Saturday, April 18
Biggest 2-day jump in confirmed cases yet (by a lot) + Police monitoring food supplies + Using a tractor to disperse stupid foreigners + Wishful thinking for hotels to re-open by May... and more!
Good evening! Welcome to the COVID-19 Update for Bali for Saturday, April 18. If you find this information useful, please subscribe and share it with others in the foreigner community on the island.
If you've got a tip on a story that should be included, please contact us at newsletter@migrationmedia.net.
Status Update
Country-wide Numbers:
Source:
Indonesia National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB Indonesia): @BNPB_Indonesia
Official updates are available from the Indonesian Government here.
Bali Numbers:
Confirmed Cases Distribution:
Key: Red = Infected | Green = Recovered | Black = Died
Trends:
Sources:
Infographic comes from Bali Provincial Government COVID-19 Task Force (link).
The geographic breakdown comes from the Bali Provincial Government's data collection department (link).
Charts have been compiled using their data.
The Big News
"Bali Task Force: Local Transmission Of COVID-19 Increases to 21 People" from Antara (Indonesian): Regional Secretary of the Province of Bali, Dewa Made Indra, said the case of local transmission of COVID-19 distribution in the local area continues to grow so that it has accumulatively become 21 people... Of 124 positive cases of COVID-19 in Bali Province, eight were foreigners and 116 were Indonesian citizens. Of the 116 Indonesian citizens, 81 were "imported cases" (77 Indonesian Migrant Workers and four non-PMIs), 14 people were infected from other parts of the archipelago, and 21 were local transmission cases.
"Despite Public Pressure, Bali Governor Still Reluctant to Impose Large Scale Social Restrictions" from Bali Plus: The Governor of Bali, who is also the Chair of the Bali Covid-19 Task Force, I Wayan Koster, has yet to propose large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) for the region to the central government. According to Koster, despite public pressure, local transmission of the coronavirus in Bali is still relatively small... "We monitor local transmissions daily, and the actual transmission flows are relatively small. Therefore, to conduct large scale social restrictions in Bali is still a ways off. In my opinion, we should not talk about it yet. I am confirming that this is not imminent," said Koster in his statement on Wednesday.
"Police Intensify Patrols to Monitor Basic Food Supply in the Middle of Corona Pandemic" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian): In order to monitor and inspect the availability of basic needs, especially rice in the Gianyar Regency amid this co-19 pandemic, the Gianyar Regional Police have intensified patrols to a number of super markets in their jurisdiction... Gianyar Police personnel, led by Kasatreskrim Gianyar Regional Police, AKP Deni Septiawan, SIK, MH, check food staples, especially rice in a number of super markets in Gianyar Regency. AKP Deni said that this dialogical patrol was carried out to anticipate public unrest related to the availability of rice stocks in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Other Headlines
"Regarding Rejected Fever Patients Anchored in Padangbai, Bendesa: We Never Refuse Patients" from The Bali Tribune (Indonesian): An incident where crew in PPE escorting a Covid-19 patient from Nusa Penida aboard a fast boat arriving at a dock in Padang Bai Harbor was refused entry to the area by locals has been chalked up to confusion brought on by a lack of advance communication... Komang Nuriada, spokesman for the village council, said that local residents did not refuse the patient. However, with the current situation and conditions, a lack of information and coordination about the patient's arrival, resulted in the delay. When local residents saw the boat approaching with a crew dressed in PPE, they prevented anyone from coming ashore. When the crew explained that the boat carried a patient from Nusa Penida, they questioned why the patient had not been brought to Kusamba, which is closer to the destination hospital. After calling an abulance and confirming that the transit was authorized with 19th Padangbai Co-operative Mutual Assistance Task Force Chairman, the patent was sent on their way.
