Monday, November 2
Govt plans to swab test up to 5,000 people per day + October sees decline of daily infection rate & slowest new case growth + Island shocked by gang rape of junior high student + more!
Good morning! Welcome to The Bali Beat for Monday, November 2. If you’re not a subscriber, sign up here to get this update delivered directly to your Inbox every Monday-Saturday 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 foreigner community on the island by clicking the button below.
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PUBLICATION NOTE: I hope that everybody had a nice long holiday! It was a badly-needed break for me, and I thank everyone who asked if I was doing OK after they noticed that the morning e-mails had stopped arriving. Having a chance to catch up on some sleep and unplug from the news for a few days was quite restorative, and it may become a semi-regular occurrence (though I can’t imagine it happening again before the New Year holiday). In light of how much the audience for this newsletter has grown over the last few months, I am starting to think about how I can mitigate the effect of occasional breaks, as well as improve the product overall. I’ll keep you updated on my efforts in those areas over the coming weeks. In the meantime, you can always reach out with comments or suggestions by clicking the feedback button above, or by dropping me a line at newsletter@migrationmedia.net. Thanks again for being a part of this awesome community!
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: Over the long weekend there were no updates in the media about the outbreak at Kerobokan Prison, nor does it appear that any of the positive cases have been included in the daily totals as of yet. At last count, it looked as if there were up to 165 cases had been confirmed, though even that number is unclear. (See the Editor’s Note in the October 27 issue for a breakdown of what’s been disclosed so far.) However, the consequences of the outbreak are being felt through the judicial system, as even online arraignments and hearings have been delayed because prisoners cannot be congregated together. Click here to see the national numbers infographic, trend charts, and a Regency-by-Regency breakdown of yesterday’s local numbers in our evening update, which includes a look back at last week’s overall totals.
The Big News
TOURISM UPDATE: Tourist arrival and accommodation numbers from the holiday are just starting to trickle in from some areas (some of which have been included below), though nothing comprehensive as been released yet. From all accounts - including how packed Raya Canggu was on Friday & Saturday - it looks like there were a fair number of domestic tourists who came to our fair island. Fingers crossed that the good economic outcomes that come from this aren’t accompanied by a reverse of the positive Covid trends that we saw in October. As soon as more data is released it’ll be included here.
"Bali Plans Massive Swab Test Project of 2,000 people Per Day, Says Regent Suwirta" from Radar Bali (Indonesian): The Provincial Government of Bali will hold a mass swab test in all districts in Bali with a total of at least 2 thousand people in the swab test every day. The Regent of Klungkung, I Nyoman Suwirta, said that Bali Province is one of the priority provinces of the central government in holding swab tests. The plan is that the Bali Provincial Government will hold a swab test with a total of 2,000 people per day. "I have assigned the Health Office to make SOPs related to the implementation of this swab test. And I also asked to see other districts, when they will start simultaneously," he said. The mass swab test will be started with the TNI, Polres and State Civil Service (ASN) first.
(Ed. Note: In another story, the Head of Bali’s Heath Service said that they are planning to raise the number of daily swab tests from 2,000 per day to 5,000 per day. As noted in last Wednesday's newsletter, Denpasar has already announced a program of free swab testing at 11 healthcare centers for anyone who presents with Covid-like symptoms or who has been exposed to somebody who has tested positive. In addition, the Bali government has begun testing all of its employees, as has the Buleleng Regency Government.)
"Indonesia Reports Slowest Monthly Growth in Covid-Cases" from The Jakarta Globe: Indonesia reported a single-digit monthly rise in the number of coronavirus cases on Saturday, the slowest growth since the outbreak began in early March. The country recorded 123,080 confirmed cases of coronavirus throughout the month to take its total to 410,088. The total number in October is a 9.7% increase on the September figure. In the wake of the outbreak, monthly cases soared by 460% in April, but the growth slowed to 90% in May, 83% in June, 74% in July and 28 percent in August. The growth picked up the pace again in September, which saw a 69% rise or around 45,700 more infections from the previous month. By quantity, September saw the biggest gain in monthly numbers. Despite the slowing growth in newly cases, it remains hard to predict when the country reaches its peak as testing capacity remains way below the World Health Organization standards in most of 34 provinces.
(Ed. Note: The slowing of the monthly growth rate has been reflected in a slow-but-steady decrease in the 7-day average of daily new cases, from from more than 4,300 cases in late September to just around 3,300 on Sunday -- the lowest weekly average since Sept. 10.)
"10 People Rape Junior High School Student in Bali; Victim Believed That She Would be Taken Home" from iNews Bali (Indonesian): As many as 10 perpetrators of rape of junior high school students in Buleleng, Bali, apparently do not know each other. Sadly, the victim believed in one of the perpetrators who initially intended to help but instead raped her... "The victim is certainly in shock. We continue to provide assistance so that it is immediately investigated and the perpetrator does not remove evidence," said Head of Buleleng Police, AKBP I Made Sinar Subawa. The victim, KMW (12), was raped by ten perpetrators, namely DK, AC, TS, ER, PK, AT, JL, Wawan, Rudi, and Berit. The ten perpetrators arrested will be charged under Article 81 of Law Number 35 of 2014 concerning Child Protection. "The maximum sentence is 15 years," he said.
