November 12, 2021
Indonesia & Malaysia to open travel corridor next year + Task Force threatens to close beach clubs + Charity race to raise funds for 25k children who lost parents due to Covid + Weekend reads + more
Good morning!
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Weather & Tides
Today’s Weather for Southern Bali
Today’s Tides
Meteorology, Climatology & Geophysics Council (Link)
Tide table from Tide-forecast.com.
Daily Covid Update
National Figures
Local Figures
The Big News
“Indonesia, Malaysia to Open Travel Corridor Next Year” from The Jakarta Post (Metered Paywall): The leaders of Indonesia and Malaysia announced on Wednesday that they have agreed to “gradually” reopen their borders with a travel corridor arrangement between Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta and Bali while also prefacing that both sides would take their time to implement the initiative. Officials from the two countries have been in talks for some time to launch the initiative amid gradually improving COVID-19 conditions in the wider Southeast Asia region.
“Covid-19 Task Force Threatens to Close Bars or Beach Clubs” from Suara Bali (Indonesian): The Bali Covid-19 Task Force emphasized that nightclubs, bars, and beach clubs are prohibited from holding parties or parties. This is in response to the statement of the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Panjaitan who said that many bars and beach clubs in Bali violated health protocols. The Secretary of the Bali Province Covid-19 Task Force I Made Rentin, on Thursday said that there were several managers asking for permission to hold a party, but so far it has never been allowed. Therefore, he asked all managers not to hold a party, including to welcome the 2022 new year party later. He said if anyone was still stubborn, the first to third warnings would be given. If it still violates then the permit can be revoked.
"25,000 Children Lose Parental Care Due to the Covid-19 Pandemic" from Tribun Bali (Indonesian): "According to data from the Ministry of Social Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia as of September 7, 2021, as many as 25,202 Indonesian children have lost their parents and 2.7 million Indonesian families live below the poverty line due to Covid-19. most vulnerable," said the National Director of SOS Children's Villages Indonesia, Gregor Hadi Nitihardjo... In collaboration with dozens of running communities from all over the archipelago, this charity running event takes a distance of 150 Kilometers around a number of areas in Bali. A total of 900 runners [will participate] by running hundreds of kilometers and dedicating themselves to raising funds to meet the needs of Indonesian families and children. This event is held on a hybrid basis, namely virtual and offline. The offline event will be held on November 26-28 2021, the starting point of the Four Points Hotel by Sheraton Bali in Ungasan, Jimbaran.
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Other Headlines
“Yoga Centre Burnt Down, Cause Unknown” from Radar Bali (Indonesian): Moska Temple yoga centre on Jalan Banjar Nyuh Kuning, Mas Village, Ubud was engulfed by fire during the Galungan celebration, Wednesday at around 08.40. A semi-permanent building that was engulfed in flames razed to the ground. Material losses are estimated at IDR 50 million. According to information gathered, the fire occurred in two building units with an area of 3 x 6 meters. The head of the Gianyar Civil Service Police Unit, I Made Watha, said that after receiving the report, his party immediately dispatched two firefighting units from the Ubud Post and the Main Post. "Until the location, the team put out the fire for about 60 minutes until the fire was completely extinguished," he said on Thursday. There were no fatalities or injuries at the time of the incident.
“Mandalika Circuit Gears Up for Major Race Debut” from The Jakarta Globe: The newly-built Mandalika International Circuit in West Nusa Tenggara is preparing for the final Superbike race of the season later this month to mark its debut at the international stage. A Boeing 777 cargo plane carrying Superbike logistics and motorcycles landed at Lombok International Airport after a flight from Doha on Tuesday, confirming that the race will be there to watch. A few months ago there were doubts that the beachside circuit will be completed in time for the WorldSBK Indonesian round. Back in August, the track and protections part was completed but the race control building, the medical center, the TV compound, and the heliport were halfway through the construction.
Context: Other media reports highlighted the security preparations for the race, enhanced health protocols (Indonesian) and additional flights to Lombok (Indonesian).
Vaccination Update
“Elderly Vaccination Coverage Low Due to Hoaxes” from Antara: The low vaccination coverage among the elderly can mostly be attributed to hoaxes, Spokesperson for COVID-19 Vaccinations for the Health Ministry Siti Nadia Tarmizi said on Thursday. “False information saying that elderly with comorbidities should not get vaccinated because they will experience unpleasant side effects has made them hesitant to get vaccinated,” she said. In fact, people over the age of 59 are at a bigger risk of developing severe COVID-19 symptoms or even death if they are not vaccinated, she said. Just 43% or around 9.3 million people out of the 21.5 million targeted elderly recipients have received the first vaccine shot, she said.
More...
