Thursday, July 30
Infections spike in Karangasem as 7 families in one village go into lockdown + Vaccination schedule of early 2021 floated by govt + DPRD Chairman throws party, flouts heath protocols + more!
Good morning! Welcome to the COVID-19 Update for Bali for Thursday, July 30. 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!
NEWSLETTER UPDATE: To follow up on my previous announcement about changes to the newsletter that will begin next week, here is some more information on what you can expect to see starting on Monday:
A broader focus: While Covid-19 news is and will always be top-of-mind – it’s what drives the newsletter – you will see other important news items getting mixed in. These have usually been listed in the “Non-Covid News of Note” section at the bottom of the newsletter. Essentially, I’m discontinuing this section and will just incorporate those items into the main body going forward. As always, I’ll keep the length of the newsletter to no more than 10 items per day (I think that I’ve only hit 11 stories once or twice on big news days) and focus on items that concern or are of interest to foreigners.
A new name: Starting Monday, the Sender of the e-mail in your Inbox each morning & evening will be The Bali Beat. This reflects how my “beat” has expanded from Covid-only to all of Bali, and better matches the new mission to keep foreigners on the island updated on all important news items and not just Covid-19.
Classified ads: A new section will be added to give space to people & businesses who want to get a message out to our community. Each ad will be limited to 280 characters, and there will never be more than 3 per newsletter. If you’re interested in placing an ad in a future issue (or issues), or if you just want to learn more about how the program will work, click here.
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.
"Covid-19 in Karangasem Surges with an Additional 28 Positive Cases" from Berita Bali (Indonesian): In the midst of the government in promoting the New Era of Life in Bali, the local transmission of the corona virus in Karangasem Regency is increasingly worrying. Based on the latest data development in the handling of Covid-19 Karangasem Regency, on Wednesday (07/29/2020) there was a significant increase in positive cases of Covid-19, namely as many as 28 new cases at once. The Head of the Karangasem District Health Office explained that all the new additions were local transmission cases, spread out across 13 villages in the Regency.
(Ed. Note: While the 28 cases reported in Karangasem represents the single largest daily increase there, we do not have enough information to determine if this is a sign of more spreading of the virus, or of better testing. The fact that the new cases were spread across a wide swathe of the regency suggests the latter, but since daily testing numbers are not made available, we can't know for sure. Also, it's possible that these are cases that were detected across 2-3 days but are only now being reported. Bottom line: The number is bad, but we don't know if it's "good" bad or "bad" bad.)
"7 Families in Peringsari Village Go Into Quarantine" from Nusa Bali (Indonesian): As many as 7 families consisting of 11 people have been undergoing independent quarantine in Peringsari Village, Selat District, Karangasem, since Sunday. Their isolation has come as a result of a positive case in a local health worker. Previously, the health worker was in close contact with 11 people, so he was required to undergo an independent quarantine for 14 days... Chairman of Peringsari Village's COvid-19 Task Force, I Wayan Bawa, said the health worker was on duty at one of the hospitals in Klungkung that had served positive Covid-19 patients. After complaining of a fever, he underwent a swab test Friday and the results came out positive on Sunday. (Ed. Note: This would fall into the category of “bad” bad.)
"Covid-19 Vaccine Mass Distribution Due in 2021" from Indonesia Expat: President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) declared that mass vaccinations will be carried out in Indonesia next year if the COVID-19 vaccine is proven to be effective. “I believe we will be able to get through this difficult period and enter a new culture of work in a normal situation. We hope to recover economically by next year and carry out mass vaccinations for people in our country,” said Jokowi... Through Bio Farma, Indonesia will conduct a phase three clinical trial of the Biotech COVID-19 vaccine named CoronaVac in August 2020.
Other Headlines
"Requirements for Domestic Tourists in Bali: Must Have Suket and Fill in LOVEBALI Application" from The Bali Tribune (Indonesian): Governor Koster requires that archipelago tourists to the Island of the Gods must be free of Covid-19. This is proven by showing a certificate of negative results of the swab based or the results of the non-reactive rapid test from an authorized agency. Also, before leaving for Bali every tourist is obliged to fill in the LOVEBALI application. And during their tour activities on the Island of the Gods, tourists were asked by him obliged to implement the protocol of the new era of Balinese life according to the provisions issued by the Bali Provincial Government. (Ed. Note: Click through to the story to read the extensive description of procedures & for links to the app.)
"Bali DPRD Chairman Throws Party with Guests Ignoring Health Protocols" from Coconuts: The chairman of Bali’s Regional Legislative Council (DPRD) is under scrutiny for throwing a birthday party for his child, in which dozens of guests ignored physical distancing protocols and didn’t wear masks despite the fact that the rise in coronavirus cases in the province and across Indonesia have yet to slow down... Videos from the event made their rounds on Instagram recently, showing dozens of people in attendance. A handful of them didn’t appear to wear masks, while some had them lowered to their chins. In addition, there was barely any physical distancing in place.
"Dispar Badung Has Verified 43 Tourism Accommodations" from Nusa Bali (Indonesian): Ahead of the opening of domestic special tourism on July 31, the Badung Regency Tourism Office has intensified its verification of tourism accommodations. As of Tuesday afternoon, the team has verified 9 tourism accommodations in Kuta, South Kuta, and North Kuta Districts, bringing the total number of Dispar-certified tourist accommodations to 43.
"Simplifying Online Learning, Telkomsel Expands Ilmupedia Package" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian): Telkomsel again presents new initiatives to support distance learning activities, especially entering the new Academic Year 2020/2021, by launching the ilmupedia E-Learning Session Package on Wednesday... This package offers a quota of 10 GB with a price of IDR 10, which can be used by students to access 10 online learning platforms, e-learning sites from approximately 245 colleges and secondary schools in Indonesia, as well as various other learning material provider sites for various levels of education.
"Cafes and Warungs in Tulikup Disidak Open Past 10pm" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian): Joint officers from Tulikup Village, Satpol PP, TNI, and local Police conducted inspections at a number of cafes and dimly lit shops located along the Ida Bagus Mantra Bypass road, Banjar Siyut, Tulikup Village, Gianyar, on Tuesday night where they found many establishments open past 10 pm. The Head of Tulikup Village, I Made Ardika, said that the joint inspection conducted in his area was a disciplinary action against violators of health protocols... Head of PP Gianyar Kasatpol, I Made Watha, said that his party is coordinating with Tulikup Village to maintain order in the community. "We have plunged personnel to do sudden inspection last night, this has been routinely carried out. We always coordinate and build communication with parties from the village in order to maintain order in the community," he said.
Non-Covid News of Note
"After Rampage in Seminyak, Romanian Citizen Referenced to RSJ Bangli" from The IDN Times (Indonesian): A foreigner from Romania who was originally detained at the Denpasar Immigration Detention House on Friday, was referred to the Mental Hospital (RSJ) in Bangli Regency on Tuesday. He was set to be deported because he was found to have violated Article 75 Paragraph (1) of RI Law No. 6/2011 concerning immigration... After examination of his history, it was found that he is known to have a psychiatric disorders (bipolar). Rudenim officers finally referred him to the mental hospital in Bangli Regency on Tuesday (07/28/2020). "Early diagnosis from a psychiatrist, he was suffering from effective disorder bipolar episode now manic with psychotic symptoms. So that causes his behavior during detention disturbs the orderliness of the Denpasar Rudenim environment," he explained.
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.