Thursday, May 28
Lion Air grounding all flights as passengers lack new travel documents + Immigration confirms foreigners' stays to be auto extended in "New Normal" + Swab tests available @ Udayana Hospital + more!
Good morning! Welcome to the COVID-19 Update for Bali for Thursday, May 28. 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:
Regency Numbers
Key: Blue = Infected | Yellow = In Treatment | Green = Recovered | Red = Died
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
"Lion Air Grounds All Flights Until End of May" from The Jakarta Globe: Lion Air Group has temporarily suspended all domestic flights until May 31, citing the fact that many passengers still turn up at airports without proper travel documents and have to be turned back. After the Idul Fitri holiday, the Jakarta provincial government says it will turn away visitors and returning residents trying to enter the capital city without an entry permit (SIKM). The rule applies to all modes of transportation... The entry permit must include a clearance letter from the neighborhood chief (RT or RW), a health certificate, travel documents, a passport photo and an Indonesian ID card (KTP). Also, only workers in essential sectors – health, food, energy, communication, finance, logistics, construction, hospitality and strategic industries – are allowed to come into the city.
"As Bali Enters New Era, Foreigners' Stay Permits To Be Extended" from The Bali Post (Indonesian): In responding to the "New Normal" discourse, or "New Era Bali," Head of the Bali Regional Office of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights, Jamaruli Manihuruk, explained that for foreigners who are now living in Indonesia, their residence permit, visiting permit, limited stay permit, or permanent residence permit will be automatically renewed. "The extension was given in a strict manner," he said... Furthermore, immigration services at Ngurah Rai Airport are currently only serving evacuation aircraft for PMI who will enter Indonesia. And this condition will continue until there is a new policy from both the national Covid-19 Task Force or the Ministry of Law and Human Rights.
"Swab Test Terms and Prices for Travel and Self Request Participants at Unud Hospital" from The Bali Tribune (Indonesian): IN order to accommodate people who need to adhere to the new travel restrictions, Udayana University Hospital began serving the rRT-PCR test swab for travelers and independent requests as of Wednesday. Patients must register by appointment via WhatsApp message at +62-813-3816-6474 every Monday-Friday from 08:00-16:00. "The quota for swab test patients will be limited according to the capacity of the rRT-PCR examinations of the lab," said Dewa Putu Gde Purwa Samatra, Director of Unud Hospital... Patients who swab test by 10:00am will receive a certificate of their results at 12:00pm the next working day. Tests conducted by 1:00pm will receive their results by 8:00am on the second working day. Rapid test results will cost Rp.350,000, while swab tests are priced at Rp.900,000, with extra costs if the test is conducted on the weekend.
Other Headlines
"5 Regions Within Denpasar Officially Apply PKM After Approval from Mayor" from Berita Bali (Indonesian): After being approved by the Mayor of Denpasar, IB Rai Dharmawijaya Mantra, Community Activity Restrictions (PKM) will officially take effect in five areas of Denpasar City on Thursday. The five areas are Panjer and Adat Panjer, Sanur Kauh and Intaran Adat, Sesetan and Sesetan Adat, Pamecutan Kaja and Denpasar Adat, Pedungan and Adat Pedungan... Chairperson of the city's Covid-19 Task Force, I Made Toya, advised the community to obey PKM rules. They are required to carry a travel permit, identification, always adhere to health protocols, and always wear a mask. In addition, the community is also expected to always apply PHBS and Wash Hands with Soap in running water. "Preparations have been maximized, and today our GTPP team has checked directly into the field, and it is hoped that the community will be able to obey the applicable PKM rules," he explained.
"Airport Staff Rehearse Process of Checking New Document & PCR Results Policies At Bali Airport" from The Bali Tribune (Indonesian): Starting May 28, all pasengers entering Bali by air must bring along the results of a negative Covid-19 Swab Test. Before the implementation began, the Regional IV Airport Authority Office, together with the Class I Port Health Office of Denpasar and other stakeholders, held a passenger flow simulation... Passengers are expected to complete a self-check application before departure, which means they can buy tickets at the airport of departure or before boarding. But if that is not done, then there will be another filter at the airport to remind people to fill out the self-check form in the application. Next, there will be officers from the Bali Province Covid-19 Task Force who will check for the QR Code that the self-check system gives applicants.
