October 4, 2021
UK to remove Indonesia from Red List + Covid risk level reduced to yellow in all regencies + Pandemic fuels medical waste problem + more
Good morning!
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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
NOTE: Bali’s new cases continue to fall, albeit at a slowing rate. The seven-day average for new cases is the lowest it has been since June 20. Yesterday’s three deaths was the lowest number of deaths in Bali since June 30, when no deaths were recorded. The 810 cases in treatment is the lowest since 22 June. In case you missed it, check out Sunday’s update for a summary of last week’s overall totals, including an update on the island’s vaccination program, with perspective on how they stack up against previous weeks.
The Big News
“UK To Remove Indonesia From Red List” from VOI Indonesia: Britain will remove Indonesia from the travel red list in October. It is no longer mandatory to quarantine in hotels for 10 days for people arriving from Indonesia who have been vaccinated with a full dose of anti-COVID-19 vaccines. In addition to Indonesia, the countries that will be removed from the list of mandatory COVID-19 quarantines include South Africa, Brazil and Mexico. Such a policy change will be announced on Thursday 7 October and is likely to result in a surge in bookings for flights and tours. The number of countries on the UK's "red list" of destinations will be slashed from 54 to just nine.
“All Bali Regencies in Yellow Zone” from Nusa Bali (Indonesian): The Bali Province Covid-19 Handling Task Force reminded the local community not to be euphoric and negligent with health protocols, even though all regencies/cities on Bali have a yellow zone status. "The yellow zone or low risk does not mean that Bali is safe or free from Covid-19. Therefore, don't be negligent or even neglect the health protocols," said Secretary of the Bali Province Covid-19 Task Force I Made Rentin, on Saturday. "The public is welcome to do activities, but of course they must remain obedient and adhere to health protocols," said Rentin.
“Indonesia’s Pandemic-fuelled Problem: Medical Waste” from Aljazeera: Indonesia’s waste management system is a major concern among environmentalists. The country has more than 400 landfills on almost 9,000 hectares of land. The practice of dumping waste in open landfills without proper management, has created mountains of rubbish as high as 40 metres in another of Jakarta’s landfills – Bantar Gebang. Built in the 1980s, each day it receives an estimated 7,500 tonnes of waste. It is predicted it will reach its capacity in 2021, according to the Regional Development and Planning Agency. But you don’t have to go to a landfill to clearly see that the country is struggling with the amount of medical waste being generated. Discarded masks on the streets are now a common sight.
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Other Headlines
“Global Covid-19 Deaths Hit 5 Million” from Reuters: Worldwide deaths related to COVID-19 surpassed 5 million on Friday, with unvaccinated people particularly exposed to the virulent Delta strain. The variant has exposed the wide disparities in vaccination rates between rich and poor nations, and the upshot of vaccine hesitancy in some western nations. More than half of all global deaths reported on a seven-day average were in the United States, Russia, Brazil, Mexico and India. While it took just over a year for the COVID-19 death toll to hit 2.5 million, the next 2.5 million deaths were recorded in just under eight months. There has been increasing focus in recent days on getting vaccines to poorer nations, where many people are yet to receive a first dose, even as their richer counterparts have begun giving booster shots.
Vaccination Update
“Indonesia Receives 800,000 Doses of Pfizer from USA” from Tribun Bali (Indonesian): Indonesia has received vaccine assistance from the US government through the COVAX Facility. The 84th stage of the vaccine that arrived Sunday totaled 800,280 doses of finished Pfizer vaccine. "With the arrival of the 84th stage of the vaccine, the vaccines that arrived in the country reached 276,960,670 doses," said Director General of Information and Public Communication of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology Usman Kansong on Sunday.
Health Protocols (Prokes) & Health Services
“PeduliLindungi Required For Sunrise and Sanur beaches” from Nusa Bali (Indonesian): Visitors to Sunrise Beach and Sanur Beach are required to use the PeduliLindungi app, as a condition for entering these beach tourist destinations. "The procurement of supporting tools for the implementation of the QR Code for the app has been ongoing since last Friday," explained the Head of the Coastal and Segara Baga Unit, Utsaha Padruwen, Sanur Kaja Traditional Village, I Wayan Umbara, on Friday. "So if tourists are crowded, parking attendants approach the driver to do a scan," they said. Traders have also been asked to have the app, so they can scan as a condition for entering. "For traders, we give a little tolerance, by giving directions and appeals. Because these beach tourist destinations are places to make a living for traders," he said.
