Thursday, January 28
Badung Vice Regent says govt is considering criminal sanctions for prokes violations + Airport Imigrasi office closed due to outbreak + Pres. says general public could get vaccines in Feb. + more!
Good morning! Welcome to The Bali Beat for Thursday, January 28. If you’re not a subscriber, sign up here to get this update delivered directly to your Inbox every Monday-Friday morning, along with each evening’s Covid-19 update. If you are already a subscriber, thank you! Please be sure to share it with others in the island community by clicking the button below.
I happily put this newsletter together Monday through Friday 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.* However, if you would like to support my work, please consider making a donation of US$5/month by becoming a contributing subscriber at the link above. Or if you prefer to make a one-time donation - in any amount - click here.
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: The 387 deaths seen nationally yesterday set a grim new milestone, far surpassing the pervious mark. So far in January, there have been 6,717 fatalities officially attributed to Covid-19. In December, that number was 5,193. Yesterday’s 540 new cases in Bali are just 2 fewer than the record that had been set the day before. That's almost 1,100 cases in two days- more than the island saw in all of June (1,028). The last 8 days have seen almost as many new infections (3,103) as was discovered in all of December (3,718). Officials are blaming the spread on large gatherings around traditional and religious ceremonies, which spread the virus among family-based clusters.
Click here to see the national numbers infographic and a Regency-by-Regency breakdown of yesterday’s local numbers.
The Big News
"Badung Tightens Prokes, Threatens Fines, Withdraws Permit to Crime" from Radar Bali (Indonesian): So far, Badung has put forward coaching for prokes offenders. However, in reality, positive cases of Covid-19 are still increasing. "Because there are many who violate it, so we make detailed, systematic and massive rules in terms of disciplinary restriction and law enforcement, seeing also from the economic, religious, customs and socio-cultural sectors," said Deputy Regent of Badung Ketut Suiasa. Law enforcement will give sanctions in the form of money in the amount of Rp. 100,000, the economic business sector will also be closed down and even revoke its license if it violates the prokes. "If things are too frontal and there is insubordination, we will try to enforce the crime. That has also been regulated and encouraged by the Badung Regency Forkopimda, such as the Police, TNI, and others," he said.
"Bali Ngurah Rai Immigration Office Services Temporarily Closed After a Number of Officers Test Positive for Covid-19" from The Bali Tribune (Indonesian): The closure of services at the office will be carried out from January 26, 2021 at 12.00 WITA until January 29, 2021. "Yes, it will be temporarily closed until Friday, January 29, 2021 because a number of officers have been confirmed positive for Covid-19 . As a precaution to prevent the spread of operations, they will be temporarily closed," said Jamaruli Manihuruk, Head of the Regional Office for the Ministry of Law and Human Rights for the Province of Bali. The office's official announcement reads: "For foreigners who hold a residence permit whose residence permit expires on January 26 - 31, 2021, they can contact +6281236956667 (Whatsapp Chat, at 08.00-16.00 Wita) no later than 1 day before the period of residence permit ends. Sorry for the inconvenience."
Hospital Capacity Update
"Tabanan Adds Isolation Places, the Task Force Asks Private Hospitals to Prepare Beds" from Radar Bali (Indonesian): Tabanan has been given an additional hotel as a quarantine location for Covid-19 patients by the Bali Provincial Government. Namely, the Berry Glee Hotel, which is located in the Kerobokan area, Kuta Badung, with a capacity of about 135 people. But the use is divided into two with Buleleng Regency. Previously, there were three hotels for isolation, namely Hotel Pop, Ibis and Vasini, which were provided as isolation locations by the Bali Provincial Government and Tabanan Regency. However, the hotel has almost full capacity. In terms of the place of treatment (for those who are symptomatic) so far the bed occupancy rate is around 60%.
More...
"RSPTN Unud Bali Added a Special Isolation Room for Covid-19 Patients" from Antata (Indonesian)
>> Classifieds <<
Looking for a new podcast- a podcast you can relate to? The Bittersweet Life is an exploration of the joys and challenges of the expat life- or any life lived on your own terms. Listen in for stimulating discussions between two lifelong friends, an expat and a repat. [LINK]
Community is so important- especially in times like these. If you’re looking to connect with the community of dedicated, engaged foreigners in Bali who’ve stayed during this pandemic, you can reach them with a classified ad in this space. Check out this page to find out how.
Other Headlines
"Govt Spends Rp14.5 Trillion on Treatment of Covid-19 Patients" from Antara: "Up till now the total amount that we have paid to 1,683 hospitals since March (2020) is more than Rp14.526 trillion, or close to Rp15 trillion," director general of Health Services at the Health Ministry, Abdul Kadir, said. "We have not paid claims filed in January (2021), because the budget fund that we will pay to them is still being processed at the Finance Ministry. So the budget fund has not been disbursed," he said.
