Saturday, October 3
New e-visa rules coming as part of Travel Corridor negotiations w/Singapore + Cost of swab tests to be capped at Rp.900,000 + Cops found guilty of soliciting bribe demoted & issued sanctions + more!
Good morning! Welcome to The Bali Beat for Saturday, October 3. If you’re not a subscriber, sign up here to get this update delivered directly to your Inbox every Monday-Saturday morning, along with each evening’s Covid-19 update. If you are already a subscriber, thank you! Please be sure to share it with others in the foreigner community on the island by clicking the button below.
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PUBLICATION REMINDER: I’m off tomorrow, so there will be no newsletter in the morning. However, the evening Covid-19 update will publish as normal; and being Sunday, it will include a wrap-up of the week’s numbers and put them in context with previous weeks.
Weather & Waves
Today’s Weather for Southern Bali
Today’s Tides
Surf Outlook
Weather forecast from Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology & Geophysics Council (Link)
Tide table from Tide-forecast.com.
Surf outlook via Windy.com.
Local Covid Numbers
*NOTE: Click here to see the national numbers infographic and a Regency-by-Regency breakdown of yesterday’s local numbers + trendlines in our evening update.
The Big News
"Ministry Revises Foreigner Ban Amid Travel Corridor Discussion with Singapore" from The Jakarta Post: Minister Yasonna Laoly said the ministry was finalizing a revision to a ministerial regulation about temporary prohibition of foreigners entering Indonesia amid the COVID-19 outbreak, which had been effective since April 3. “We will finish the revision soon, so there won’t be any issue hindering TCA implementation,” Yasonna said. The ministry’s Immigration Directorate General will prepare an electronic visa service for essential travelers looking to visit the country. The visa service is expected to be available starting Oct. 15. The discussion for the arrangement is still ongoing.
(Ed. Note: I am aware of the rumors online about new business & social visas being available for issue outside of the country via some agents. However, no details of the “revisions” that are coming have been released, and there has not been a Circular published by Imigrasi or The Law & Human Rights Ministry with any new rules or procedures. Until that happens, nothing that any agent tells you is confirmed or legal yet. So be cautious before giving money to anybody making promises. As soon as the new rules are issued, the details will be posted here.)
"Government Sets Maximum PCR Test Fee of IDR 900,000" from Antara (Indonesian): Acting Director General of Health Services at the Ministry of Health Abdul Kadir said the limit price for the PCR examination was only intended for people who would do the test independently. This price does not apply to PCR testing efforts carried out by the government for the benefit of close contact tracing of COVID-19 patients in the context of preventing and handling the corona virus. He also explained that the highest price for the PCR test had carefully calculated the various costs required. Namely the cost of human resources services, be it a specialist doctor, sample taker, or sample extractor and examiner. It also takes into account the price of reagents, the purchase price and maintenance of test kits, the use of single-use materials such as level 3 personal protective equipment (PPE), and also administrative costs.
"For Soliciting IDR 900,000 Bribe, Officers Punished" from Radar Bali (Indonesian): The disciplinary hearing in the case of alleged extortion by unscrupulous members of the Pekutatan Police Sector (Polsek) against a tourist from Japan, has ended. Two police officers, each with the initials Aipda MW and Bripka PG, were found guilty and have been given sanctions... Aipda MW was not charged with a crime or fired. However, for accepting the cash, he was demoted with an exemption from office, will lose his daily allowance, and will be placed on barracks restriction for 28 days. Bripka PG was only sentenced to demotion by serving 21 days in prison. Meanwhile, his allowance is still given. (Ed. Note: Additional reporting can be found here.)
>> Classifieds <<
AMERICANS ABROAD - CAST YOUR VOTE FOR THE NOVEMBER ELECTION! We are 5 volunteers helping Americans vote from here since 2002. Due to mail delays you NEED TO START NOW, so CLICK HERE. And yes, we provide individual help too. Please VOTE; it’s so important this year!
Want to share your message with the most engaged members of the foreigner community in Bali? Click here to learn how to place a classified ad.
Other Headlines
"Buleleng Covid-19 Task Force Struggling to Isolate Patients in Hotels" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian): Secretary of Buleleng's Covid-19 Task Force, Dr. Gede Suyasa, M.Pd, said that the Health Service (Dinkes) has approached a number of asymptomatic and mild symptomatic Covid-19 patients to be willing to undergo centralized isolation in the Province, instead of staying at home. "We have also calculated that there are patients who are approaching the end of isolation, healthy. If forced, it will become a burden for them,” he said. His party is still trying to invite new asymptomatic and asymptomatic positive patients to be sent to undergo isolation in the province [at designated hotels]... So far, his party has approached a number of hotels to accommodate Covid-19 patients. However, from the hotel, it is still not certain to accept, even though the patient has mild symptoms or asymptomatic. Apart from that, the issue of the rental price is still a question. "We are still coordinating with the province about prices. This is still a question, because the price is Rp. 200 thousand up to consumption. So hotel owners (especially star hotels) feel heavy. It bears per person. This is what is often asked," he continued.
