Monday, September 28
Guv's wife tests positive as outbreak in official residence spreads + Jembrana Hospital full, new patients directed to self quarantine + Recoveries in Denpasar lower city status to Orange Zone + more!
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Weather & Waves
Today’s Weather for Southern Bali
Today’s Tides
Surf Outlook
*NOTE: BMKG Balai Besar Region III Denpasar has issued a warning to be aware of high waves around the waters of Southern Bali. Waves reaching 2 meters or more are possible around the Bali Sea, Southern Bali Strait, Badung Strait, Southern Lombok Strait, Southern Alas Strait, and the South Indian Ocean Bali through this morning.
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: Click here to see the national numbers infographic and a Regency-by-Regency breakdown of yesterday’s local numbers + trendlines in our evening update, which includes a look back at last week’s overall totals.
The Big News
"Wife of Bali’s Governor Tests Positive for COVID-19, is Asymptomatic, Asks People to Not Panic and Stress" from The IDN Times (Indonesian): The wife of the Governor of Bali, Ni Putu Putri Suastini, has posted a 13-minute video on her social media accounts saying that she is a person without symptoms (OTG) infected with COVID-19. Suastini said that she is in quarantine at the BPK Pering Training Center, Gianyar Regency. "While I am still here, I'm in the quarantine for people without symptoms. Because after doing the swab there is a virus in my body. Even though we actually feel healthy," she said. Based on the doctor's examination, her condition is good, including oxygen in his blood. "I am in good health," she said.
"Positive Covid-19 Patients in Jembrana Soar, Isolation Room of State Hospital is Full" from iNews Bali (Indonesian): The increase in positive cases of Covid-19 in Jembrana Regency, Bali has made the State General Hospital (RSU) unable to accommodate patients anymore. The capacity of the isolation room is all filled. To overcome this, positive patients are directed to carry out independent isolation in their respective homes. However, puskesmas officers and the Gotong Royong Task Force will carry out strict supervision in their respective villages.
"Lihadnyana Inaugurated as Acting Regent of Badung, Koster: Implement Policies Well" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian): Bali Governor Wayan Koster confirmed the Head of the Regional Personnel Agency of Bali Province (BKD), Ketut Lihadnyana, as Acting Regent of Badung on Saturday. The Acting Regent of Badung began carrying out his duties as of September 26, 2020, which in Bali coincided with Kuningan Day... The inauguration of the Acting Regent of Badung was carried out because the Regent and Deputy Regent of Badung are running in the upcoming December 9 Regional Election, so they are required by law to take leave outside of their state responsibilities. "Astungkara, the Minister of Home Affairs has approved and provided the decree. So that today on this holiday, we are inaugurated, so that there should be no vacancy. Because the Regent and Deputy Regent of Badung have applied for leave, they must actively campaign,” said Acting Regent Lihadnyana.
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Other Headlines
"As Number of Recoveries Increases, Denpasar Returns to Orange Zone" from Bali Express (Indonesian): Denpasar City is now back in the orange zone. This is following the high number of cases of recovery in the city of Denpasar. The cure rate for Covid-19 cases in Denpasar City has now reached 91.2%. Of the more than 2,200 positive patients with Covid-19, there were only 170 active positive patients remaining... Even though it has been declared an orange zone, fines are still imposed for violators who do not wear masks of Rp. 100,000. Sealing of public places such as fields and city parks in the city of Denpasar is still being carried out to anticipate crowds and crowds that can cause the transmission of the corona virus.
(Ed. Note: Denpasar saw the lowest growth in new infections among regions in Bali by percentage last week - just 7% - which was less than Klungkung and Bangli, which both saw 8% growth. The city also had a recovery rate that far outpaced its infection rate, and as a result saw its "In Treatment" number drop by 32%. To see Denpasar's numbers, along with the weekly totals for every Regency, check out yesterday's Covid-19 update here, or our weekly Covid-19 stats tracker here.)
"Traditional, Religious and Marriage Activities Become the Covid-19 Cluster in Jembrana" from Radar Bali(Indonesian): According to the spokesperson for Jembrana's Covid-19 Task Force, I Gusti Agung Putu Arisantha, all customary and religious activities, as well as any activities that have the potential to invite crowds of people become the main cluster of Covid-19 transmission in Jembrana. "There are several clusters that need maximum handling, in the custom and religion cluster, as well as marriage," he said.
"Klungkung Regency Transfers Independent Isolation to Hotel in Anticipation of Family Clusters" from Antara (Indonesian): Regional Secretary of Klungkung I District Gede Putu Winastra said that after the increase in COVID-19 cases from family clusters, there will be changes to the isolation or quarantine system for residents who are undergoing independent isolation at home to be encouraged to undergo isolation at the hotel... This change of isolation system, he said, follows the Regulation of the Minister of Health and the policy of the Government of the Province of Bali. Since there is no hotel in Klungkung, Winastra has assigned BPBD to coordinate with the Bali Provincial Government and it was agreed that the hotel would be prepared by the province.
"Food Security is Ammunition in the Middle of the Covid-19 Pandemic" from The Bali Tribune (Indonesian): The food security program is one of the “weapons” of the Bali Provincial Government for the people in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic whose impact has been felt since the last 8 months. Head of the Diversification of Consumption and Food Safety Division of the Department of Agriculture and Food Security of the Bali Provincial Government, Nyoman Suwarta, said that the strategy for increasing food security should ideally be implemented in a sustainable manner, not limited to a certain time and momentum... The community's enthusiasm to cultivate land through the Sustainable Yard Program (P2L) has increased in Bali during the Covid-19 pandemic. "During the Covid-19 pandemic we got 136 P2L participants. Currently there are 32 development groups, 38 growth groups, and 66 development groups, targeted for 716 P2L developments. If this is fulfilled, I am sure the Balinese people consume vegetables because each village is fulfilled," Nyoman Suwarta said.
"Plans Include Traffic Rules in the School Curriculum" from Berita Bali (Indonesian): Lack of public awareness in disciplining traffic order is often the cause of accidents. In order to increase public awareness, Bali Polda Ditlantas staff plans to include traffic order rules in the curriculum of lessons in schools at the elementary, junior high, high school and vocational levels. The traffic order curriculum was originally to be included in the PKN subject... "Yes, we will first learn how traffic order can enter the school curriculum in collaboration with the National Education Ministry. This traffic order will be included in the subject of PKN," said Director of Traffic for the Bali Police, Kombes Pol Indra SIK. With the inclusion of traffic rules in the curriculum of school lessons, explained Kombes Indra, educators or teachers will also be given trainings on traffic safety.
"McDonalds Kuta Beach Permanently Closing" from Indonesian Expat: A signboard placed on the glass walls of McDonald’s in Kuta Beach, Bali states that as of 29th September 2020, the fast-food joint will permanently close at 9pm Central Indonesian Time. It also stated that the nearest McDonald’s is at McDonald’s Kuta Square and Sunset Star. No further explanation from the company has been published at the moment.
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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