October 28, 2021
People urged not to return home over holiday period + Ministry bans expensive quick PCR tests + 5-day quarantine for returning Indonesians restated + more
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Weather & Tides
Today’s Weather for Southern Bali
Today’s Tides
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Daily Covid Update
National Figures
Local Figures
The Big News
“Muhadjir urges residents not to return to their village” from Liputan 6 (Indonesian): The government has canceled joint leave at the end of 2021, which coincides with the Christmas and New Year holidays. Learning from previous experiences, long holidays have the potential to increase mobility, which is feared this year-end holiday will bring the third wave of COVID-19. The Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture of the Republic of Indonesia, Muhadjir Effendy, explained that the policy was only carried out to limit the movement of people who were more massive before the year-end holidays. Policies also require more massive socialization to the community carried out by the police, transportation services, and the mass media. This needs to be done so that the community is more understanding of the existing situation and is not desperate to violate it.
Context: Attempts in the past to limit or ban regional travel as people head home over holiday periods have been of limited effectiveness.
“Health Ministry Bans COVID-19 PCR Tests on Hourly Basis Service” from Tempo: The Health Ministry’s Director General of Health Services Abdul Kadir announced that the new price ceiling of the polymerase chain reaction swab test or PCR test will take effect starting Wednesday, October 27. The government decided that the new maximum tariff of the COVID-19 test at Rp275,000 for Java and Bali regions and Rp300,000 for outside Java and Bali. He emphasized that the ministry also bars laboratories offering test services with results coming out within hours. “We do not allow and justify any price above the price ceiling for whatever reason, including that the results can be obtained in one, two, or three hours,” Kadir said.
Context: This ban on the “quick turnaround for an additional fee” PCR tests closes a loophole after a cap on PCR test pricing wet set earlier in the week.
“5-day Quarantine Mandatory for Indonesians Returning From Abroad” from Antara: All Indonesians traveling abroad will need to undergo a five-day quarantine upon their return to Indonesia, the COVID-19 Response Task Force has said. “They all must be quarantined,” coordinator of the expert team and spokesperson for COVID-19 handling, Wiku Adisasmito, said on Tuesday. Among Indonesians traveling abroad is Indonesia's U-23 national football team that is competing in Tajikstan for the U-23 Asian Cup qualification round, he informed. The compulsory quarantine for international travelers has been stipulated in Circular No. 20/2021 on Health Protocols for International Travelers during the COVID-19 pandemic, he informed.
Context: This announcement coincides with the case of Rachel Vennya, a personality who allegedly influenced her way out of quarantine, and whose situation appears to be progressing towards an investigation (Indonesian).
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Other Headlines
“Central Government Spending in Bali Reaches 70.36%” from Bisnis Bali (Indonesian): Central government spending in the province of Bali until the third quarter of 2021 has reached IDR 16.4 trillion or 70.36% of the set budget ceiling. Head of the Regional Office of the Director General of the Treasury for Bali, Teguh Dwi Nugroho, said that the central government's spending in Bali over the past five years has tended to increase. The increase in central government spending that began in 2017 is in line with efforts to encourage the realization of the APBN. The decline in central government spending in Bali only occurred in 2020 due to the Covid-19 disruption which made the budget focused on prevention and control of Covid-19.
Vaccination Update
“Private Sector Asked to Take on Vaccination Role Outside Java-Bali” from Merdeka: President Joko Widodo has instructed all relevant parties to increase vaccination outside Java and Bali. This is because of the 27 provinces outside Java-Bali, only 5 provinces have achieved the first dose of vaccination above the national average, namely Riau Islands, Bangka Belitung Islands, North Kalimantan, East Kalimantan and North Sulawesi. Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga said 22 provinces outside the 5 provinces were still below the national level. In an effort to boost vaccination distribution, the government also hopes for support from business actors or private corporations.