"Tourism Managers Ask the Government to Swab Test All Tourists to Bali" from Liputan 6 (Indonesian): The chairman of the Bali Indonesian Tourism Industry Association (GIPI), Ida Bagus Agung Partha Adnyana, wants to build the trust of tourists outside Bali that the Island of the Gods is still safe to visit during the Covid-19 pandemic. "If we have to do a swab, do a swab. Indeed, rapid tests are not effective. Also, swabs are not expensive in Bali. A PCR test is also very cheap. And if I am getting one on my own, I only pay Rp. 600,000... My suggestion is that we better focus if we have to PCR, yes PCR. There must be trust, so that is the direction. In my opinion, the most important thing for people to get on an airplane is that we do a real test. Not rapid anymore, but PCR," he added.
"Mask Inspection Fines in Bali Reach IDR 52 million Since 7 September" from The Bali Tribune (Indonesian): Since September 7, 3,778 people have been caught during the masks patrols of Operation Yustisi, the program to enforce Covid-19 health protocols throughout Bali. Of this amount, 520 people were fined Rp. 100,000 each, so that the total amount of fine money currently collected throughout Bali is Rp. 52 million. Meanwhile, the remaining 3,258 people caught in mask raids were only given social sanctions and warnings. The proceeds from the collected fines will be handed over to the regional treasury of each district / city / provincial government.
"Tabanan Adds 20 New Cases, One Member of the DPRD Is Positive for Covid-19" from The Bali Tribune (Indonesian): Among the regency's the new Covid-19 cases, a member of the Tabanan Regional Legislature (DPRD) was also confirmed positive for Covid-19. He was known to be positive for Covid-19 after 17 members of the Tabanan DPRD carried out a swab test on Wednesday. The DPRD member has now undergone independent isolation. Secretary of the Tabanan DPRD, I Made Sugiarta, said all face-to-face activities have been turned into virtual ones since the first case was discovered. "Regarding activities, everything is virtual now to avoid wider spread. And hopefully we are always healthy," said Sugiarta briefly.
"Police Investigate Discovery of Disposed Baby Corpse on Sanur Beach" from Suara Bali (Indonesian): When the baby's body was found, the condition was terrible. His body was crushed, most likely by a car, and was surrounded by dogs. According to AKP Hadimastika Karsito Putra, Head of Criminal Investigation of the South Denpasar Police, the baby's placenta, wrapped in black and white plastic, was found on the east side of the beach in a jug. "The body of the baby has been taken to Sanglah Hospital Denpasar. It is still being investigated," he concluded.
"Missing 10 Days, Grandma Cukri Found Safe At the Bottom of A Ravine" from The IDN Times (Indonesian): After being reported missing for 10 days, a dadong (Grandma) named Cukri (70) from Banjar Salak, Barumadeg Village, Nusa Penida District was found safe at the bottom of a 150 meter-deep ravine on Thursday. Residents were amazed. They wondered how Cukri could survive for 10 days in the ravine without food and drink... When she was evacuated, Cukri was fine and healthy. There are no wounds or injuries on her body, even though she was at the bottom of a ravine whose location is very difficult for humans to reach. "If logged into it, it is difficult for young people who are healthy and fit to reach the bottom of the ravine. There is no access road to it," said Batumadeg Village Chief of Work, I Made Mustika.
"Denfest 2020 Becomes the Largest Online Event in the Country" from Republika (Indonesian): The 13th Denpasar Festival (Denfest) opened on Friday. The event was held in a different way from previous years. That's because this time the Denfest was held online. The annual event, which will be held for three full months, involves hundreds of communities and shows a variety of entertainment from traditional, modern and contemporary. "This may be said to be the largest and longest online event or festival in Indonesia, with 189 events in collaboration with 407 creative communities," said I Putu 'Lengkong' Yuliarta, Denpasar City Bekraf Daily Chair... Denfest presents a variety of activities, ranging from Food Festival, Craft, Fashion and Exhibition, Virtual Fashion Show, Mebarung Film, Mayor's Cup Creative Competition, Poetry Visualization, One-Round Drama, Denfest Photo Essay Contest 2020, Denfest 2020 Sketch Contest, Competition Virtual Ogoh-ogoh, Storytelling, Late Art Competition, Music Battle, Photography Workshop, Ceramic Workshop and F&B Workshop.
(Ed. Note: You can watch a reply of the live streamed opening ceremony and find more information about the events being held on the festival's website: http://denfest.kreativi.id)
"4.2 Magnitude Earthquake Shakes Kuta" from iNews Bali (Indonesian): An earthquake with a magnitude of 4.2 was felt by some Balinese at 09.42 WIB, Friday (2/10/2020). There was no tsunami warning due to the earthquake. The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) noted that the epicenter was 57 kilometers southwest of South Kuta . The depth of the earthquake reached 66 kilometers. While the earthquake coordinates are at 9.06 South Latitude, 114.78 East Longitude. (Ed. Note: Get all the details on the tremor from VolcanoDiscovery.com here.)
"With Threat of 20-Meter Tsunami to Bali, BMKG Asks Local Governments to Prepare" from Radar Bali (Indonesian): Head of Sub Division for Collection and Distribution of BBMKG Region III Denpasar, Dwi Hartanto, explained that the threat of a megathrust earthquake and tsunami has the potential to occur in a number of areas in Bali. This year's Indian Ocean Wave Exercise (IOWave20) will be held on 6 October 2020 in the context of a tsunami preparedness exercise in the Indian Ocean region, which will be participated by 28 countries in the Indian Ocean. The purpose of this exercise is to validate the earthquake information chain and tsunami early warning starting from dissemination, understanding products and communication modes as well as training local, community and media preparedness in facing tsunamis and testing Standard Operating Procedures.
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 found 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.
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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