"Officer Uses Tractor to Disperse Crowd In Bali's Kedonganan Beach" from Coconuts: Local authorities reportedly used an amusingly unconventional method to disperse the crowd in Kedonganan Beach recently, after some people evidently ignored the closures of local beaches to curb the spread of COVID-19 in Bali... In one particular photo that has garnered attention on social media, an officer appears to have hopped on a tractor that is moving along the beach to shoo away beachgoers. As captioned by Detik, the beachgoers appear to be foreigners who had been sunbathing.
"Public Spaces In Denpasar City Closed to Prevent Spread of Covid-19" from Berita Bali (Indonesian): In an effort to minimize crowds and cut off the spread of Covid-19, the Denpasar City Government began closing public facilities on Friday, namely the Puputan Badung I Gusti Ngurah Made Agung Field, Lumintang Field and Lumintang City Park... Spokesperson for the Denpasar City Covid-19 Task Force, I Dewa Gede Rai, explained that public facilities in Denpasar City regularly draw crowds, which increase in size on weekends. "Now we are closed to the public to avoid the crowds that usually use to exercise and recreation, so that the prevention of the spread of Covid-19 can be optimized," he explained. He further said that the closure would be carried out until an indefinite time. However, if the conditions for handling Covid-19 have been declared to be recovered and conducive, all public facilities will be reopened.
"DPS Airport Records Zero International Flights" from The Seminyak Times: Last Monday (13/4) there were zero international passenger flights to and from Denpasar International Airport... Communications and Legal Manager at Angkasa Pura I, Andanina Dyah Permata Megasari, explained that in the past week there had been a significant decrease in both aircraft and passenger movements. "In fact, on Monday 13 April, there were no flights on international routes. However, on the same day the records show that the domestic routes had approximately one thousand passenger movements," Dyah told NusaBali on Thursday. Dyah also mentioned that in the past week, only 580 international passengers arrived to Bali. "International movement continues to decline, from hundreds, dozens even to absolutely none or zero movements," said Dyah.
"BTB: Hotels In Bali Will Operate Starting May 15, 2020, June Can Bring in Chinese Tourists" from The Bali Tribune (Indonesian): Chairman of the Bali Tourism Board Ida Bagus Agung Partha Adnyana said, several hotels in Bali will start operating May 15, 2020. He estimates that in June hotels in Bali will be allowed to receive guests... "Information from the National Intelligence Agency (BIN) says that the Covid-19 spread will be at its peak in June. So we have hope for May-June. Because Online Travel Agents are showing room availability starting on May 15, some of the hotels must be open," said Partha Adnyana.
"Rice Stock In Bangli Is Safe for the Next Three Months" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian): The stock of rice in Bangli warehouses has been determined to be safe for the next three months after to Bangli City Police checked the availability of food supplies in the bulog warehouse located in Bebalang Bangli Kelurahan on Friday... The sudden inspection was led by the Head of Intelligence Unit of Bangli Police Station, Iptu I Nengah Werdi who was accompanied by Kanit Sabhara Iptu I Dewa Anom Astawa, SH, along with four other personnel. When met at the location, the head of warehouse, I Made Witantra, said that the stock of rice available at the Bulog warehouse to date is 383,035.49 tons. "With this amount, rice stocks will meet the needs of the community for the next 3 months," said Witantra.
"Bali Loses Rp. 64 Billion" from Nusa Bali (Indonesian): Bali's Regional Revenue Service (Bapenda) issued a policy to waive administrative sanctions in the form of interest and penalties for Motorized Vehicle Taxes and Motor Vehicle Transfer Fees, from April 21 to August 28, 2020, due to the Covid-19 pandemic. As a consequence of this policy, around Rp. 64 billion of regional income has evaporated... This policy was adopted because the people's economy was uncertain due to Covid-19. Moreover, for daily workers the economy is very difficult. Just making enough to eat is difficult. "Samsat offices throughout Bali are now quiet. We have closed a number of Samsat outlets in the regency / city, because people have not come to the Samsat office or have not fulfilled their obligations," said I Made Santha, Head of Bali Province Bapenda. According to Santha, currently there are 342,000 motorized vehicles or around 10.68% of the total 3.2 million motor vehicle units in Bali that are recorded as taxpayers, both two-wheeled and four-wheeled vehicles. Out of the 342,000 vehicles, if the tax obligation is waived, the Bapenda of the Province of Bali loses revenue of Rp. 64 billion.