More...
Nation: “Demand for Boosters Rise as Restrictions Ease” from The Jakarta Post (Metered Paywall)
Badung: “Bali Head of Transportation Promises Evaluation of Odd-Even Rules” from Nusa Bali (Indonesian)
Economy & Infrastructure
“Ngurah Rai Airport Serves 234,000 Passengers in September” from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian): During the period of September I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport served 234,939 passengers and 2,040 aircraft. This figures when compared to the previous August 2021 period, saw an increase of 161% and 90% respectively. General Manager of PT Angkasa Pura I, I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport, Herry AY Sikado said in September the average daily load was 7,831 passengers. "Against this achievement, we are committed to continuing to ensure the health protocol at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport and all departing passengers are confirmed to have negative Covid-19 test results" Herry said on Sunday.
More...
Nation: “From October 6th, Singapore to Allow Travelers From Indonesia to Transit” from Tempo
Nation: “Super Rich To Be Taxed 35%” from Nusa Bali (Indonesian)
Buleleng: “Roasting Coffee With Firewood, Employee Training a Challenge” from Radar Bali (Indonesian)
Gianyar: “Many Stalls at Ubud Market Remain Closed” from Radar Bali (Indonesian)
Tabanan: “PPKM Level Down, Frog Market Not Hopping” from Nusa Bali (Indonesian)
Education
“PTM in Denpasar Begins, 30 Schools Apply for Permits” from Bisnis Bali (Indonesian): Face-to-face Learning officially began in Denpasar on Friday. To date, 30 schools have applied for permits for the application of Limited Face-to-face Learning in Denpasar, consisting of 1 high school, 13 junior high schools, 11 elementary schools, and TK/PAUD as many as 5 schools. Plt. Denpasar City Education and Youth Head, I Gusti Ngurah Eddy Mulya, said that Limited PTM and Distance Learning were implemented with strict health protocol standards.
Bali Reopening
“Bali Prepares to Receive Foreign Guests” from Tempo (Indonesian): Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga Uno said the government is ready to conduct a trial opening of Bali for foreign tourists. The trial implementation of the opening of this destination will run according to the development of the conditions for the spread of Covid-19. "Currently, preparations for the implementation of the trial for the opening of Bali are still being carried out with related parties. Based on the results of monitoring, Bali continues to show progress in its readiness and handling of Covid-19," said Sandiaga on Sunday.
More...
Province: “During January-August 2021 Only 43 Foreign Tourists Visited Bali” from Kumparan (Indonesian)
Gianyar: “Only 15% of Souvenir Shops in Ubud Open” from Bali Express (Indonesian)
Jembrana: “West Bali National Park Opens, Visits Capped at 30%” from Bali Express (Indonesian)
“Kuta Beach Suffering Erosion” from Nusa Bali (Indonesian): The condition of several beach points on Kuta remain 'ragged'. Bendesa Adat Kuta I Wayan Wasista said the handling of erosion has been coordinated with related parties, starting with the Badung Public Works and Spatial Planning Service and also the Bali-Penida River Basin Center. According to him, from the coordination, work was scheduled to start in mid-September. “The previous report will be done in mid-September 2021. However, until now it has not started. In fact, we have provided land to collect sand, but until now there has been no work," Wasista said on Friday. "From the day of further coordination, the work is waiting for sand extraction equipment imported from abroad, so it takes time to transport it to Kuta Beach," Wasista said. “He said that there are only eight sand extractors in the world. That's why it takes time to bring them to Kuta," added Wasista.
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Of Interest
“Scientists Debate Threats to Komodo Dragons” from The Jakarta Post (Metered Paywall)
“After 100-day Stay, Canadian Deported” from Tribun Bali (Indonesian)
“Desa Potato Head Creates Sustainable Change for Bali’s Community” from The Face
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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