October 26, 2021
Government slashes PCR cost to IDR 300,000 + Luhut calls out Bali bars for ignoring prokes + Mandatory PCR tests to be expanded beyond flights + more
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Daily Covid Update
National Figures
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The Big News
“Government Slashes PCR Test Cost to IDR 300,000” from The Jakarta Globe: President Joko Widodo has urged a further reduction in PCR test cost amid mounting pressures from air passengers who are obliged to undergo the Covid-19 diagnostic test. The president wanted PCR test cost to be reduced to Rp 300,000 and that the diagnostic results are valid for three days, a senior minister said on Monday. The government has no intention to scrap PCR test requirement for air travelers in the near future.
Context: There has been considerable pushback against the mandatory PCR test for flying, both in regard to the cost and the time required. Politicians have voiced repeated concerns about the risks of a new variant entering Bali (Indonesian).
“Luhut Says Many Balinese Bars Violate Prokes” from Detik (Indonesian): The PPKM coordinator for Java-Bali Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said that bars and cafes in Bali often violate health protocols. The Head of Law Enforcement and Disciplinary Affairs of the COVID-19 Mitigation Task Force, I Dewa Nyoman Rai Dharmadi, said on Monday that managers of these bars and cafes were gathered to share perceptions so that they have the same understanding in maintaining a conducive situation in Bali. Dewa Dharmadi did not dare to confirm that there were no violations of health protocols in the entertainment venues, bars and cafes. He admitted that he would continue to observe the implementation of the prokes. "In some bars, visitors are allowed to take pictures and videos (but) not so they don't get caught," Luhut said on Monday.
“Mandatory PCR for Airplane Passengers to Anticipate Spike in Cases” from VOA Indonesia: Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan answered the flood of criticism regarding the implementation of the PCR test for air transport. He said this policy was carried out to balance the relaxation on community activities, especially in the tourism sector. Not only for airplanes, the PCR test will also be applied gradually to other modes of transportation. Epidemiologist from Australia's Griffith University, Dicky Budiman, said that the potential for transmission on airplanes was the lowest compared to other modes of transportation. According to him, it doesn't make sense if the PCR test is mandatory for airplane passengers. "For continuity, as well as consistency in risk-based strategies, antigen is sufficient," he said.
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Other Headlines
“Widodo Calls for ASEAN Travel Corridor to Bolster Recovery” from AP: President Joko Widodo has urged Southeast Asian countries to speed up plans to create a regional travel corridor to help revive tourism and speed up a recovery from the economic damage of the pandemic. Widodo said on Monday that the level of restrictions in Southeast Asia was the highest in the world. With coronavirus cases in ASEAN now declining, those limits should be eased to allow people to travel more freely, he said. “With the COVID-19 situation getting more under control, these restrictions could be eased, mobility could be relaxed, while also ensuring that it’s safe from the risk of the pandemic,” he said.
Context: Despite the President’s calls for travel corridors, travel into Bali, even domestically, remains challenging according to the Jakarta Post.
Vaccination Update
“Mass Vaccination Becomes Nation's Efforts to End Pandemic” from Antara: Mass COVID-19 vaccination and community discipline in implementing health protocols have become the nation's all-out efforts to end the pandemic, President Joko Widodo said on Monday. As of this Monday, Indonesia had obtained hundreds of millions of doses of vaccine, in raw and finished form. The vaccine is obtained through direct cooperation, cooperation with world institutions, as well as assistance from friendly countries. President Jokowi showed data on the acquisition of COVID-19 vaccines by Indonesia until October 4, reaching 280,527,920 doses. This figure comprises 219,676,280 doses of Sinovac vaccine, 28,190,720 AstraZeneca vaccine doses, 8,450,000 Sinopharm vaccine doses, 8,000,160 Moderna vaccine doses, and 15,710,760 Pfizer vaccine doses.
More ...
