Saturday, May 30
Dozens of reactive Rapid Tests at Gilimanuk & 71 PMIs get swab tests in Denpasar as island records highest 1-day total of cases in a month + Badung thinking about re-opening beaches + more!
Good morning! Welcome to the COVID-19 Update for Bali for Saturday, May 30. 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. But if you would like to support my work, please consider taking up a voluntary subscription at US$5/month. Thanks!
Status Update
National Numbers:
Bali Numbers:
New Cases by Regency
Overall Confirmed Cases Distribution:
Key: Red = Infected | Green = Recovered | Black = Died
Bali 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 Total Confirmed Cases Distribution map & Regency Numbers figures come from the Bali Provincial Government's data collection department (link).
The 30-day trend charts have been compiled using daily government data.
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
"Number Of Positive Rapid Test Results In Gilimanuk Port Increase Sharply" from Radar Bali (Indonesian): Unfortunately, although traffic has decreased at Gilimanuk Port, the number of people returning reactive Rapid Test results there has surged. In just the last two days, as many as 14 people were positive or reactive from the results of the Rapid Test at the Gilimanuk Port. Rapid tests specifically for logistic transport drivers and Balinese who come from Java in one day reached 400 people.
"No Plans to Open Up Bali Tourism In Near Future: Governor" from Coconuts: Bali province is still focusing on public health amid the COVID-19 pandemic and has no plans on restarting tourism activities in the near future, the governor says, as Indonesia appears set to head into a so-called "new normal" despite the lack of downward trend in new cases of the coronavirus across the archipelago. "We are prioritizing health in Bali. The president has also agreed that tourism will be [considered] last," Bali Governor Wayan Koster said... For the time being, there are plans set for Bali to become the pilot location in the Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry’s Cleanliness, Health, and Safety (CHS) program, which is currently being prepared to welcome visitors after the coronavirus pandemic. As for when that will take place, officials have yet to disclose more details but previously hinted at the possibility that the popular holiday destination could reopen to tourists in October.
"Bali Won't Follow Central Government's Direction to Establish 'New Normal' In June" from Bali Express (Indonesian)" The New Normal Scenario announced by the central government is planned to be implemented in stages starting in early June 2020. Bali Province is one of eight regions expected to begin implementing the new life order. Even so, Bali Governor Wayan Koster stressed that the Provincial Government of Bali has so far not given certainty when it will implement the New Normal scenario, as expected by the central government... Koster said, that the application of the Balinese New Normal or the "New Era" will be done in stages, limited, and selective. Even the application must be based on a joint decision of the regents and mayors in Bali. "We also talked to the Coordinating Minister, do not the central government set unilaterally. But it must be in accordance with the study and analysis of local government. Because the local government knows the situation on the ground and has direct responsibility in the context of the Covid-19 response," he said.
Other Headlines
"Badung Authorities Discussing Whether to Relax Access to the Beach As Part Of New Normal Process" from Bali Express (Indonesian): The Badung Regency Government has not decided further regarding the closure of attractions in Badung. "I have already called on the Head of the Tourism Office to study this matter. Because we are also waiting directives from the province," said Secretary of Regional Adi Arnawa... The Head of the Badung Tourism Office (Dispar), I Made Badra, said that he does not dare to make a new policy before receiving instructions from the Provincial Government of Bali. "We have coordinated with the management of attractions in Badung. We have said that there have been no instructions from the province, so it remains closed," he said. Nevertheless, he plans to relax access to the beach. "We plan to relax a little activity on the beach, in preparation for reopening tourism according to the central government's plan. But of course when going to do activities on the beach for example surfing, you still have to follow the health protocol," said Badra.
Joint Task Force In Tabanan Sets Up Checkpoint, Turns Back Travelers Without Rapid Test Results" from Nusa Bali (Indonesian): Anticipating backflow after the Idul Fitri, at team made up of members from Satpol PP Tabanan, the TNI, the police, the Population and Civil Registry Office, and the Transportation Agency of Tabanan Regency held an operation on Bypass Road, Ir Soekarno, Dauh Peken, Tabanan District or near the Adipura Statue, on Friday. The operation was conducted targeting people who did not carry a KTP, did not wear a mask, and a certificate of Covid-19 free rapid test results. For migrants who are found unable to show a Covid-19 free certificate, they are asked to turn around... Head of Satpol PP Tabanan, I Wayan Sarba, explained the joint operation was carried out in order to anticipate the reverse flow. Mainly targeting migrants. But Tabanan residents will also be targeted for operations, especially for those found not wearing masks or carrying ID cards. "In essence, this operation is carried out in anticipation of backflow after the Eid," he said. In addition to holding operations on the highway with the joint team, his side had arranged a schedule to hold operations targeting boarding houses in the Tabanan area. "We will intensify regional patrols three times a day to support the acceleration of handling Covid-19," Sarba said.
