Sunday, May 31
Five PMI test positive in Gianyar, driving another day of double-digit new cases + Rules finalized for traveling to & from Bali + Scooter taxis to remain banned by Ministry of Transportation + more!
Good morning! Welcome to the COVID-19 Update for Bali for Sunday, May 31. 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 Infections 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
"The New Normal for Public Transport: Protocol Published" from Indonesia Expat: Domestic Minister Tito Karnavian has issued regulations relating to protocols in the era of the new normal. The rules relate to taxis as well as mass public transport. In the protocols, rule #440-830 / 2020 deals with the online or conventional motorcycle taxis. "The operation of conventional or online motorcycle taxis must remain suspended to prevent the spread of the virus through the use of shared helmets and direct physical contact between passengers and drivers," Tito said.
"Ministry of Transportation Prepares for Flights to and from Bali With New Normal" from Antara (Indonesian): A number of entrances to Bali, including airports, are monitored. Bali only accepts passengers traveling by land, sea and air transportation with negative results from the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) based swab test issued by a government laboratory / hospital approved by the Covid-19 Task Force... "We urge passengers to comply with all the requirements stipulated by the Task Force, so that land, sea and air transportation are safe, secure and comfortable," said Kemenhub Novie Riyanto, Director General of Civil Aviation Ministry of Transportation.
"Quarantined After Arriving On May 22, 5 Migrant Workers In Gianyar Test Positive for Corona" from Radar Bali (Indonesian): The list of Covid-19 patients in Gianyar Regency has grown. This time, dozens of Indonesian Migrant Workers (PMI) who had just arrived in Bali on May 22 underwent a swab test. As a result, five of the migrant workers who took the swab test tested positive for Covid-19. Now they have received intensive care... A total of 23 PMI were quarantined at the Maxone hotel and another 23 PMI were quarantined at the Suly hotel. "They were swabbed on May 27. Then it was confirmed positive May 28," Public relations Officer for Gianyar's Covid-19 Task Force, Gusti Ngurah Bem, said.
Other Headlines
"1,744 People Turned Back, 3 Suspected Letter Forgers Arrested In Badung" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian): Since they began checking travelers who pass by the Badung Police Safety Post on APril 24th, the Badung Police Traffic Unit has turned away 236 two-wheeled vehicles, 158 four-wheeled, and 14 buses, carrying a total of 1,744 people. They've also arested three people who were suspected of carrying forged health certificates. Of the 1,080 violations committed by the community, 29 people were given sanctions while the remaining 1,051 were given a verbal warning.
"Kuta Beach Prepares 'New Era' Protocols" from The Bali Post (Indonesian): The date for the closing of attractions in Badung Regency passed on Friday, However, the local government has not yet decided on the sustainability of the policy. Head of the Badung Tourism Office (Dispar) I Made Badra, said, "If there are indeed instructions from the government, we will open slowly. After all, tourists are not too many and there are still some in Kuta." He admitted, at this time the activity on Kuta Beach had been somewhat relaxed. But limited to local residents only. It is said, at this time many residents have begun to move around to exercise. In the future, said Wasista, if it has begun to be opened, for traders at an early stage, they will be invited to clean first. Then, for activities, it will be adjusted to the standard handling of COVID-19.
"Bali Tourism SOPs Submitted to Research Agency" from Nusa Bali (Indonesian): The final proposed group of standard operating procedures (SOP) for Bali's tourism sector is now in the hands of the Bali Provincial Research Agency (BARI). Their review of the new processes that will be required to be put in place by all businesses ad part fo the "New Normal" re-opening process is expected to be completed by mid-June... The draft of the "New Normal" SOPs was prepared by a special Diparda Bali team, chaired by the Head of the Bali Provincial Tourism Office, I Putu Astawa, and comprised of prominent figures in the industry, professionals and related parties who have related expertise. Among them were elements of the Indonesian Tourism Industry Association (GIPI) Bali, the Indonesia Hotel General Manager Association (IHGMA) / Association of General Managers of Hotel Indonesia, PHRI and others.
"Non-Cash Transactions In Bali Increase During Pandemic" from Kumparan (Indonesian): Contactless non-cash transactions, in the form of server-based electronic money, mobile banking, internet banking, and QRIS, increased in March thanks to the Cobid-19 pndemic. "When compared to February 2020, transactions increased from 10,869,517 to 13,133,629, a jump of 20.83%. While in terms of value, it grew from Rp. 17.84 trillion to Rp. 18.92 trillion, or 6.03%," explained Chief Representative of Bank Indonesia, Bali, Trisno Nugroho. In addition, the number of merchants in Bali who received digital payments in the form of QRIS increased to 88,808, up from only 44,696 merchants in January, an increase of 98.7%.
Non-Covid News of Note
"Building A Hotel On Bali Coast Will Be Prohibited In New Provincial Spatial Plan" from The IDN Times (Indonesian): The Provincial Government of Bali has adopted an amended Provincial Spatial Plan (RTRW) as a roadmap for the island's development through 2029. Regency / City Governments will be required to make adjustments to their own development plans in accordance with the new regulations, which include policy objectives and regional spatial planning strategies, a regional spatial structure plan, designations of protected forest areas and cultivation areas, strategic area designations, directions for the use of regional spaces, directions for controlling spatial use [this includes a ban on new bachfront hotels and private beaches]... Major infrastructure projects approved include:
Transportation network system: Plans for the construction of five toll roads, construction of new roads and short cut roads, Benoa Port Development, New Port Development and Golden Triangle Port (Sanur, Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan), railway network construction, development of North Bali Airport
Energy network system: development of environmentally friendly power plants (PLT), gas fuel replacement for all PLTs, development of Java-Bali electricity networks through submarine cables.
Telecommunications network system: Increased telecommunications reliability to support the Bali Smart Island initiative.
Water resources network system: Protecting water sources with the concept of Sad Kerthi, utilization of a harmonious water source for agricultural and consumption needs, adding new reservoirs.
Environmental infrastructure and other infrastructure network systems: Equitable distribution of drinking water supply, expansion of centralized waste management, source-based waste management and reduction of plastic waste.
"New Amendments to Bali Regional Spatial Plan Draw Protest from Walhi Bali" from The Bali Tribune (Indonesian): The Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi) Bali is protesting the amendment of the Regional Spatial Plan for Bali (RTRW), saying that thet never knew about the process and had not been given a chance to offer comment on the draft prior to its approval... WALHI Bali suspects that the RTRW has been amended behind closed doors becasue it violates the principle of openness, and without a clear purpose it eliminates the "in violation" status of projects that were already built when the original Regional Regulation was adopted in 2009. "We alledge that these new amendments will erase spatial violations, such as protecting tourism accommodation projects that have already been built by violating the coastline or violating the maximum height of buildings," said a spokesperson.
"Denpasar City Government Receives Sanur Land Certificate for 'Sunrise' Port" from Antara (Indonesian): The Government of the City of Denpasar, Bali, officially pocketed the land certificate of the Rising Sun Port, Sanur, from the local Office of the National Land Agency (BPN) as a follow-up to the Sanur Port development plan which was based on the results of the 2011 Musrenbangdes which suggested that a seaport be made... The port current port that services boats going to Nusa Penid, which is located behind the Bali Beach Hotel Sanur, is considered to be inadequate for safety reasons. Head of the BPKAD Asset Division of Denpasar City, Komang Audi Brawijaya, said that construction of the port will function as a local feeder port will support the recovery and improvement of the local economy and the tourism sector.
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.