October 12, 2021
Foreigners who violate health protocols risk deportation + No Bali reopening hotel bookings so far + 18 nationalities welcomed to Bali + more
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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
“Foreign Tourists Violating Health Protocols May Be Deported” from Tempo: Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Uno asserted that tourists on Bali must comply with the Covid-19 health protocols. “The health protocols for foreign tourists is non-negotiable. If there is a violation, we will impose sanctions in stages, which leads to deportation,” said Sandiaga on Monday. Bali will reopen its doors to international tourists starting October 14 and earlier this week Sandiaga claimed the preparations for Bali’s reopening were at 90%. “We are really all out for this. We don’t want this baby step to be a trigger for the surge in new cases of COVID-19, what with the new variants,” he said.
Context: This deportation sanction is not new and some foreigners have been deported in the past for health protocol violations. This is though the first time we have seen it mentioned by a minister in some time. We last covered it in The Bali Beat on September 7, then related to foreigners having mask-less parties.
“Ahead of Bali’s Reopening There Are No Bookings” from Bali Express (Indonesian): Ahead of the opening of international tourism on October 14, Deputy Head of Culture, Environment and Public Relations of the Regional Governing Body of the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association Bali, I Gusti Ngurah Rai Suryawijaya said that there had been no incoming bookings from the five targeted countries. According to him, this is due to the policy of having to quarantine for eight days upon arrival of foreign tourists in Bali. "No, no one has booked," he said on Monday. "We compete with other countries. Now, for example, if you go to Bali for eight days or five days, if you go to Thailand without quarantine, it's better to go to Thailand, right?" he said.
Context: On Monday night, Thailand announced it was reopening on November 1 with no quarantine requirements for fully-vaccinated travellers from ten nations.
“Visitors From 18 Countries Can Visit Indonesia“ from Antara: Travelers from 18 countries will be allowed to enter Indonesia once international flights to Bali reopen on October 14, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said on Monday. These countries will be listed in the Instruction of the Home Affairs Ministry, which will be released soon, he said. Although he did not mention the other countries, he said that Singapore has been excluded from the list. The decision was made because Singapore has not met the level 1 and 2 standards, in accordance with WHO provisions, he said.
Context: Bali Deputy Governor Tjokorda Oka Artha Ardhana has been quoted as saying he is hoping for 1,000 to 1,500 foreigners to arrive per day (Indonesian).
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Other Headlines
“No Significant Spike in Covid-19 Cases During Papua PON“ from Antara: The Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, claimed the 20th National Sports Week (PON) 2021 in Papua has so far not caused any significant spike in coronavirus cases. “During PON, there has been no significant spike in COVID-19 cases throughout the event,” he said on Monday.
Context: Also on Monday, Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said 83 cases were detected at the games, noting that virus transmission occurred in their lodging rooms as each held four people and participants often ate together.
Vaccination Update
“Elderly Vaccinations to Be Completed Before Christmas, New Year“ from Antara: COVID-19 vaccinations for the elderly will be accelerated ahead of Christmas and New Year, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, said. "To anticipate Christmas and New Year (spikes in COVID-19), the vaccination rate for the elderly needs to be continuously pursued, especially in agglomeration areas and centers of economic growth," he said on Monday. The one-dose vaccination rate among the elderly in Java and Bali has reached 40% as of October 10, an increase of 8% since September 13, or when the vaccination requirements began to be established, he said.
Context: Don’t forget, you can follow Bali’s vaccination progress in the Bali Beat Sunday evening edition.
More...
Nation: “Indonesia, Serbia to Mutually Recognize Vaccine Certificates” from Antara
Nation: “Those With Sinovac Vaccines Require Booster Shot to Enter Saudi” from Coconuts Jakarta
Health Protocols (Prokes) & Health Services
“Covid-19 Centralized Isolation Only 8% Full” from Republika (Indonesian): The Bali Province Covid-19 Handling Task Force noted that on Sunday, the centralized isolation area for COVID-19 sufferers with mild symptoms and people without symptoms was at only 8.56% of capacity. "Of the total centralized isolation capacity of 4,570 beds, 391 beds (8.56%) are occupied and the remaining or unused are 4,179 beds (91.44%)," said the Secretary of the Bali Province Covid-19 Handling Task Force, I Made Rentin, on Monday. He said of the 736 active cases of Covid-19, 391 people were undergoing treatment in a centralized isolation area, while 184 others were being treated at a referral hospital, and the remaining 161 people were undergoing independent isolation.
More...
