September 15, 2021
Bali tourism uptick + Indonesia looks to open in November + Pedulilinduni accepts foreign vaccines + 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: The provincial government did not release its infographic by press time.
The Big News
“Bali Tourism Industry Looking for Uptick After Restrictions Eased” from Reuters: Bali’s tourism industry is hoping for an uptick in business after COVID-19 social restrictions were eased on Monday. Senior government ministers said on Monday downgraded restrictions would allow for some tourist destinations to be opened and cinemas to operate at 50% capacity. “Our hope is the virus spread can be kept under control, so that we can reach an 80%-90% vaccination rate and then we can start to open for international tourists,” said Diah Anggraini, manager of the Grand Inna Kuta Hotel. Tourism Minister Sandiaga Uno said on Tuesday that tourism areas should reach vaccination rates of 70% before reopening, and suggested regional collaboration to form a Phuket, Langkawi and Bali tourism “triangle”.
Context: This is the first we’ve seen of a bubble triangle between Bali, Phuket and Langkawi. In the past, the only direct flight between Bali and Phuket (with AirAsia, launched in 2010), failed to meet expectations and were discontinued less than two years later.
“Indonesia Aims to Reopen to Foreigners in November” from Reuters: Indonesia plans to start opening its borders to foreigners in November once 70% of its target population have received at least one vaccine shot, the health minister said on Tuesday. Budi Gunadi Sadikin said he was taking cues from the strategy adopted by Britain, which he said prioritised rolling out first doses and had achieved a lower rate of hospital admissions and fatalities. "So for us we concentrate on the first dose. If we can vaccinate 70% of the target population of 208 million, then we can gradually start reopening," he said. "And my calculation is that will be reached by November."
Context: While no specific date was noted regarding Bali, the Minister inferred that restrictions would be further eased once areas had a double vaccination rate of 70%—Bali is at 61% and you can see Bali’s vaccine progression in the Bali Beat Sunday evening email here. Currently, the nationwide vaccination level for the first jab is around 36%. While some provinces are above the national average, notably Jakarta (121%), Bali (95%), Kepulauan Riau (80%) and Yogyakarta (65%), most are below average. Twenty four provinces are below 30% for the first shot.
“Pedulilindungi App Accepts Foreign Vaccines” from The Jakarta Globe: The Ministry of Health has announced on Monday that foreign vaccine cardholders can now register on PeduliLindungi. The ministry has set up a website for those who have received vaccines abroad to record their vaccination history. To register, both citizens and foreigners will first have to visit the website to apply for verification, they will be asked to register, submit verification, and upload additional information. The Ministry of Health will verify this information in two streams. For citizens, data verification will be carried out by the Ministry of Health and foreigners will be done by their embassies.
Context: There is no mention in the story if foreigners who have received their vaccination within Indonesia but lack a NIK card are also able to register. The government website is here.
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Other Headlines
“Hundreds of Foreigners in Sanur Not Registered” from Bali Express (Indonesian): More than 200 foreign nationals were caught in a joint inspection coordinated by the National Unity and Political Agency of Denpasar City in Sanur on Tuesday. "The inspection targets are two foreign residents' residences in the Jalan Sekuta area," said Pasekuta Environmental Consultant I Nyoman Darma Jaya. He said there are 100 villas, currently filled about 30%, however, not all of the villa owners reported whether the villa was occupied or empty. He said that there were 58 foreigners who were registered and had STLD in their area, however there are also 200 foreigners who are not registered.
Vaccination Update
“Vaccine Stocks Sufficient to Inoculate 77% Citizens” from Antara: Indonesia has sufficient COVID-19 vaccines to inoculate 77% of the country's total population and build herd immunity, Vice President Ma'ruf Amin said. Although the number of COVID-19 vaccines has been confirmed to be sufficient, the vaccination process is taking time because it is not possible to rely solely on health office personnel to carry out vaccinations, Amin said. Therefore, the government has involved the TNI, police, the National Population and Family Planning Agency and various organizations to accelerate COVID-19 vaccinations. "We want everyone to be vaccinated by the end of 2021, so we can get herd immunity," he said.
More...
Health Protocols (Prokes) & Health Services
“12 Orphans Test Positive for Covid-19, Immediately Isolated” from Radar Bali (Indonesian): After being tested negative for Covid-19 based on a rapid antigen test, dozens of orphans at an orphanage in Melaya District underwent PCR tests and 12 were confirmed positive for Covid-19. They were immediately taken to a centralized isolation centre. Head of the Jembrana Health Service, I Gusti Bagus Ketut Oka Parwata said of the results of the PCR swab test on 58 samples from the orphanage, 12 children were confirmed positive. Meanwhile, the others are self-isolating at the orphanage and in five days they will be PCR tested again. Previously, all residents of the orphanage underwent a rapid antigen test because they came into close contact with a caregiver who was confirmed positive for Covid-19.