"1 Resident Positive, 75 Receive Rapid Tests On Gunung Salak Road" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian): After a single boarding house resident tested positive for Covid-19, dozens of residents along Jalan Gunung Salak, Padangsambian Village, in Denpasar were given Rapid Tests and placed into 14-day home isolation until June 8. .. Padangsambian Klod Village Perbelel, I Gede Wijaya Saputra, said that 30 households consisting of 75 people would be confined to their homes and receive basic needs from the village and the banjar adat provide. In addition, the Denpasar City Food Rescue also provided food assistance twice a day. "There is also assistance from the banjar every 2 days in the form of vegetables, eggs, and some meat with mutual assistance from the banjar and villages. The mutual assistance of the residents of banjar is very high," he said.
"Deputy Governor of Bali Designs Health Protocol SOP, for Post-Covid New Normal" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian): Deputy Governor Tjok Ace said that if the Central Government would allow Bali to reopen as a tourism destination, the Bali Provincial Government would not open all tourist attractions in Bali, but gradually in advance, by always evaluating the effectiveness of health protocols applied. This is done so that tourists who come to Bali feel safe and comfortable and return to their country safely and comfortably. In addition, it also aims to maintain the image of Bali as a favorite destination for world tourism... However, with this pandemic, it is not possible to present cultures such as dances and some other performances. For this reason, the provincial government of Bali will refer to the second option, which is to prioritize natural attractions, where in nature there are also cultural treasures that can attract tourists.
Bali Fights Virus Same Way It Attracts Tourists – With Local Customs" from The Jakarta Post: Bali's successful containment efforts have largely been attributed to the active role played by traditional villages, which make up the majority of the island’s settlements, as the majority of people are Hindus who comply with local religious customs. The island’s authorities have not resorted to imposing the large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) seen elsewhere in the country and have instead relied on the island's 1,493 traditional villages to restrict people’s movements, which Bali Governor I Wayan Koster insisted had been a success... Those who violate the rules could face social sanctions that are perceived negatively by the Balinese people, said Jero Mangku Widiarta, the head of Besakih village, home to the island’s largest and most important Hindu temple, Besakih Temple. "Bali without its guests is a pandemic in itself. That’s why the Balinese people are compliant with the existing protocols – so the guests will return sooner," Jero said.
The View from Outside
"Bali Locals Without Food Or Electricity Say 'It's A Matter Of Survival' As Economic Impact Sets In" from 9News: More than 80% of the island's four million residents have relied on the tourism industry for generations, but with international borders closed and the island now resembling a shadow of its former self, locals are left struggling... With local businesses closed, including restaurants, bars, nail salons, massage parlours and beach clubs, Mr. Putra Jaya, managr of the restaurant Santa Fe, said it's not about making money, it's a matter of survival. "No one is making any money, people like me are just trying to survive," he said. "This time last week I had no food, so I was really struggling. I had no power for a couple of weeks because I can't afford to pay the bills."
Non-Covid News of Note
"Surf Smashes the Coast While Many Try to Save Their Businesses" from The Seminyak Times: Surf’s up on the west coast of Bali today and with the combination of the high tides and large waves, the surf is back with force. To make matters worse for the now dormant warungs lining the beaches, which have all been closed for weeks due to the Covid-19 controls, many are now being smashed by the waves, with their owners scurrying to save what they can.
"Bali Earthquake: 4.4 Magnitide Rumbles Denpasar" from The Bali Sun: An earthquake rumbled northern Bali wednesday afternoon near Buleleng. The magnitude 4.4 quake struck exactly 8.23 South Latitude, 114.95 East Longitude with a depth of 10 Km above sea level or 20 Km southwest of Buleleng. Although the earthquake was based in Buleleng, the earthquake vibrations were felt by residents in Tabanan, Badung and Denpasar. "Yes, the tremor was felt in three other districts. This earthquake has no tsunami potential," said Iman Faturahman, Head of Data and Information Division of BMKG Region III Denpasar.
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.