November 17, 2021
Vice President: Saving people more important than tourism + Singapore & Indonesia continue to discuss travel lane + Canggu Shortcut to be revamped + more
Good morning!
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Today’s Weather for Southern Bali
Today’s Tides
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Daily Covid Update
National Figures
Local Figures
The Big News
“Saving People From Covid Wave More Important Than Tourism” from Antara: Saving the Indonesian people from a potential third COVID-19 wave is more important than amassing state income from foreign tourist visits, Vice President Ma'ruf Amin has said. "We do need foreign tourists. However, it is more important to save the nation from the possible entry of new (COVID-19) variants that could trigger a third wave (of infections)," he said in Aceh on Tuesday. The new Delta AY.4.2 or Delta Plus variant of COVID-19 has been found in Malaysia and Singapore, he noted. To prevent the new variant from entering the country, the government has tightened Indonesia's entry points, he said.
Context: This statement from the Vice President was given in Aceh (a province with a not especially large international tourism industry), but may be indicative of government thinking with regard to Bali.
“Singapore, Indonesia to Continue Discussions on Vaccinated Travel Lane” from The Straits Times: The foreign ministers of Singapore and Indonesia have agreed to continue discussions on a bilateral vaccinated travel lane, a day after Singapore announced that travellers from Indonesia could travel quarantine-free to the Republic from Nov 29. Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi met her Singaporean counterpart Vivian Balakrishnan in Singapore on Tuesday to discuss bilateral cooperation, particularly safe travel arrangements including through a VTL, Indonesia's Foreign Ministry said in a statement. Indonesia remains closed to general travel from Singapore. Transport Minister S. Iswaran on Monday said he hopes that Indonesia will soon reopen its borders to travellers from Singapore, noting it has already opened its borders to visitors from 19 countries.
Context: News of this broke yesterday, when announced by Singapore, but it appears the Indonesian authorities were not, and still are not, totally onboard.
“Severely Damaged, Canggu Shortcut to be Repaired” from Bali Express (Indonesian): The shortcut that connects Tibubeneng with Canggu will be replaced with hot mix asphalt. The head of Canggu, Nengah Lana, confirmed that the Canggu shortcut road was undergoing repairs because the condition of the road was badly damaged. According to him, the repair will use the budget from the Badung Regency Government in collaboration with donations from local entrepreneurs. The budget for the project is estimated at IDR 1.3 billion to IDR 1.5 billion. In addition to road maintenance, Lana hopes that the road will also be equipped with street lighting. The Head of PUPR Badung Regency, Ida Bagus Surya Suamba said in the future the road will be widened, however, the work will be carried out when the economy recovers.
Context: The notorious Canggu Shortcut is (to our knowledge) the only road in Indonesia with an Instagram account dedicated to it.
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Other Headlines
“Govt Strengthens Surveillance to Anticipate Covid Cases” from Antara: The Indonesian government has continued to strengthen surveillance in a bid to anticipate coronavirus infections, the COVID-19 Handling Task Force has affirmed. "The central government, in collaboration with the Health Office and Education Office in each region, continues to conduct surveillance, both active and passive, to anticipate (COVID-19) cases," spokesperson for the task force, Wiku Adisasmito, said on Tuesday. An increase in COVID-19 cases has been detected in 126 districts and cities in the country based on Health Ministry data. The finding of case increases in 126 districts and cities is based on epidemiological investigations from local health offices, he said. "Based on observations from the Ministry of Health, last week, there were 126 districts and cities with increasing cases, some of which had increased for three weeks in a row," he said.
Context: For more notes regarding the concerns out of Jakarta, see the comments by the Vice President in the Big News section above, and also the tightening of CHSE protocols in Bali story in the Bali Reopening section below. Overnight there were a number of stories covering increasing case loads in Europe (Indonesian) despite the relatively high level of vaccination there, and numerous stories reiterating government concern that domestic cases are increasing (Indonesian) in the lead up to a major holiday period.
Vaccination Update
“Govt Readies Scenario for Booster or Third Dose Vaccine” from Antara: The Ministry of Health has readied a scenario for the third dose or booster vaccine for preventing further transmission and lowering mortality among members of vulnerable groups exposed to COVID-19. The third dose or booster vaccine will be prioritized for health workers and elderly groups, COVID-19 vaccination spokesperson at the ministry, Siti Nadia Tarmizi, said on Tuesday. "The first (group) to be given the booster dose is health workers, while the second is the elderly," she said. Tarmizi revealed that the booster or third dose vaccine program will be implemented in January or February 2022.
Context: Other media reports have noted the booster shots will not be free for everyone (Indonesian).
More...