More...
Nation: “Active Covid-19 Cases Fall Below 100,000” from The Jakarta Globe
Province: “Keep Prokes Discipline Once Vaccinated” from Bali Post (Indonesian)
Economy & Infrastructure
“Bali's Economic Development Lame” from Bisnis Bali (Indonesian): Deputy Governor of Bali, Tjorkorda Oka Artha Ardana Sukawati said that South Bali's economic growth has so far been much faster than North and East Bali. It should be noted that South Bali has been superior in terms of economy by developing tourism. In contrast to North Bali and East Bali, which encourage agriculture. So far, Bali has relied too much on tourism in influencing economic conditions. "Bali is the province that experienced the deepest economic growth contraction in Indonesia, which was up to minus 12%, this strengthens our awareness that Bali's development has been unequal, unbalanced," he said on Tuesday.
More...
Nation: “NTT Experiences Fastest Economic Recovery” from Bisnis Bali (Indonesian)
Province: “Agriculture Is the Key to Economic Recovery” from Bisnis Bali (Indonesian)
Education
“PPKM Level 3, Council Urges Implementation of Face-to-Face Learning” from Tribun Bali (Indonesian): The decrease to PPKM Level 3 has allowed some concessions to begin to be applied in Bali. One of them is face-to-face learning. The Chairman of Commission IV DPRD Bali , I Gusti Putu Budiarta alias Gung Budiarta asked the Bali Provincial Government to immediately implement PTM in Bali. According to him, online or online learning activities are very boring for students, especially since the new school year many students do not know each other. "We at Commission IV DPRD Bali have agreed, if PPKM in Bali is at level 3, we ask the Education and Youth Sports Office to immediately determine face-to-face learning," he said on Tuesday.
More ...
Nation: “490,217 Schools Conduct Limited Face-to-face Learning” from Antara
Bangli: “Bangli Regent Reviews Teacher Competency Tests” from Antara Bali (Indonesian)
Bali Reopening
“PPKM Level 3, New Hope for Bali Tourism” from Bisnis Bali (Indonesian): Now that PPKM level 3 applies in Bali there is hope for tourism actors to return to business. The Head of Hipmi Bali, Pande Agus Permana Widura, said that the decline in PPKM to level 3 would increase tourist visits to Bali, however the increase is considered insignificant because the portion of domestic tourists from the total number of hotels available is only around 15 to 20%. "Regarding the decline to level 3 it will probably increase but will not be significant," he said. Tourism economic observer from Warmadewa University I Made Suniastha Amerta projects that domestic tourists will return to Bali after the implementation of PPKM level 3. "Before international tourism is opened, as an initial recovery, we should take advantage of domestic tourists first," he said.
Context: Another report suggested the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy is estimating 1.5 million foreign tourists could visit Indonesia, including Bali, by the end of 2021.
“Minister Walks Back Backpacker Ban” from Bali Discovery: Comments by Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, Indonesia’s Coordinating Minister of Maritime Affairs and Investment that initially threatened Indonesia would ban backpackers, have been walked back. The Indonesian Government is now assuring that “all” foreign tourists would be permitted to visit. The spokesperson for the Coordinating Minister, Jodi Mahardi, sought to clarify Luhut’s comments, saying on Tuesday, “This was just a misunderstanding. What was meant were visitors who disobey regulations or protocols on health, law, and immigration.”
Context: Bali Discovery previously wrote an impassioned editorial reacting to the quoted comments by the Minister, you can read it here.
“State Intelligence Denies Hackers Compromised Networks” from Tempo: Days after reports emerged about a suspected breach by Chinese hackers into government internal networks, the Indonesian State Intelligence Agency (BIN) - which the report suspects is one of the compromised - denied that its server had been hacked. “Until this moment the BIN server is still secure and there is no breach by Chinese hackers as current rumors suggest,” said BIN spokesperson Wawan Purwanto on September 14.
Context: The report in The Record noted that Indonesian authorities were advised of the hack in June 2021, with a source saying steps had been taken to clean the infected systems in August 2021.
Of Interest
“Keeping the Railway Business on Track” from Antara
“Old Immigration Stamps Destroyed” from Bali Prawara (Indonesian)
“Muslim Women in Pegayaman Are Forbidden to Go Far Without Relatives” from Bali Express (Indonesian)
“Convicted Heroin Smuggler From Sierra Leone Avoids Death Penalty” from Radar Bali (Indonesian)
“Bones on Keramas Beach Thought to be Farmers’ Body” from Suara Bali (Indonesian)
“Three Days Lost, Body of Dreamland Visitor Found” from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian)
“Nusa Penida Kepala Desa Arrested for Fake Land Certificates” from Detik (Indonesian)
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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