October 29, 2021
Indonesia weighs holiday risks + Tourists to increase over Christmas/New Year + Booster shots start next year + more
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Daily Covid Update
National Figures
Local Figures
The Big News
“Indonesia Warily Weighs Holiday Travel With Virus Concerns” from AP: After seeing infection and death rates soar in July and August, officials said this week they are sticking to plans to allow travel with some limitations. They expect nearly 20 million people to vacation in the popular islands of Java and Bali. After announcing that year-end travel would be permitted, the government on Wednesday cancelled the Christmas Eve holiday in an effort to discourage vacationing somewhat. The cancellation of the Dec 24 holiday prompted cries of protest from the nation’s Christian minority, highlighting the challenge of balancing safety restrictions with individual freedoms. Indonesia’s vaccination rate is low compared to others in the region. About 25% of Indonesian’s eligible population has been fully vaccinated, compared to 73% in Malaysia, 80% in Singapore, and even 41% in Thailand where the vaccine rollout was plagued with early delays.
Context: As of yesterday, Indonesia’s fully vaccinated rate was 34.34%. The full AP story echoes a number long-held concerns that Indonesia’s historic case load may have been far higher than reported, and emphasizes the need for all to remain vigilant.
“Tourists to Bali Predicted to Increase at Christmas and New Year” from Jawapos (Indonesian): The Denpasar City Government predicts that tourist visits to Bali, especially for holidays in Denpasar, will increase as Christmas and New Year's Eve 2022 approaches. "The surge did not only occur in domestic tourists, but also foreign tourists," said Deputy Mayor of Denpasar I Kadek Agus Arya Wibawa on Thursday. "We had discussions with stakeholders and it is predicted that there will be a surge in tourist visits ahead of Christmas and New Year because there is already an open border for foreign tourists," added Arya Wibawa. He added that the current leading tourist destination is Nusa Penida.
Context: See the Bali reopening section below for the latest update regarding Bali’s airport and no international flights.
“Booster Shots to Be Rolled Out for Public in March Next Year” from The Jakarta Post (Metered Paywall): The government is pushing through with a plan to roll out COVID-19 vaccine booster shots for the public early next year, as it looks to conclude a procurement drive that will see it get hold of enough doses to fully inoculate its target population of 208 million by year’s end. After the lengthy back-and-forth process of bilateral and multilateral procurements, Indonesia is expected to get a total of 448 million doses of various COVID-19 vaccines by the end of the year, which is more than enough to reach its targeted coverage.
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Other Headlines
“Bali's Deputy Governor Asks Bars to Obey Prokes” from Detik (Indonesian): Deputy Governor of Bali Tjokorda Oka Artha Ardhana Sukawati asked bar and restaurant entrepreneurs in Bali to maintain health protocols. The request was made because Cok Ace admitted that he was often sent photos of violations by the central government. "I beg my friends who are engaged in the bar and restaurant business together, to take care of (prokes)," said Cok Ace on Thursday. Cok Ace also asked the Civil Service Police Unit, both the Bali Province and districts and cities, to enforce regional regulations.
Vaccination Update
“Some 116.62 Million Indonesians Received First Covid-19 Vaccine Dose” from Antara: 116.62 million Indonesians have received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine as of Thursday, according to data provided by the COVID-19 Handling Task Force. According to the task force's latest data, the number of people administered the first dose rose by 1,117,757 to reach 116,620,281 on Thursday. Meanwhile, the number of people, who were fully vaccinated against COVID-19, or those who had received the second dose of vaccination rose by 986,251. With that addition, 71,099,868 people were fully vaccinated in total as of Thursday. As per data, the number of the third dose or 'booster' vaccine recipients, mainly health workers, rose by 2,899 to touch 1,110,323, it stated. The Indonesian government has targeted to inoculate 208,265,720 citizens in a bid to achieve herd immunity.
More ...