"Bali KPPA Findings, Learning at Home, Elementary School Students Constrained by Handpone" from Radar Bali (Indonesian): Commissioner of the Bali Regional Child Protection Commission (KPPAD), Made Ariasa, recently inspected the learning activities of elementary school children in Mas Village, Ubud District. Up close, KPPAD Bali saw the enthusiasm of children in learning. However, they are constrained by only having internet access througgh mobile devices. "The average child is still quite enthusiastic to carry out this task. Even though they have to face quite a lot of challenges and obstacles," said Ariasa, who is also a resident of Mas Village... In the learning system at home, students' parents come along to accompany. Then, the results of children's activities or assignments are collected through the application or mobile phone. "Their constraints, in terms of cellphone facilities, internet access and the constraints of parents who have to keep working." So, he said, between parents and children have to share mobile phones. "They have to share mobile phones with their parents, especially for families who have socio-economic limitations," he explained.
"Learning Theory & Practice Virtually, Internet Connections Are Constraints" from Radar Bali (Indonesian): Covid-19 has changed the way of learning. No longer face to face between students and teachers, but through cyberspace. The problem is, what about the learning activities of students majoring in tourism? Because not only theory but learning activities are dominated more on practice. Here we follow one teacher as he goes through his day of instructing students online.
"Provincial Government Admits to Not Having Definite Data On Number Of PMI from Bali" from The Bali Post (Indonesian): The provincial government of Bali is unable to provide definitive answers on how many more Balinese Migrant Workers (PMIs) will return tp the island. "The government does not have definitive data. This certainly is a lesson for all of us," Daily Chair of the Bali Province COVID-19 Task Force for the Acceleration of Handling, ,Dewa Made Indra said on Friday... Dewa Indra reasoned that the PMI departed by applying directly to the agents who sent them to cruise ships. That is why the government has difficulty identifying how many PMIs will return to Bali. "In the future, mechanisms must be regulated so that the agents sending workers to cruise ships report how many, who, where they are sent from," he explained.
The View from Outside
"Foreigners Disregard Coronavirus Lockdown to Party In Bali" from 7News.com.au: Westerners who remain in Bali during the COVID-19 crisis have sparked outrage amongst locals and authorities, holding a rowdy birthday party at a luxury villa and deliberately climbing over barricades to surf and swim at closed beaches. When video from the 21st birthday bash of an Egyptian pilot, at a villa on the weekend, circulated on social media it created uproar amongst locals, angry that while they are staying home and have lost their incomes, westerners are deliberately flouting the rules... And today, another tourist, who clambered over the barricade at a closed beach, was taken away, handcuffed in the back of a public order agency truck. He was filmed apologising - ordered to do by increasingly frustrated authorities.
Resources
Important information for foreigners who are staying on the island, such as designated COVID-19 hospitals and emergency contact numbers, can be found by following this link.
The government has cancelled its visa-on-arrival process and rolled out enhanced entry requirements for people traveling to Indonesia; they have also granted automatic extensions to most foreigners who are still in the country on temporary stay visas. You can see a (translated) list of all of the relevant regulations on the Directorate General of Immigration & Ministry of Law and Human Rights' website here.
If you are trying to plan travel anywhere, here are two of the best up-to-date resources that can help you:
IATA Travel Center Update - The International Air Transport Association is the global lobbying body for the aviation industry. Their alerts feed into airlines' reservation systems, so it is the most reliable database of flight restrictions around.
Al Jazeera Travel Restriction & Border Shutdown Tracker - A companion list that includes less technical summaries of each country's travel restrictions, beyond just flights and airport access.
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