Thursday, December 24
Jembrana & Badung enter Red Zone + School reopenings up in the air across island + Airport adds second testing facility amid crush + Cinema XXI joins Cinepolis in reopening theaters + more!
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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.
The Big News
"The Development of Covid-19 Worsens! Increasing Red Zone In Bali" from The Bali Post: The development of COvid-19 cases which has shown an increase this week has made the risk map for the spread of Covid-19 in Bali worsen. Last week there were two districts that were in the red zone, but data since December 20 states that 2 more regencies have returned to the high risk zone. According to data published by the national Covid-19 Task Force, Bali has 4 districts with red risk zones and 5 districts / cities with orange - or medium - risk zones. Those in the red zone are Gianyar and Tabanan, which have been in the zone for two weeks, plus Jembrana and Badung, which last week were still in the orange zone.
"Bali's Ngurah Rai Airport Added An Antigen Rapid Test Facility" from Antara (Indonesian): "We are adding one more facility to accommodate the high demand from prospective passengers and the general public who want services that are easily accessible," said General Manager of PT Angkasa Pura I (Persero) International Airport I Gusti Ngurah Rai, Bali, Herry AY Sikado. The new antigen rapid test service facility is located at the Wisti Sabha Building, which is near the Domestic Departure Terminal. "For prospective passengers and the general public who want to carry out this additional rapid antigen test , the fare is Rp 170,000 for one test. The test results will be immediately known within approximately 60 minutes after sampling," said Herry AY Sikado. Prospective passengers and the general public who want to carry out a rapid antigen test must register online and register by filling in their personal data and making reservations.
(Ed. Note: The testing facility at the airport has already processed 1,902 tests as of Wednesday night, with a peak of 553 people using the service on Wednesday alone. 12 people have returned positive results so far.)
"Early January 2021 Karangasem Conduct Face-to-Face Learning Trials" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian): The plan is that face-to-face learning trials will be held for two months starting on January 4, 2021. "There have been verifications and it turns out that almost all schools have declared they are ready," said the Karangasem Regional Secretary, I Ketut Sedana Merta. In practice, the number or quota of students participating in face-to-face learning will of course be limited. So that to cover this, the online learning system will still be implemented. Students who do not have the turn to take face-to-face learning can later follow online.
(Ed. Note: It is not entirely clear what “testing” means in this story. In the past, testing has taken the form of evaluating the effectiveness of health protocols at one or two schools in a district, but from the translation it appears that the intent is to “test”” them at all schools in the regency. Different regencies are in different places when it comes to reopening schools. On Tuesday, Denpasar said that it would wait until March to restart face-to-face learning. Yesterday, Buleleng’s Covid-19 Task Force refused to confirm whether or when they will reopen their schools. As of last week, Tabanan’s government said that the number of cases being detected there each day “threatened” the reopening of schools, but a final decision has not been made yet. We are still waiting for word from other regencies.)
COVID STORIES: The British journalist Malcolm Brabant, who has been covering Covid-19 hotspots in Europe for the American Public Broadcasting System’s Newshour program, has found himself locked down in his small home with his wife and son as a result of both of them coming down with the virus. The record of his first week in isolation, where he and his family navigate the knowns and unknowns of the virus, including oxygen saturation levels, comorbidities, and the potential for allergic reactions to the vaccine, was broadcast last night and is a very informative, affecting watch:
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Other Headlines
"Polres Gianyar Maping Crowd Points, Sellers of Fireworks and Alcohol" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian): To prevent crowds at the turn of New Year's Eve, the Gianyar Police have mapped the common vulnerability spots. In addition, it has also mapped fireworks traders to liquor sellers to be put in order. This was revealed by the Head of the Gianyar Police, AKBP I Dewa Made Adnyana. Currently his party has carried out patrol activities to maintain security and also discipline prokes. "For the Christmas and New Year holidays, we are guided by the governor's rules, especially the restriction holidays on New Year's Eve. We also coordinate with local governments including the TNI," he explained. Locations that have the potential for crowding have been identified by his side, one of which is Gianyar Square and a number of beaches. On New Year's Eve the members will come to the location, and personnel have been prepared.