Nation: “Health Minister Attributes Dropping COVID-19 Cases to People’s Immunity” from Tempo
Nation: “Indonesia Records Good Covid-19 Recovery Index But Not in Fatality Rate” from Tempo
Province: “Two Bali Regencies Report No New Cases” from Bali Post (Indonesian)
Klungkung: “Klungkung Police Distributes Thousands of Free Masks Daily” from Radar Bali (Indonesian)
Economy & Infrastructure
“Hopes for Increased Demand for Security Services” from Tribun Bali (Indonesian): The chairman of the Association of Indonesian Security Service Business Entities Bali, I Nyoman Sutapa, on Monday said they hope the opening of flights in Bali will lead to an increase in demand for security services because a number of tourism accommodations have reopened. "Our hope is very high because with the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic that has occurred in almost two years, tourism is now starting to rise again," said Sutapa. As for the number of Security Service Business Entities operating in Bali, he said there are 94 BUJPs that have their own markets. His party admitted they always synergize with the Indonesian National Police as an official law enforcement agency. "We work together on security," he said.
More...
Nation: “Batik Expected to Be Symbol of Economic Recovery” from Antara
Province: “Bali's Trade Balance Remains in Surplus” from Bisnis Bali (Indonesian)
Badung: “Greenzone Villas, This is What Badung DPRD Says” from Berita Bali (Indonesian)
Gianyar: “Customary Land Certification Meeting in Gianyar Ends in Chaos” from iNews Bali (Indonesian)
Education
“Random Rapid Antigen Testing For PTM Students and Teachers in Denpasar” from Tribun Bali (Indonesian): Face-to-face Learning Participants in Denpasar will undergo a rapid test by sampling. This was stated by the Head of the Denpasar City Disdikpora Middle School Education, AA Gede Wiratama, on Monday. "Yes, there will be a random test from the ministry. Later, the regional lab will sample and all must have representatives from four sub-districts," said Wiratama. He said that every school appointed as a sample would have 10% of its students tested. Teachers will also be tested.
More...
Nation: “NTT Governor: Ensure Prokes With School Face-to-face” from Republika (Indonesian)
Bali Reopening
“Government Sets Entry Requirements on Foreigners Coming to Bali” from Antara: The Indonesian Government has listed a number of entry requirements that foreign tourists seeking to enter Bali Province will need to fulfil. They must be coming from a country with a positivity rate below 5%, have negative results of a RT-PCR test, have received the second COVID-19 dose at least 14 days before departure, have health insurance with a minimum value of $100,000, and have proof of payment for accommodation. Upon arrival, they must fill out the health card in the PeduliLindungi app and do a RT-PCR test at their own expense. If the result is negative, they can self-isolate in their hotel that has been reserved for five days. On the fourth evening, they will need to do another RT-PCR test. If the result is negative, they will be allowed to end quarantine.
Context: There are conflicting stories regarding the status of Bali’s quarantine, with Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Uno saying on Monday the five day quarantine has not been finalised, while Bali’s Deputy Governor, on the same day, confirmed the quarantine period will be five days (Indonesian). The hotel lobby meanwhile are still asking for three days (Indonesian). Bali’s airport is due to open in two days time.
More ...
Province: “Tourism Brings Few Benefits to Balinese Residents, Investors Enjoy” from Detik Bali (Indonesian)
“No Submissions for International Flights to Bali” from Bali Prawara (Indonesian): Ahead of the opening of international flights at I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport, as of Monday, no airline has submitted an international flight slot. Stakeholder Relations Manager of PT Angkasa Pura I, I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport, Taufan Yudhistira, said that the slot submission cannot be predicted. "We are still waiting for regulations. Whether it's from the Ministry of Transportation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Health, it's still not there," he said on Monday.
Of Interest
“Dozens of Teens and Stupid Motorcycles Seized” from Radar Bali (Indonesian)
“Ready Since 1950's, Quality Spices For Consumers” from Bali Express (Indonesian)
“Kerobokan Jail Escapee Shot in Leg, Arrested” from Antara Bali (Indonesian)
“Ferry Runs Aground in Bali Strait” from Radar Bali (Indonesian)
“BKSDA Bali Moves Siamang Animals to Rehabilitation Center” from Republika (Indonesian)
How You Can Help Bali
In response to the collapse of the tourism sector in Bali and the resulting economic crisis due to Covid19, tens of thousands of families have found themselves with a greatly reduced income—if any. By the middle of 2020, over 100,000 people on Bali had lost their job. While government support has been limited, Indonesians and foreigners have sprung into action, raising funds and distributing badly needed food and everyday essentials to those most in need.
We've been raising awareness of these efforts, and if you’d like to make a contribution of any kind, you can see a list of some organisations here. Further projects have registered themselves with Bali Solidarity. If you know of an effort and would like to have them listed, please send their information to TheBaliBeat@outlanders.global
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