Saturday, July 4
Opening date for domestic tourism is July 31 + Kuta Beach to reopen on July 9 + Swab tests no longer req'd for domestic flight arrivals + Property & gold prices rise as food & govt fees drop + more!
Good morning! Welcome to the COVID-19 Update for Bali for Saturday, July 4. Please subscribe and share it with others in the foreigner community on the island. I happily put this daily newsletter together as a public service, and it will be free so long as the current emergency lasts. *A paid subscription is NOT required to access this content.* When signing up, select the "None" option and you'll get it delivered to your Inbox each day. If you would like to support my work, please consider making a voluntary contribution of US$5/month. Supporters receive an early update on the government’s daily infection & recovery numbers each night within an hour or so of their announcement… plus my enduring gratitude!
Status Update
National Numbers:
Bali Numbers:
Regency Numbers:
Confirmed Cases Distribution:
Key: Red = Infected | Green = Recovered | Black = Died
30-Day Trends:
More details on the locations of positive cases within each Regency, as well as the number of suspected cases ("ODP") and people under in-patient observation ("PDP"), can be found in charts & infographics on the websites of each Regency's Covid-19 Task Force:
Badung | Bangli | Buleleng | Denpasar City | Gianyar | Jembrana | Karangasem | Klungkung | Tabanan
Sources:
The national update comes from the Indonesia National Disaster Management Agency: @BNPB_Indonesia
The Bali Numbers infographic comes from the Bali Provincial Government COVID-19 Task Force (link).
The Confirmed Cases Distribution map & Regency Numbers figures come from the Bali Provincial Government's data collection department (link).
NOTE: While the national government includes daily testing totals in its infographic, Bali’s provincial government does not routinely release this data, so it is not included.
How You Can Help
In response to the collapse of the tourism sector in Bali and the resulting economic crisis, dozens of individuals and organizations have sprung into action, raising funds and distributing badly needed food and everyday essentials to the innumerable families who have suddenly fund themselves without any source of income. We've been making an effort to document and raise awareness of these efforts. We will add information on projects in this space as we are able to confirm them. If you'd like to see a list of the efforts that we've featured so far and contribute to them with either time or money, visit our complete list here. You can also see a list of projects that have registered themselves at BaliSolidarity.org. If you know of an effort and would like to have them listed, please send their information to newsletter@migrationmedia.net.
The Big News
"Kuta Beach Ready to Welcome Travelers, Open Access to 5 Entrance to the Beach" from Radar Bali (Indonesian): The current status of Kuta beach is still declared closed for tourist visits. In accordance with the direction of the Badung Regency Government, the new Kuta Beach will be reopened on July 9th. "Before Kuta Beach begins to open, on July 5 we will hold a ritual ceremony at each temple. This is a ritual noetic, by asking for blessing from Ida Sanghyang Widhi Wasa,"explained Bendesa Adat Kuta Wayan Wasista... Even though it was back in operation, not all access to the Kuta beach entrance was opened automatically. Only 5 entrance doors will be opened. "At each entrance, hand washing equipment, hand sanitizers, body temperature checks and visitors are required to wear masks," he explained. All Kuta beach task force personnel will be deployed with the assistance of 25 village officers.
"Bali Open to Local Tourists on 31 July" from Indonesia Expat: The Provincial Government of Bali has announced provisional plans to open the island to tourism for Indonesian tourists on 31st July 2020. The plan will be executed as long as Bali’s opening scheme for local residents on 9th July 2020 runs effectively. Tourist attractions will be selectively opened to avoid new sources of virus transmission.
"As of July 5, Only Non-Reactive Rapid Test Results Are Required to Enter Bali" from The Bali Tribune (Indonesian): Starting July 5, domestic arrivals at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali only need to show a letter confirming that they are free from Covid-19 with non rapid test results. This policy is different from the previous requirement that every traveler must be able to show a Covid-19 free letter through a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) based swab test.
Other Headlines
"After Local Transmission in Jembrana, Hundreds of Citizens from 2 Banjars Join Rapid Test" from iNews Bali (Indonesian): The Jembrana Regency Government will conduct a mass rapid test for residents in two banjars located in Negara District in response to a case of local transmission that infected six local residents. The two banjars are Banjar Munduk, Kaliakah Village, and Banjar Berambang, Berambang Village. Both banjars have been isolated to prevent widespread Covid-19 transmission. The total population of Banjar Munduk is around 990 people and 289 families. While in Banjar Berambang around 65 people from 25 households.
"Positive Corona Patients Booming, Klungkung Prepares Two Isolation Sites" from Radar Bali (Indonesian): With so many cases of local transmission that have occurred in Gumi Serombotan, Klungkung Hospital had experienced an overload or an excess of positive patients. To that end, the Regent of Klungkung has prepared two isolation sites for positive patients exposed to the corona virus outside Klungkung Hospital... The positive patient isolation site is the Banjarangkan II Health Center and one of the public hospitals in the Banjarangkan area, though not all positive patients of Covid-19 will be treated at that place. Only patients with positive co-19 without symptoms will be treated there. Positive patients who have comorbidities will be treated at Klungkung Hospital. "There is already a patient bed. For the total capacity has not been calculated for sure. It is estimated to be able to accommodate as many as 60 positive patients with Covid-19," he explained.