Nation: “Task Force Urges Regional Govts to Improve Vaccination Coverage” from Antara
Nation: “Health Ministry Believes 60% Vaccination Target Achievable by 2021-end” from Antara
Health Protocols (Prokes) & Health Services
“Children Must Get Complete Basic Immunization Before Covid Vaccination” from Antara: Health Ministry spokesperson for COVID-19 Vaccination, Siti Nadia Tarmizi, has advised parents to complete the basic immunization of children aged 6 to 11 while awaiting the launch of COVID-19 vaccinations for the age group. "Parents must complete their children's basic immunization while waiting for the COVID-19 vaccination," she said on Tuesday. Tarmizi revealed that many children have not completed routine immunizations, such as for measles, polio, and hepatitis, which need to be administered every year. "Routine immunization is an immunization that has been proven to provide protection to children. It is very important to have while waiting for COVID-19 vaccination for children," she said.
Context: This UNICEF report gives some detailed background on immunization programs for children in Indonesia (PDF).
More...
Nation: “Netherlands Donates Personal Protective Equipment to Indonesia” from Antara
Denpasar: “Judiciary Team Takes Action Against 37 Prokes Violators” from Antara Bali (Indonesian)
Jembrana: “Rapid Antigen Brokers in Gilimanuk Causing Disturbances Again” from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian)
Economy & Infrastructure
“e-Commerce Sellers in Bali Skyrocketed Since the Pandemic” from Bali Bisnis (Indonesian): The use of e-commerce platforms by business actors in Bali has increased during the Covid-19 pandemic, which is reflected in the increasing number of online sellers. Based on data from the Bali Representative Office of Bank Indonesia, the graph of e-commerce sellers in Bali has been observed to have increased since March 2020. The number of e-commerce sellers in Bali is also monitored to continue to increase graphically until August 2021, which reached 14,000 more than the original 4,000 sellers during normal conditions. As of August 2021, the nominal value of e-commerce seller transactions in Bali is in the range of IDR 250 billion, up from normal conditions which are around IDR 50 billion.
More...
Nation: “Indonesia to Invite Pacific Nations to G20” from The Jakarta Post (Metered Paywall)
Nation: “Minister Airlangga Asks IDX to Prepare Carbon Trading Mechanism” from Tempo
Klungkung: “Suwirta Regent Asks for Support for Waste Management in Nusa Penida” from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian)
Klungkung: “Bali Salt Must Enter Modern Market, Koster” from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian)
Education
“School Schedules in Mataram Will Soon Return to Normal” from Lombok Post (Indonesian): The Mataram City Education Office has prepared full or normal Face-to-face Learning as before the pandemic. "At the end of November, we will try to simulate a full PTM," said Head of the Mataram City Education Office, HL Fatwir Uzali. Even though the Covid-19 is currently dropping, the pandemic status has not been lifted. So that the limited PTM process in schools must still be implemented. Therefore, before opening a school normally, there needs to be a simulation first. "With simulation, what is the problem will be known. Suggestions from teachers, students, and guardians of students during the full PTM simulation, we will find a solution together," said the former head of SMAN 1 Mataram.
Bali Reopening
“Bali Tightens CHSE Protocols at 94 Tourist Attractions” from Antara: The Bali Tourism Office has prepared standard operating procedures to handle tourists in a number of tourism object areas in the province, acting head of the office, Tjok Bagus Pemayun, said in Denpasar, Tuesday. "The SOPs for foreign tourists when they arrive in Bali include checking of travel documents, vaccine certificates, undergoing PCR testing, then the foreign tourists will be taken to the hotel to isolate," he informed. Pemayun said his office has tightened the CHSE protocols in 94 tourism attractions that hold CHSE certification in a bid to prevent COVID-19 transmission. "The tightening of CHSE protocols in tourist attractions starts from the entrance gate: officers prepare hand washing equipment, body temperature checks for tourists, then tourists are required to scan the QR code for the PeduliLindungi application that has been installed at the tourist attraction," he said.
Context: These CHSE protocols are being tightened in an environment of all-time-low caseloads for 2021.
More...
“Dispar Asks Govt to Allow Foreign Tourists from America, Australia, Germany and England to Enter Bali” from JPNN (Indonesian)
Of Interest
“Adidas Apologizes Over Wayang Kulit Claim” from Coconuts Jakarta
“A 30-meter Long Gianyar Road Collapses 35 Meters” from Detik (Indonesian)
“Police Arrest 48 Foreigners for Alleged Dating App Extortion” from The Jakarta Globe
“West Wind Blows Trash onto Kuta Beach” from Nusa Bali (Indonesian)
“The Scavenger Who Cares for 56 Abandoned Dogs on Padanggalak Beach” from Kumparan (Indonesian)
“Hunting Birds, Men in Tabanan Find Body by Riverside” from Kumparan (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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