Nation: “Mataram Police Force to Offer Prizes During Mass Vaccination” from Antara
Karangasem: “Karangasem Combing Residents Who Have Not Participated in Vaccination” from Bali Express (Indonesian)
Health Protocols (Prokes) & Health Services
“Indonesia Confirms Rise in Covid-19 Cases Within Who Safe Limit” from Antara: Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin has confirmed that the number of COVID-19 confirmed cases in Indonesia has shown an increase in the last two weeks. "We have observed that there have been 105 districts/cities across 34 provinces in Indonesia which have started to show a rise in COVID-19 cases in the past two weeks," he said on Monday. Since July 2021, the number of positive COVID-19 cases in all regions in Indonesia had tended to decline, he noted. However, recently, infections have increased again, but fortunately, they are still within the safe limit set by the WHO, the minister said. Indonesia added 460 COVID-19 confirmed cases and 30 deaths on Monday, taking the total confirmed cases to more than 4.2 million and the total deaths to more than 143,000.
More...
Nation: “Changes in Govt Policies Due to Covid Situation” from Antara
Nation: “Indonesia Finalizing Agreement on Procurement of COVID-19 drugs” from Antara
Economy & Infrastructure
“Communication Ministry Urges Operators to Ensure Users' Data Safety” from Antara: The Communication and Informatics Ministry has urged Electronic System Operators to pay more attention to the security of systems and user data following recent reports of alleged personal data leaks. "We ask all PSEs to pay attention to system security and data security by improving three aspects," Communications and Informatics Ministry Spokesperson Dedy Permadi said on Monday. Furthermore, he reminded PSEs that operators proven to be careless, negligent, or involved in personal data leaks will invite sanctions, according to Government Regulation Number 71/2019 concerning the Implementation of Electronic Systems and Transactions.
Context: The National Cyber and Encryption Agency’s website was apparently hacked yesterday.
More ...
Nation: “Ministry to Issue Decision on BPJS Data Leak Soon” from Antara
Nation: “Indonesian Economy Records 3.1% Growth as of Q3” from Antara
Province: “Facilitating Market Access for Bali MSMEs' Innovative Products” from Antara
Buleleng: “Grilled Coconut Business is Promising During the Pandemic” from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian)
Education
“Thirty Schools Damaged in Bali Quake” from Radar Bali (Indonesian): An earthquake with a magnitude of 4.8 that rocked Karangasem district some time ago caused thousands of buildings to be lightly, moderately to severely damaged. Apart from houses and public facilities, schools were also reported to have been damaged. However, the damage to the school building was not heavy. In Ban Village, which was the most affected by the earthquake, out of eight existing elementary schools, only five schools were lightly to moderately damaged. From the records of the Karangasem Youth and Sports Education Office, a total of 30 elementary schools were reported to have suffered minor, moderate to severe damage due to the earthquake. This happens in all of Karangaem District.
Bali Reopening
“Bali Tourism Board Proposes PCR for Airplane Passengers be Abolished” from Radar Bali (Indonesian): Chairman of the Bali Tourism Board Ida Bagus Agung Partha Adnyana proposed that the PCR requirements for airline passengers or airplanes arriving and leaving Bali be changed and removed. "Our proposal is that people only get vaccinated twice. And enough antigen. Let Bali recover quickly," said Agung Partha Adnyana on Monday. "Ideally, Bali gets 10,000, which is very good. Normally, 15,000. 10,000 is very good. Now it's 6,000 if I'm not mistaken. With the implementation of PCR, it reduces 40% of domestic arrivals," he said.
More...
Gianyar: “Bali Safari Hopes the Mandatory PCR Policy Is Reviewed” from Bali Express (Indonesian)
“Complaints About Quarantine and PCR for Tourists, Head of Bali Health Office Responds” from Radar Bali (Indonesian): The decision to impose quarantine for foreign tourists and PCR for domestic tourists has caused complaints and protests from tourism actors saying because with these two policies, Bali will be slow to recover. Responding to complaints and protests from a number of tourism actors, the Head of the Bali Province Health Service, dr. Ketut Suarjaya disagrees. "It's better to stay in quarantine," said Dr. Suarjaya on Monday. The basic reason is that his party is worried that loosening the requirements without quarantine or PCR could trigger the entry of new variant viruses into Bali.
Of Interest
“Jakarta Students Climb 35 Mountains in Indonesia” from Antara Bali (Indonesian)
“One Killed and Another Missing After They Were Swept by Wave in Nusa Penida” from Coconuts Bali
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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