September 30, 2021
Pastika says save Lake Batur + Health tourism a priority + Govt aims to suppress cases below 10,000 + 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
The Big News
“Pastika Calls for Action to Save Lake Batur” from Antara Bali (Indonesian): Member of the Regional Representative Council, Made Mangku Pastika, thinks the Bangli Regency Government should lead in educating the public to save Lake Batur, whose condition is increasingly alarming due to environmental pollution and forest encroachment. "This planning is good, the initial steps are already in place. There is already a Presidential Regulation, there is an action plan and program. However, who is most responsible for this matter?," asked Pastika, the former governor of Bali, on Wednesday. "I will try according to my authority to speak to the ministry regarding the Lake Batur issue. But what is clear is that the Ministry has tried everything," he said.
“Sandiaga Uno: Health Tourism in Bali a Priority” from Suara Bali (Indonesian): Health tourism is one of the priorities to prepare for the reopening of Bali, said Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, Sandiaga Uno. "We are compiling programs with the collaboration of relevant ministries and institutions," he said on Tuesday. He said, according to Bloomberg data 1.2 million patients from Indonesia 'shopped' for health services abroad, which is worth US$2 billion. "This is our opportunity to take this market because our hospital services are of high quality. With limited travel abroad at the moment, with the support of the quality of our human resources that are competitive with other countries plus excellence in hospitality, we are optimistic that we can develop the health tourism sector," he said.
Context: Health Tourism has been a recurring theme (Indonesian) among Minister Sandiaga Uno's ideas for Bali.
“Covid-19 Task Force Aims to Suppress Cases Below 10,000” from Tempo: The Covid-19 handling task force spokesperson Wiku Adisasmito said on Wednesday the government is attempting to suppress weekly Covid-19 case growth to its lowest possible point in order to start the transition from a pandemic to an endemic. “At least below 10,000 weekly cases must be reached. Once it is achieved, the Covid-19 condition in Indonesia can be considered under control,” Wiku said. As of September 26, the country’s weekly coronavirus case growth logged 17,250 cases, which is a significant drop compared to the second case surge and lower than mid-2020 that logged 18,675 cases per week.
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Other Headlines
“Government Seeks Vaccination Coverage of 80% by Dec 2021” from Antara: The Indonesian government expects vaccination coverage to reach 80% by December 2021, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Airlangga Hartarto said on Wednesday. To meet the target and achieve herd immunity, 337 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines will need to be administered across Indonesia, he said. From early January to September 27, at least 88.29 million first doses and 49.48 million second doses have been administered, which account for 32.76% of the total target, he said. Of the target of 141.21 million for the general public and vulnerable people, 47.58 million or 33.7% first doses and 22.44 million doses or 15.89% second doses have been administered so far, Hartarto said.
Context: This 80% target is up from Monday’s target of 70%. Another goal was to vaccinate 20% of the provincial populations by the end of September (today), something that has been achieved in all but West Sumatra and Lampung provinces. Don’t forget, you can follow the progress of Bali’s vaccination progress on The Bali Beat Sunday evening email.
Vaccination Update
“Indonesia Ready to Become Vaccine Hub for Asia-Pacific” from Antara: Minister of Foreign Affairs, Retno Marsudi, has expressed Indonesia's readiness to become a center for COVID-19 vaccine production in the Asia-Pacific region. "Vaccine producers must be able to increase their production capacity. It is time for developing countries to be included in the global vaccine supply chain," the Foreign Minister said on Wednesday. Increasing the production or supply of vaccines is considered one of the important efforts to meet the target of vaccinating 70% of the world's population by mid-2022, she said. "When we talk about the vaccine supply chain, I mention that the establishment of an mRNA vaccine manufacturing center that has been carried out in South Africa should be replicated in other regions to accelerate the increase in vaccine production," Marsudi said.
Context: Indonesia’s interest in this first surfaced in mid September. At the time a WHO spokesperson said Indonesia was one of 25 low and middle income countries to express interest in hosting a vaccine hub, but declined to say if it was a leading candidate.
Health Protocols (Prokes) & Health Services
“Health Ministry Reveals Two Factors Behind Declining Covid-19 Cases” from Antara: Health Ministry spokesperson for the COVID-19 vaccination, Siti Nadia Tarmizi, said the significant drop in COVID-19 cases was attributable to public discipline towards the predetermined health protocols and the government mass vaccination programs. “Regarding the rising public mobility, we need to remember that the current decline in cases or downward slope of the pandemic curve can be achieved by being disciplined in implementing the health protocols together and receiving vaccines immediately,” Nadia said on Wednesday. She called on all parties not to be careless with the current improving situation. People are demanded to stay vigilant by complying with the health orders and getting two doses of COVID-19 vaccine in order to curb virus transmission.
More...