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Other Headlines
"Halloween Party in Badung Gets Rebuked by Police" from iNews Bali (Indonesian): The excitement of the Halloween party atmosphere that took place in a cafe in the tourist area of North Kuta, immediately turned tense following the arrival of dozens of joint officers who carried out inspections of implementing health protocols. The activity was deemed to violate health protocol after most of the visitors were seen not wearing masks. The cafe visitors had protested that they were not wearing masks because they had just enjoyed food and drinks. The joint apparatus also persuaded the cafe manager not to pass the specified time limit.
"Tourists to North Bali Increase by 20%, Dominated by Local Tourists" from Radar Bali (Indonesian): In the center of the West Buleleng tourism area, Pemuteran Village, Gerokgak District which is famous for its coral reef conservation using the biorock method, the stretch of tourism has begun to be felt and has increased in visits. "The dominant visits from tourists who come are still domestic (local). With an increase of about 20% from what used to be a complete absence of visits," said the Head of Pokdarwis Segara Giri Pemuteran I Ketut Sutrawan. The guests began arriving on 26 October.
"5,000 Tourists Visited Ulun Danu Tabanan During Long Holiday" from Antara (Indonesian): "On a long holiday during the COVID-19 pandemic from Thursday, October 29 to November 1, we recorded the number of visits exceeding 5,000 people," said Ulun Danu Public Relations Officer, Made Sukarta. Not wanting to be missed by the spread of the COVID-19 virus in this tourist area, his party carried out strict health protocols in a tourist area known for its views of the temple in the middle of the lake. "In the long holiday last year in one day there were 4,000 people, now 1,500 people per day for the pandemic," he said.
"'Our Nurses Are Exhausted': Association Asks Government to Limit Working Hours" from The Jakarta Post: “Our nurses are exhausted because the pandemic has been going on for quite some time,” the head of the Lampung chapter of the National Nurses Association (PPNI), Dedy Afrizal, said. Therefore, he asked the government to seriously impose strict limits on nurses' working hours. He added that if nurses become incapacitated from exhaustion, entire communities will be affected. "Imagine eight straight hours working in hazmat suits. Therefore, the government must strictly implement the [four-hour work shifts].”
"Labor Unions to Stage More Nationwide Rallies Against Job Creation Law on Monday" from The Jakarta Post: Members of 32 worker confederations including the Confederation of Indonesian Trade Unions (KSPI), the All-Indonesia Workers Union Confederation (KSPSI) and the National Welfare Movement (Gekanas) will participate in the simultaneous nationwide protests. KSPI president Said Iqbal said that the protesters would also file a judicial review for the omnibus law at the Constitutional Court in Central Jakarta on Monday at 10:30am... Said said that workers across Greater Jakarta, Banten, West Java, Central Java, East Java, Aceh, North Sumatra, South Sulawesi, East Kalimantan, Maluku and Papua would participate in the protests. “The protests will be peaceful, following orders and steering clear from anarchy,” Iqbal reassured.
"Hygiene Facilities in Bali’s Tourist Sites to Receive Facelift Amid Pandemic" from The Jakarta Post: The Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry is set to revitalize hygiene facilities at several tourist sites in Bali in November. Wawan Gunawan, the ministry’s regional II destination development director, said the program would be adjusted based on the priorities in each tourist site; however, it would focus mainly on sanitation and health facilities... Bali Tourism Agency chief I Putu Astawa said that the tourism trend would change in the future, saying that travelers would prefer to visit destinations that could provide safety and comfort, as well as a clean and sustainable environment. “This revitalization program suits the current tourism trend,” he said, adding that hygiene and health features were important to travelers.
"Rice Fields in Tabanan Are Shrinking, but the Number of Farmers is Still Increasing" from The IDN Times (Indonesian): Tabanan is known as Bali's rice granary. The availability of large rice fields also encourages people to continue to pursue professions in the agricultural sector, apart from being active in the tourism sector. Although every year it is battered by shrinking paddy fields, the farmer profession in Tabanan is not completely abandoned. The number has actually increased in the last three years... Head of the Facilities and Infrastructure Division of the Tabanan Agriculture Service, I Gusti Putu Wiadnyana recently said that based on data in the Agriculture Service, the area of ??rice fields in Tabanan in 2017 was 21,089 hectares and in 2020 it was recorded 19,394.16 hectares. In the three years period, there was a shrinkage of 1694.84 hectares. Wiadnyana said that although there was a decrease in the area of ??rice fields in Tabanan, not all of them had changed their function to become buildings. "If the depreciation is 200 to 500 hectares per year, only 10 percent goes to buildings," he explained.
"Bali Police Arrest Man That Has Robbed 16 Foreigners In Canggu" from The Bali Sun: Bali police have captured a serial bag snatcher that has admitted to robbing 16 foreigners at different locations around Canggu. 20-year-old, Muhamad Amin Sanae was finally arrested after snatching a bag from a Russian woman in Canggu, North Kuta... Head of Badung Public Relation Officer, Iptu I Putu Oka Bawa said that the perpetrator had robbed at least 16 foreigners at different locations in the Canggu area. “He admitted that he has done it 16 times in 16 different areas in Canggu, and had always been targeting foreigners during the attempts,” Oka Bawa said.
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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