Yesterday’s Prokes Patrols
National: "New Police Chief Vows to Enforce Public Health Orders" from The Jakarta Globe
Denpasar: "During PPKM Prokes Violators Are Still Found" from Nusa Bali (Indonesian)
"Under-reporting of Covid-19 Cases Still Possible: Spokesperson" from Antara: Spokesperson for the COVID-19 Handling Task Force, Wiku Adisasmito, said there is still some potential for under-reporting of coronavirus cases, though the number has continued to diminish. "The potential for under-reporting of cases is still there. But, it has changed quickly as time has progressed," he said in Jakarta on Wednesday. However, he said he believes that the lag in COVID-19 case reporting from the regional to the central government has continued to improve, which means the reporting of coronavirus cases at the moment is relatively in accordance to real time. "The condition at the moment is relatively real," he remarked.
Vaccination Update
Lots of coverage yesterday about the kick-off of Bali’s vaccination program outside the districts of Badung, Denpasar & Gianyar. Nationally, President Widodo became the first person to receive the second jab of Sinovac’s vaccine, and officials reiterated their commitment to getting all healthcare workers inoculated within the next 2 months.
National: "Jokowi Receives His Second Covid-19 Vaccine Injection” from The Jakarta Globe
National: "President Vows to Resolve Challenges to Vaccination Program" from Antara
National: "General Public to Receive Covid-19 Vaccine Shots in February: Jokowi" from Antara
National: "Ministry of Communication and Information: Hoax Causes 30% of the Public to Doubt Vaccines" from Antara (Indonesian)
Bali: "Tomorrow, All Bali Provincial Officials Who Participate in the First Stage of Covid-19 Vaccine Will Be Vaccinated Again" from The Bali Tribune (Indonesian)
Buleleng: "Thousands of Vaccine Vaccines Arrive in Buleleng, Vaccination Phase I Is Done Today" from Nusa Bali (Indonesian)
Gianyar: "Not Vaccinated, Regent Gianyar Prioritizes Vaccination for Health Workers" from Bali Express (Indonesian)
Jembrana: "Vaccinated a Day Is Targeted at 50 People in Each Health Facility" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian)
"More Than 1,000 Workers in Bali Furloughed So Far in January: Official" from Coconuts: According to the latest data from Bali’s Manpower Agency, 78,310 workers in the province were furloughed and 3,246 were laid off during the pandemic. This includes 1,001 workers who were furloughed and 186 who had been laid off so far this year. “The numbers will continue to rise because we have yet to receive complete data from all the regencies, some have yet to give us their data because they’re still collecting them,” the agency’s chief, Ida Bagus Ngurah Arda, said.
"A Foreigner Couple from Belarus Deported for Doing Online Business in Bali" from iNews Bali (Indonesian): Head of the Bali Ministry of Law and Human Rights Office Jamaruli Manihuruk said, Volha Kobets, assisted by her husband Siarhei Bautrukevich, were indicated to have produced, promoted and marketed natural products, such as soap, shampoo, tooth powder around Amed, Karangasem. "But both of them do business online in Bali with visit visas," said Jamaruli Manihuruk. Jamaruli said the Belarusian couple had been doing this business since September 2020. Both of them also have a stay permit for visiting, which is valid until 31 January 2021.
"Foreigner Confused about Visa Fees, Head of Kemenkumham in Bali Raise Hands" from Radar Bali (Indonesian): A tourist from Malaysia named James who complained about visa fees in Bali was finally responded to by the Head of the Bali Regional Office of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights, Jamaruli Manihuruk. He said that indeed many tourists in Bali have complained about this. This is because before the pandemic, citizens of ASEAN countries were exempt from visa fees, but after the pandemic it was costly. "Since the closure of the arrival of foreign tourists to Indonesia, it will be paid. If it is free, many foreigners will enter," he said. He explained that in a pandemic like this, the state indeed limits foreigners to Bali. This is also a policy of the center itself. "Don't come easy to Indonesia during this pandemic. That's a natural thing," he said.
"Tourism Minister Sandiaga Uno to Work in Bali" from Tempo: The Indonesian minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, Sandiaga Uno, will have an office in Bali and work from the Islands of the Gods to monitor the region's tourism development. “In the near future, Mr. Minister will work in Bali to monitor tourism development from time to time,” said the ministry’s tourism marketing director of regional I & II, Vinsensius Jemadu. According to Vinsensius, Bali is the capital of Indonesian tourism that needs close supervision. Sandiaga decided to work from there so that he can immediately make a decision regarding tourism policies.
Of Interest
"DPRD Suggests Bali Lockdown; Public: It's Difficult, Don't Make it Miserable" from Suara Bali (Indonesian)
"Bali Beats London to Title of World's Most Popular Destination in 2021 Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards"from The Daily Mail
The View from Outside
"'We Live Here': Fears Tourist Tweets on Gay Lifestyle May Backfire on Bali's LGBT Community" from The Guardian: Bali, a Hindu-majority island and a tourist destination that attracts gay travellers, is considered more open-minded than other areas of Indonesia, where discrimination against LGBT people is rife. LGBT residents on the island, however, do not enjoy the same privileges as visitors, said Arya, a program manager at Gaya Dewata Foundation, an NGO that provides health and educational services for LGBT people. “It is friendly here for LGBT tourists because they are here as tourists. The people in the tourism business will accept them whatever their sexuality is, they will be served well,” Arya said. “But we all have to understand the culture, and the local condition, and be careful with our actions to protect the local community. Not everyone here can express themselves that freely,” he added.
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.
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 try to 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.