"Passengers Entering Bali Down 32,278 People" from Nusa Bali (Indoneian): Public Relations of the Nataru ASDP Transport Post Branch of Ketapang Port - Gilimanuk Sandi Nugroho, Tuesday (22/12), said that on D-4 Christmas 2019, 44,260 passengers crossed to Gilimanuk Port or headed for Bali. Meanwhile, on the D-4 Christmas this year, there were only 11,982 passengers heading to Bali. "Down by about 73% (compared to D-4 Nataru last year)," he said. Meanwhile, passengers leaving Bali or from Gilimanuk Port to Ketapang Port, Banyuwangi, East Java, also experienced a decline of 19,084 people. During H-4 Christmas last year, 30,209 passengers left Bali. Meanwhile, on the D-4 Christmas this year, only 11,125 passengers left Bali. In percentage terms, the decrease in passengers leaving Bali on H-4 Christmas this year reached 63%.
"Gianyar Waiting for Bali Provincial Government Instructions [ on Covid-19 Quarantine Hotel Contract]" from Nusa Bali (Indonesian): The cooperation contract for the use of hotel rooms for quarantine of people with positive Covid-19 confirmation will expire in December 2020. In Gianyar, there are two hotels that accommodate OTG (people without symptoms) Covid-19, namely Maxone Ubud in Banjar Pengosekan, Mas Desa, and Suly Resort in Peliatan Village, Ubud District. The continuation of the contract, the Gianyar Regency Government is still waiting for the Bali Provincial Government's instructions. Whether this collaboration will take place in 2021, Gianyar Regency Government has not provided certainty. Because the financing is fully borne by the Bali Provincial Government. However, until now the Gianyar Regency Government has not received confirmation regarding this matter. "Currently it has closed the book. We are coordinating on this," Wisnu Gianyar Regional Secretary Made Gede Wisnu Wijaya.
"It is the Turn of Cinema XXI to Operate Again in Bali" from Nusa Bali (Indonesian): After the operation of the two Cinepolis networks in Bali, Cinema XXI is now back in operation in Bali, namely at Level 21 Mall and Trans Studio Mall Bali. As of Sunday (21/12), as many as 133 units of Cinema XXI cinema network have been operating throughout Indonesia. "After obtaining permits and recommendations from the local government, Cinema XXI conducted reopening trials in a number of areas. When testing the reopening of the cinema, we will monitor the progress of the existing conditions," said Dewinta Hutagaol, Head of Corporate Communications & Brand Management at Cinema XXI. The maximum capacity in the cinema studios varies from 25%, 30% to 50%, where this capacity is adjusted according to instructions from the Local Government.
"IDR 94 million Flew from Bags On the Way from Buleleng to Denpasar, the Investigation Continues" from The Bali Tribune (Indonesian): Baturiti Police, Tabanan continues to study reports of cases of loss of money worth Rp. 94,188,000 which were reported to have occurred in Banjar Abianluang, Baturiti Village / District. The money is said to have disappeared by flying at the TKP from an uncovered bag on the way from Buleleng to Denpasar. In fact, some motorists who were passing by then took part and then fled. Investigations are still being developed to prove whether the incident really was lost due to negligence of the victim or if there were elements of intent and other elements.
"Permit Applications in Denpasar Decrease Due to the Covid-19 Pandemic" from Radar Bali (Indonesian): The Covid-19 pandemic has dampened public interest in building businesses. This is evident from the decrease in the processing of business permits at the Denpasar City Investment and One Stop Integrated Service (DPMPSTP) this year compared to last year. Throughout 2020, there were at least 3,973 applications for permits... "Throughout 2020, from January to December, we have received 3,973 licensing applications, of which 3,714 permits have been issued and 259 have been rejected due to the completeness of the documents and requirements," explained Head of Denpasar City DPMPTSP, IB Benny Pidada Ruru. It was further explained that this figure had decreased when compared to 2019. In that year, there were at least 6,412 applications for permits, with 5,607 successfully issued. Meanwhile, as many as 805 others were rejected.
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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