Nation: “Third Vaccine Dose Can Protect Elderly From Covid Variants” from Antara
Nation: “Expedite Vaccinations Ahead of Year-end Holidays” from Antara
Nation: “Govt Distributes 2.29 Million Doses of Pfizer Vaccine Among Regions” from Antara
Nation: “Some 80 Million Indonesians Administered Complete Vaccination Dosage” from Antara
Health Protocols (Prokes) & Health Services
“BNPB Will Distribute a Million Masks via Mask Cars in NTB” from Republika (Indonesian): The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) strengthened the discipline of implementing health protocols through the 'Mask Car Movement for the Community'. The movement in order to reduce the number of Covid-19 transmission will distribute a million masks to the public in West Nusa Tenggara. The head of BNPB, Lt. Gen. Ganip Warsito, said the Mask Car movement was an effort to educate and socialize the importance of health protocols, especially the use of masks. In addition, this mask movement is to support the strengthening of health protocols ahead of the international motorcycle racing event, World Superbike on 19-21 November 2021 at the Mandalika Circuit.
More...
Province: “120 Villages in Bali Classified as Disaster Prone” from Kumparan (Indonesian)
Badung: “11 Visitors Subjected to Push Up Sanctions” from Nusa Bali (Indonesian)
Economy & Infrastructure
“Indonesia Recruits Farmers, Teachers to Battle Anti-palm Oil Sentiment” from Reuters: Indonesia is training farmers and teachers and running social media campaigns to highlight the "positive aspects" of the $50 billion industry. "We must tell the world about the benefits of palm oil," Achmad Maulizal, the corporate division head of BPDP, a government body in charge of collecting export taxes, said. At least 1.6 million hectares of forest and other land were burned in 2019 and losses were estimated at $5.2 billion as a choking haze blanketed Indonesia and neighbouring countries. But the government is keen to highlight the positive aspects of the industry which employs more than 15 million Indonesians and generates around 13% of the country's exports. The BPDP has also teamed up with Indonesia's Teachers Association to conduct workshops for teachers across the archipelago to "Unravel Myths and Facts" about palm oil.
More...
Nation: “Honest or Paid? Influencers Walk a Tightrope of Credible Product Reviews” from The Jakarta Post (Metered Paywall)
Province: “Ngurah Rai Passenger Growth Increases by Almost 100%” from Bali Post (Indonesian)
Badung: “Teratai Group Launches Two New Projects in Canggu Bali” from Berita Satu (Indonesian)
“The Kidnapping of Middle School Students in Kuta Turns Out to be a Hoax” from Nusa Bali (Indonesian): Police officers from Kuta have stopped their investigation regarding the existence of SMP Negeri 1 Kuta students who were reported to be victims of hypnosis and were close to being kidnapped. The investigation was terminated because the seventh grade student's statement was an unfounded report, aka a hoax. Because of his actions, the student with the initials I Putu DPP, 13 immediately made a clarification video accompanied by his parents at the Kuta Police Headquarters.
Bali Reopening
“Governor Asks Central Government to Revoke Quarantine Policy” from Tribun Bali(Indonesian): Although international flights have been opened by the central government, until now there are still no foreign tourists who come to Bali. Therefore, the Governor of Bali, Wayan Koster asked the central government to revoke the the quarantine policy for foreign tourists. According to Koster, a complete vaccine requirement and a negative RT-PCR result are sufficient for foreign tourists who will come to Bali. Regarding foreign tourists visiting Bali, Koster admitted that his party could not confirm it. However, he said that there would be flights from Japan that would take foreign tourists to Bali. "I received information yesterday from Garuda, it looks like it will come from Japan. The date is not certain. There is still consolidation," he said.
More...
“Kemenkumham Tightens Entrance Doors for Foreigners” from CNN Indonesia (Indonesian)
“Dozens of Ambassador Candidates Asked to Promote Bali Tourism” from Merdeka (Indonesian)
Weekend Reads
“While Defending Its Migrant Workers’ Rights Overseas, Indonesia Has Denied the Rights of Foreigners to Work Here” from The Conversation
“Greening Indonesia Proves a Dirty Job but Joko Has to Do It” from The Sydney Morning Herald
“Indonesia's Rain-averting Shamans Back in Business After Pandemic Hiatus” from Reuters
“Indonesia’s Indigenous Languages Hold the Secrets of Surviving Disaster” from Foreign Policy
Of Interest
“Govt Urges Religious Leaders, Scholars to Support Women's Empowerment” from Antara
“House Handover Ceremony Conducted for Fallen KRI Nanggala Crews' Kin” from Antara
“After Galungan, Waste in Denpasar Increases by 30%” from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian)
“Greenpeace Calls the Area of Deforestation in the Jokowi Era Three Times Bali Island” from CNN Indonesia (Indonesian)
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How You Can Help Bali
Due to the collapse of the tourism sector in Bali, tens of thousands of families have found themselves with a greatly reduced income—if any. If you’d like to support organizations working to help those in need, you can see a list of some here.
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