Gianyar: “Police Pick Up Elderly by Bus for Vaccination” from Nusa Bali (Indonesian)
Jembrana: “Jembrana Regency Applies Pedulilindungi for Employees” from Antara Bali (Indonesian)
Economy & Infrastructure
“322,834 Merchants in Bali Using QRIS” from Antara Bali (Indonesian): The Bali Province Bank Indonesia Representative Office noted that as of September 24, 322,834 merchants in Bali have implemented payment digitization based on the Indonesian Standard Quick Response Code (QRIS). "The rapid number of merchants in Bali who use QRIS is in line with the shift in community preference behavior patterns during the COVID-19 pandemic that prioritizes safety and health factors," said Head of Bank Indonesia Representative for Bali Province Trisno Nugroho on Wednesday. The number of merchants grew by 85% compared to the initial data in 2021. With the 322,834 merchants, the achievement was around 89% of the targeted 363,100 merchants by the end of 2021. Bali is ranked seventh nationally for the number of QRIS merchants.
More...
Nation: “Bank NTB Syariah Funds Mandalika With IDR 16 Billion” from Bisnis Bali (Indonesian)
Province: “Bali Fishery Exports Increase” from Republika (Indonesian)
Province: “Hotels and Restaurants Must Use Traditional Bali Salt” from Nusa Bali (Indonesian)
Education
“Gianyar Schools Asked to Prepare PPE for PTM” from Nusa Bali (Indonesian): The Gianyar Regency Education Office has asked each school health unit to provide at least two sets of PPE to anticipate things that are not desirable. "Some of the schools we have monitored have started to prepare, it is hoped that other schools will immediately equip the PPE," said Head of the Gianyar Regency Education Office, I Made Suradnya, on Wednesday. I Made Suradnya added that in addition to PPE, the other most important thing is to apply health protocols with discipline, to prevent new clusters of spreading Covid-19. “The number of students during PTM is 50% of the total number, which is divided into several sessions," he said.
More...
Denpasar: “Schedule for Denpasar PTM” from Bali Post (Indonesian)
Karangasem: “Covid-19 Task Force Checks Karangasem Schools” from Bali Post (Indonesian)
Bali Reopening
“Cok Ace Optimistic MICE Tourism Will Rise Again” from Nusa Bali (Indonesian): The start of the decline in Covid 19 cases in Indonesia, especially in Bali, is an opportunity for the government to restructure tourism development programs and strategies to support economic growth. "Along with the Covid-19 pandemic, the concept of mass tourism which has been the mainstay to pursue the quantity of tourists, is expected to start turning into quality tourism in the future," said Deputy Governor of Bali Prof. Dr. Tjokorda Oka Artha Ardana Sukawati, on Wednesday. In addition to having an impact on the national economy, holding the Meeting Incentive Convention Exhibition (MICE) also boosts the popularity of the regions that are lined up to host international MICE events. "This will also have a significant impact on business development, socio-culture, and education," he said.
More ...
Province: “Indonesian House of Reps Members Support Slow Reopening” from Suara Bali (Indonesian)
Province: “Bali Tourism Actors Are Ready if International Tourism Opens” from Tribun Bali (Indonesian)
Province: “Collectively Maintain Health Protocols to Revive Tourism” from Antara Bali (Indonesian)
Bangli: “Bangli Trains Guides as Environmental Hygiene Pioneers” from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian)
“Australia Gives Opportunity for 1,000 Balinese in Entrepreneur Scholarship” from Kumparan (Indonesian): The Australian Government is offering scholarships as funding for sustainable businesses or sustainable businesses for young people in Bali. This offer is through the Sustainable Business Incubator (Inkuri) program organized by the Pratisara Bumi Foundation. "We support the Inkuri program through a grant scheme from the Australian Government," said the Australian Consul for Bali, NTT and NTB Anthea Griffin on Tuesday. “This Inkuri program is an excellent way to take advantage of Bali's abundant creative and digital skills,” she explained. The program is open for 18-35 year-old entrepreneurs in the fields of environment and sustainable tourism.
Context: Registrations are open until October 25. See the Inkuri website for more information.
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Of Interest
“East Nusa Tenggara MP Condemns Komodo Blast Fishing” from Antara
“BRGM Optimistic of Mangrove Rehab Reaching 34,000 Hectares” from Antara
“Training for Narcotics Prisoners Initiated” from Radar Bali (Indonesian)
“Denpasar Youth Festival, 17 Oct-17 Nov” from Antara Bali (Indonesian)
“Suspected Unlicensed Excavations in Pecatu Raided, Stopped” from Radar Bali (Indonesian)
“Street Racer Stunned, Beaten, Has Leg Broken” from Radar Bali (Indonesian)
“Immigration Deport Two Foreigners Pretending to Be Military” from Antara Bali (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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