Health Protocols (Prokes) & Health Services
“22 Suspects of Counterfeit Vaccine Certificates in Bali Immediately to Trial” from Detik (Indonesian): The Karangasem District Attorney's Office in Bali has received 22 suspects and evidence from the case of counterfeiting vaccine certificates. This case will soon be transferred to the Amlapura District Court for trial. "Yesterday the prosecutor at the Karangasem District Prosecutor's Office received phase two in the case of vaccine counterfeiting from Karangasem Police investigators," said Kasipidum Erwin Rionaldy Koloway, through the Head of Intelligence at the Karangasem Kejari, I Dewa Gede Semara Putra, on Wednesday. The 22 suspects are divided into five case files and have been detained in detention houses for 20 days.
More...
Nation: “Physical Fitness of Most Indonesian Students Is Still Low” from Antara
Nation: “Public Behavior, New Variant Determine Third Wave” from Antara
Buleleng: “Only Two Patients Remain in Isoter Jinengdalem” from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian)
Economy & Infrastructure
“Stakeholders Urged to Help Salvage Garuda Indonesia” from Antara: A lawmaker made an earnest request to stakeholders to rescue Garuda Indonesia from the threat of bankruptcy. It is necessary to find the best solution to save Garuda by injecting capital into it and helping find a way out of its debts, among others, member of the House of Representatives' Commission VI, Herman Khaeron, said on Wednesday. Khaeron believes Garuda Indonesia can still be rescued if the COVID-19 pandemic is over. “If the situation returns to normal following the pandemic, then Garuda will be able to improve its performance and cover its liabilities,” he stated. Garuda reported losses to the tune of some $2 billion in 2020, with its short-term liabilities of $3.4 billion.
Context: This (hard-paywalled) story from last week’s Australian Financial Review offers some depth to the challenges faced by the carrier.
More ...
Nation: “Pelita Air Must Consolidate by Serving Pioneer Flights” from Antara
Nation: “Indonesia Will Eliminate Extreme Poverty by 2024” from Antara
Nation: “Preserving Indonesia's Mangroves to Nurture Blue Carbon Potential” from Antara
Nation: “Gov't Reaffirms Commitment to Energy Transition” from The Jakarta Globe
Nation: “Halal Industry Plays Strategic Role in National Economy” from Antara
Education
“Parents Expect Face-to-face to Take Place 100%” from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian): Some parents really hope that face-to-face learning can be carried out 100%. Parents of students assessed that the 50% PTN policy was considered burdensome for parents when picking up their children. “It's all bearable, in the morning I pick up the children, pick up at 10, deliver, then pick up again in the afternoon. I can't work," explained one of the parents on Wednesday. The parents also explained that at this time the free student transportation had not yet operated, so the transportation of the parents' children became a burden. Considering that some of the parents have two to three school children. "Our hope is that 100% of face-to-face learning can be done, so we can deliver in the morning and pick up in the afternoon," he hoped.
Bali Reopening
“Australian Border Openings Boost Demand for Flights” from Reuters: Australia’s planned reopening of state and international borders has led to a surge in flight searches and bookings, Virgin Australia and travel website Skyscanner said on Wednesday. Demand for flights to New Zealand were up by nearly 100% and for the Indonesian island of Bali by 217%, though quarantines remain in place in those destinations. Skyscanner said international flight search volumes from Australia had jumped 128% in the month since the government said fully vaccinated citizens and permanent residents would be able to leave the country without special permission from November.
Context: There have been a flurry of news stories out of Australia over the last couple of days offering cheap flights to Bali, many “scheduled” for 2023 and subject to regulatory approval. With no flights into Bali yet to be approved, the situation remains fluid.
More...
Province: “PHRI Asks for Domestic Visits Not to be Complicated” from Radar Bali (Indonesian)
Of Interest
“Breaking Into a Foreign Resident's Villa, Returns to Be Arrested” from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian)
“Men Dragged and Beaten by a Car” from Detik (Indonesian)
“Affected by the Covid-19 Pandemic, Suparta Focuses on Bamboo Crafts” from Radar Bali (Indonesian)
“Swiss Man Become Fish Trader in Java” from Suara Bali (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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