Nation: “Indonesia 'eager' to Start Vaccinating Children as Young as Five” from The Jakarta Post (Metered Paywall)
Nation: “Ministry Lauds BPJS Kesehatan App for Supporting Vaccination Effort” from Antara
Health Protocols (Prokes) & Health Services
“Bali Deputy Governor Warns Against Inflating PCR Test Price” from Antara: Bali's Deputy Governor Tjokorda Oka Artha Ardhana Sukawati has warned facilities providing COVID-19 PCR tests against inflating their price, which has been capped by the Health Ministry at Rp275,000 for Java and Bali regions. "It is important for us now to ensure that all parties adhere to the new regulation and not inflate the price," he said on Thursday. Sukawati lauded the price limit reduction saying it would make PCR tests more affordable for prospective tourists. He said it would be a relief for Bali province, which is currently making efforts to revive its tourism industry from the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. "An easier and more affordable test would be a relief for the tourism industry, and I hope this situation will continue further," he said.
More...
Province: “Deputy Governor Concerned About Number of Street Working Children” from Kumparan (Indonesian)
Economy & Infrastructure
“Businesses in Seminyak Charged With Security Fees” from Radar Bali (Indonesian): Seminyak Indigenous Village issued Decree Number: 086/DAS/X/2021 concerning Elikita Punia for the Security of Entrepreneurs in the Seminyak Traditional Village. This Decree dated October 11 imposes a security fee for entrepreneurs of a minimum of IDR 100,000 to a maximum of IDR 3 million. Seminyak Indigenous Bendesa I Wayan Windu Segara did not deny the matter, "Obviously we don't have any illegal fees. What is meant by illegal levies, we collect and then enter our own pockets. While this is certain, we are collecting on the basis of the yield. We collect it, then where will the money go, that's clear," said Windu Segara on Wednesday. "What is clear is that we make a price first, later there will be an offer. But even that offer must be clear. If it is closed, then a letter must be written to the village that it is closed. If there is no income, it must also be clear in writing asking for relief. in the village can still talk. We do not force, "he said.
More ...
Nation: “NTB Accelerates the Realization of Rooftop Power Plants” from Bisnis Bali (Indonesian)
Bali Reopening
“No Foreign Airlines Have Proposed a Time Slot” from Nusa Bali (Indonesian): Exactly two weeks after international flights from I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport in Bali reopened on October 14, there has not been a single international airline landing on the runway of Bali's I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport. In fact, so far there has not been a single airline that has proposed a flight time slot to the airport that was once asked to be the second busiest airport in Indonesia. This was conveyed by the Stakeholder Relations Manager of PT Angkasa Pura I Airport I Gusti Ngurah Rai, Taufan Yudhistira, on Thursday. "There are at least three agencies they need to write to from the Ministry of Transportation, IASM, then from AP I, especially the destination airport. After that, we just have to wait for approval from there," explained Taufan. Furthermore, he added, it would take at least 7-14 days from registering to getting approval to fly.
More...
Province: “IHGMA Records 1,596 Cancellations of Stays in Bali” from Tribun Bali (Indonesian)
“PCR Test Validity Period for Air Passengers Now 3x24 Hours” from Antara: The COVID-19 Handling Task Force has increased the validity period of PCR tests for domestic air travelers to 3x24 hours. "The result of PCR test which was previously valid for 2 x 24 hours has changed to 3 x 24 hours," head of the health handling division of the COVID-19 Handling Task Force, Brigadier General (Ret.) Alexander Ginting, said on Thursday. "The policy is based on inputs and evaluations regarding the limited PCR test kits outside Java and Bali," Ginting said. He explained that changes were made to the "protocol section number 3 item c.bis" with the addition of a choice of 1x24 hour rapid antigen testing requirements, besides the 3x24 hour RT-PCR result for inter-district or inter-city trips outside Java and Bali. He assured the policy on antigen test requirements for domestic travelers has not changed.
Weekend Reads
“Indigenous Group Faces Eviction for Tourism Project in Sumatra” from Mongabay
“Inside the Thai Temple Where Tattoos Come to Life” from The New York Times (Metered Paywall)
Of Interest
“Singapore's ICU Utilization Rate Nearing 80% as Covid-19 Surges” from The Jakarta Post (Metered Paywall)
“Basarnas Bali Finds Oil Spill Allegedly From Km Liberty 1” from Antara Bali (Indonesian)
“September Shipwreck on Jungutbatu Reef, Ship Owner Warned Again” from Bali Puspa News (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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