"Sanglah Hospital in Denpasar Adds Covid-19 Patient Isolation Room" from Antara (Indonesian): Sanglah Hospital in Denpasar will add a COVID-19 isolation room with 32 beds to anticipate the addition of new types of corona virus patients. "These days, it is always full of beds. We have planned to add more isolation space for COVID, which of course has negative pressure specifications," said Director of Sanglah Hospital Dr. I Wayan Sudana M. Kes in a press statement in Denpasar, Friday... "In addition to increasing the isolation room, we are also in the process of adding an operating room with two functions. The first serves as negative pressure and if needed can be quickly changed as a room with positive pressure. So for ordinary patients it can, for COVID patients with negative pressure rooms. it can also," said I Wayan Sudana.
"As 'New Era' of Tourism in Bali Approaches, Health Protocol Certification Begins" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian): "At present the government through the Bali Provincial Tourism Office in collaboration with tourism associations has formed a verification team to jump into the tourism business and check the implementation of the Covid-19 health and prevention protocol. We are collaborating so that this October target of all tourism businesses in Bali is certified," explained the Head of the Bali Provincial Tourism Office I Putu Astawa... For the assessment process itself, various indicators that are in accordance with CHS (Cleanliness, Health, Safety) standards have been established by WHO. "So the protocol for arrival, service and cleanliness of business premises must meet all these indicators," he hoped.
"In the Middle of the Covid-19 Pandemic, Bali Provincial Government Waives Fees for Transfer of Vehicle Names" from The Bali Tribune (Indonesian): Since the last count at the end of 2019, there are around 3,700 more four-wheeled vehicles outside of Bali that have been operating in Bali for more than three months, both private cars and commercial vehicles. "Many vehicles have changed ownership or have a police number from outside Bali that has not yet been renamed, this is not because people are not disciplined, but also because of economic factors. For this reason, the Provincial Government of Bali has responded by eliminating the transfer fees, not only fines and interest removed, but the basic costs have also been removed, and this policy of eliminating the basic costs is the first time, "said Bali Secretary Indra Dewa.
Non-Covid News of Note
"Gold Prices Contribute to Inflation in Bali for the June 2020 Period" from The Bali Tribune (Indonesian): Price pressures in the Province of Bali showed an increase in June compared to the previous month, driven by rising price pressures in the core inflation group, while the goods group whose prices are regulated by the government (Administered Price) and the foodstuff category (Volatile Food) are still experiencing deflation... Core inflation in June was recorded at 0.24% (mtm), an increase compared to May's deflation of 0.31% (mtm). This increase occurred, primarily driven by an increase in the price of gold jewelry. Meanwhile, Volatile Food commodities experienced continued deflation of -0.25% (mtm), down when compared to May's -1.20% (mtm).
"Residential Property Prices in Denpasar Rose In Quarter I-2020" from Antara (Indonesian): "If the tourism sector falls deeply, but for the property sector we are still growing positively in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic," said Bali Province Bank Indonesia Representative Head Trisno Nugroho... The development of primary residential property prices in the first quarter of 2020 grew 0.22% (yoy), while in the fourth quarter of 2019 it was 0.16%. Compared to national data of 1.68 % (yoy) in the first quarter of 2020, Bali, whose primary residential property prices grew by 0.22%, is still better.
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. You can see their confirmation of this policy on June 11 here, and see a cringe-inducing PSA here.
Local travel website Traveloka has a helpful page with a summary of what’s needed to travel to and within the country. You can also order a rapid test or swab (PCR) test via their platform: Link
The British Embassy in Jakarta has recently posted a great summary of the Indonesian government's travel restrictions on their Facebook page. You can read it here.
The EU has launched a website to help travelers stay informed about how member states will be accelerating the reopening of their borders. Through the “EU Re-open” website, travelers can enter the name of the country they wish to visit and find out the rules that will apply after each place's coronavirus lockdown. Information on the EU Re-open website and app will continue to be updated in line with the developments of the coronavirus pandemic.
If you are trying to plan travel anywhere, here are some 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 Travel Information Manual Automatic (Timatic) database feeds into airlines' reservation systems, so it is the most reliable list of flight restrictions around.
Revolver Maps' Travel Restrictions Database - This list pulls directly from IATA's Timatic database and arranges the countries in lists that are easier to navigate and creates share-able links for every country. NOTE: This is a third-party service and they warn that the updates to their system can be delayed by several hours for certain countries.
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.
About This Newsletter
This newsletter is a product of Migration Media, the hub for stories from and about the international migrant experience.
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We only include news items from established media sources
We do not share rumors.
We do not include opinion pieces or forecasts.
For all stories marked "Indonesian" I have used Google Translate to convert it from Bahasa. In most cases I will polish the excerpt and/or write a short summary in proper English to help clarify the details.
For any questions, comments or tips, please contact us at newsletter@migrationmedia.net.