, sore throat, congestion, light or heavy pneumonia, and travel in countries or areas with local transmission, or contact with a confirmed case of Covid-19. Usually placed under observation in an isolation ward at a designated hospital pending swab testing results.
About This Newsletter
This newsletter is a product of Migration Media, the hub for stories from and about the international migrant experience.
Our standards
We only include news items from established media sources
We do not share rumors.
We do not include opinion pieces or forecasts.
For all stories marked "Indonesian" I have used Google Translate to convert it from Bahasa. In most cases I will polish the excerpt and/or write a short summary in proper English to help clarify the details.
For any questions, comments or tips, please contact us at newsletter@migrationmedia.net.