"Denpasar City Government Tests 71 Migrant Workers for Covid-19" from Antara (Indonesian): The Government of the City of Denpasar, Bali has conducted follow-up swab tests of 71 migrant workers who were undergoing a quarantine period at an isolation shelter. "The results of further tests on migrant workers will only be known within the next two or three days," said the head of Denpasar City's Health Office, Dr. Ni Luh Putu Sri Armini... "During the quarantine at the shelter, the condition of the quarantined health diagnosis was unknown, so to support the acceleration of handling a mass test swab was carried out by cooperating with the University of Udayana University Hospital," said spokesman for the Denpasar City COVID-19 Task Force, I Dewa Gede Rai. "This activity can accelerate the handling of COVID-19 in Denpasar City, as well as providing accurate information about the health diagnosis of people who are currently undergoing quarantine," he explained.
"Positive Covid-19 In Buleleng Increases by 6 Cases, 4 People are from Bondalem Village" from iNews Bali (Indonesian): "The six patients confirmed positive came from Tejakula District and Gerokgak District," Secretary of the Covid-19 Task Force of Buleleng, Gede Suyasa said. According to Suayasa, the identification of these six patients came as the result of tracing from people who had direct contact with "Patient 61," who had already tested positive for corona. Four positive patients from Tejakula Sub-District were from Bondalem Village. The village was isolated for 14 days because of an alarming case of local transmission.
"No More Recess: Gov't to Overhaul School System" from The Jakarta Globe: The Women Empowerment and Child Protection Ministry says it is preparing "new normal" guidelines for schools that will be closely based on Covid-19 health protocols. "We will overhaul the school system according to the 'new normal' guidelines. Schools need to get themselves ready to conduct classes online and offline," Ciput Eka Purwanti, the ministry's assistant deputy for child protection, said on Thursday. Ciput said the ministry has made recommendations for reducing school hours and cutting recess... "School should be limited to a maximum of four hours a day with no recess," she said. Ciput said the ministry has learned lessons from Australia, which has trialed reopening schools with only two classes. Schools in Indonesia should trial running more classes in shifts, according to Ciput.
Non-Covid News of Note
"Amounts Of Garbage Accumulating During Work From Home Period Increasing More Than Normal" from Bali Plus: In the midst of large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) and the work from home (WFH) period, many prefer to shop online rather than come to supermarkets or traditional markets. However, online shopping and food delivery services have contributed to an increase of plastic waste. The study was conducted by the Oceanographic Research Center and the LIPI Population Research Center with the title "The Impact of PSBB and WFH on Plastic Waste in the JABOTABEK area." Survey results show that online shopping produces the most waste.
"Crossing Divides: The Bomb Maker Turned Peacemaker" from The BBC: Ali Fauzi was a key member of Jemaah Islamiyah, a militant group with links to al-Qaeda, which was responsible for Indonesia's worst attack - the 2002 Bali bombing that killed more than 200 people. "My brothers carried out the Bali bombing. It was huge bomb in the heart of the island's tourist district."... The group went on to carry out a string of bombings in Indonesia. They were deadly attacks on major hotels and Western embassies. The seemingly sleepy village of Tenggulun in Lamongan, East Java was the group's base camp. Now Ali Fauzi's mission is very different. He works to help former jihadis leave a life of violence and to stop new recruits from joining the next wave of militant groups in South East Asia.
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.
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.
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.
Common abbreviations to be familiar with:
PMI: Indonesian migrant worker
PSBB: Policy of extreme social distancing. Officially restricts forms of transportation and prohibits certain types of business from operating. Requires any permitted businesses to enforce strict social distancing guidelines.
OTG: Possible cases, with no symptoms.
ODP: Suspected cases, being monitored. People with fever or respiratory symptoms such as congestion, sore throat, cough, travel in countries or areas with local transmission, or contact with a confirmed case of Covid-19. Tracked and placed under out-patient observation.
PDP: Probable cases, under observation. People with acute respiratory illness with at least one symptom such as cough, sore throat, congestion, light or heavy pneumonia, and travel in countries or areas with local transmission, or contact with a confirmed case of Covid-19. Usually placed under observation in an isolation ward at a designated hospital pending swab testing results.
About This Newsletter
This newsletter is a product of Migration Media, the hub for stories from and about the international migrant experience.
Our standards
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.