Sunday, July 26
As infection rate drops & recovery rate grows, Denpasar upgraded to Orange Zone + Limited 'Travel Corridor' established to UAE + Cashless transactions req'd for 'New Era' tourism permits + more
Good morning! Welcome to the COVID-19 Update for Bali for Sunday, July 26. 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.
The Big News
IMMIGRATION ALERT: As of press time, the rumored/leaked Circular regarding changes to the extension process & new visa issuance policy for Emergency Stay Permits has still not been published on the Directorate of Immigration’s website, nor on its social media accounts. As such, its contents should not be considered to be final + it is still technically not legal and local officials are not bound by it. (In fact, they are prohibited from following its dictates.) I will continue to monitor the media & official channels for more information and will post news of the final document here once it’s available. In the meantime, you can check for updates during the day by checking imigrasi.go.id or by following Immigration on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram.
"Patient Recovery Rate Increases, Denpasar Upgraded To Orange Zone" from Radar Bali (Indonesian): Good news is coming from Denpasar. Based on data from the city's Covid-19 Task Force (GTPP), 1,195 positive cases have been recorded, with 854 cases recovered and 14 people deaths, leaving 327 people still being treated. Thus, the percentage of patient recovery was 71.46%, so that the Denpasar City area was declared an orange zone... This zone's color change has been reflected on the Task Force's Handling Map in accordance with criteria from BNPB. "The daily transmission index also tends to decrease, and cases of recovery also continue to increase. Denpasar's Infection Rate (R Number) is currently at 1.06, with the number of tests being continuously intensified," said GTPP Covid-19 Denpasar City spokesman, I Dewa Gede Rai.
"Indonesia Finalizing 'Travel Corridor' with UAE" from The Jakarta Post: Indonesia is finalizing a travel corridor agreement with the United Arab Emirates to facilitate “essential business trips” including official and diplomatic visits, the Foreign Ministry has announced. The agreement would exempt certain travelers from a two-week quarantine measure when traveling between the two countries... “Such agreement is necessary to follow up economic agreements previously agreed upon between the two countries, including ones that came following President [Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s] visit to the UAE in January,” Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi said. She said Indonesia was currently discussing a similar travel policy with other countries.
"Non-Cash Transactions, One of the Covid-19 Protocol Requirements in Attractions" from Berita Bali (Indonesian): To get a certification of the feasibility of a new era of Balinese life arrangements, each tourist site is obliged to impose QRIS non-cash payment transactions, as one of the requirements of the Covid-19 health protocol so as not to experience touch with cash funds as an effort to spread the virus through objects such as cash. QRIS non-cash payment systems are in place for ticket sales and other outlets... For Gianyar Regency, in addition to the Wenara Wana Sacred Mandala Area (Monkey Forest) there are also 11 other attractions that are ready with health protocols and certification of the feasibility of a new era of Balinese life, namely the Puri Lukisan Museum, The royal Pita Maha, Alas Harum Bali, The Kayon Jungle Resort, Adi Jaya Cottages, Bebek Tepi Sawah, The Alena Resort, Purana Boutique Resort, Luwak Ubud villas, Janata Resort and spa and Sankara Resort.
Other Headlines
"Kidul Market Traders Not Taking Mass Tests May Return to Selling" from The Bali Post (Indonesian): All Pasar Kidul traders who had undergone mass rapid tests with reactive results are now allowed to sell again, as are traders who did not take rapid tests... According to I Wayan Gunawan, Head of the Industry and Trade office of Bangli Regency, the traders are being allowed to sell again because they have all undergone independent 14-day quarantines. "Previously, traders who did not participate were forbidden from selling because of the concern that some of them may have been positive for Covid-19 and would transmit it to others. Now, because it has been more than 14 days, it's OK," he said.
"AirAsia Offers Drive-through Rapid Tests for Passengers" from The Jakarta Post: AirAsia Indonesia is offering drive-through rapid COVID-19 testing for passengers leaving from Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Jakarta. The service is provided daily from 4 a.m. to 8 p.m. for Rp 95.000 (US$6.51) at Soewarna Business Park located at the airport. The rapid test results and medical certificate will be valid for 14 days. In a statement, AirAsia Indonesia director Veranita Yosephine said, “The service will be expanded to Indonesian cities that AirAsia currently serves.”
"Nusa Penida Police Check Body Temperature and Give Masks to Travelers Who Enter Toya Pakeh Port" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian): This was done because there were still residents around and tourists visiting were found that there were still many who did not wear masks. Residents who were met at the port of Toya Pakeh whose name did not want to be published said they were grateful he was reminded of checking the temperature of the body and the use of this mask. "We feel thankful to the gentlemen from the Nusa Penida Sector Police for distributing masks to us, and this is very positive because we are reminded for our safety," he explained.
"Abusing Residence Permit by Holding Yoga Activities, Two Foreigners Arrested" from Radar Bali (Indonesian): Two foreign citizens from Russia, Rodion Antonkin, 40, and Albana Mukhamadullina, 31, were arrested by Bali Immigration officers in the Gianyar region on Tuesday. Both were secured for abusing residence permits by holding yoga activities for personal gain. Now they are detained temporarily at the Denpasar Immigration Detention House while awaiting the deportation process to their country.
Non-Covid News of Note
"Australian Drug Convict Walks Free from Bali Prison After One Year" from The Sydney Morning Herald: An Australian man walked free from prison on the Indonesian tourist island of Bali on Saturday after serving one year for possession of cocaine in a nightclub. Former Melbourne nightclub promoter William Cabantog and his fellow Australian David van Iersel were arrested last July in a police raid at the Lost City Club in the island’s trendy Canggu neighbourhood with 1.12 grams of cocaine in the pocket of Cabantog’s jeans. Yulius Sahruzah, the Kerobokan prison chief of warden, said Cabantog will be placed in a detention cell at the immigration office while waiting for a flight to Australia.
"Transformation, PLN Encourages Use of Environmentally Friendly Energy" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian): PLN has several strategies to encourage the use of new renewable energy, namely by co-firing an already operating Steam Power Plant (PLTU), a conversion program for a Diesel Power Plant (PLTD) into a Power Plant Biomass Electric Power (PLT), construction of a Floating Solar Power Plant (PLTS) by utilizing existing dams to generate electricity. "We are innovating and utilizing the existing potentials to increase the use of new renewable energy," said President Director of PLN, Zulkifli Zaini.
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.
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 cancelled the automatic Emergency Stay Permit program that had been extended to most foreigners who are still in the country on temporary stay visas. You can see a (translated) list of all of the relevant entry regulations on the Directorate General of Immigration & Ministry of Law and Human Rights' website here. Scroll down halfway to the heading "Foreign nationals still residing in Indonesia due to suspending departure and ITAS & ITAP holders overseas" to see their list of which visas can still be extended. If you reside in Badung Regency, from the southern end of the island up to North Kuta, you need to make an appointment with the Immigration office in the Airport before you go in. You can make your appointment here. Follow them on social media to receive policy updates as soon as they are released: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram
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.
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.