Tuesday, April 21
Work at home order extended until May 13 + Tourist site closing order extended until May 29 + Disease recovery rate reaches 30% + Gas prices might be dropping... and more!
Good morning! Welcome to the COVID-19 Update for Bali for Tuesday, April 21. If you find this information useful, please subscribe and share it with others in the foreigner community on the island.
If you've got a tip on a story that should be included, please contact us at newsletter@migrationmedia.net.
Ed. Note: My apologies for the late delivery of the newsletter today. My goal is to have this in your Inbox between 09:30-10:30 each morning, but I had to run some emergency errands today. I'll be back on schedule tomorrow.
Status Update
Country-wide Numbers:
Source:
Indonesia National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB Indonesia): @BNPB_Indonesia
Official updates are available from the Indonesian Government here.
Bali Numbers:
Confirmed Cases Distribution:
Key: Red = Infected | Green = Recovered | Black = Died
Trends:
Sources:
Infographic comes from Bali Provincial Government COVID-19 Task Force (link).
The geographic breakdown comes from the Bali Provincial Government's data collection department (link).
Charts have been compiled using their data.
More detailed information on the locations of positive cases within each Regency, as well as the number of suspected cases ("ODP") and people under observation ("PDP"), can be found in infographics on the official websites of each Regency's COVID-19 Task Force:
Badung | Bangli* | Buleleng | Denpasar City | Gianyar* | Jembrana* | Karangasem | Klungkung* | Tabanan
*Does not yet have a dedicated Covid-19 info page. Detailed information can be found by reading official government news alerts.
The Big News
"Bali Governor Extends Working Period at Home Until May 13" from Berita Bali (Indonesian): Bali Governor Wayan Koster has declared that the current work from home order that was set to expire on April 21 will be extended until May 13, and that it could be extended further based on an evaluation of the situation and central and regional needs... Employees who are assigned to work at home carry out work in accordance with their respective work plans by making daily reports and reporting work results to their respective superiors. To continue providing services to the community, each working unit applies a system for assignments in turn by keeping in mind the health protocol for handling Covid-19.
"Badung Extends Closings" from Nusa Bali (Indonesian): The Badung Regency Government has extended its order to close attractions in its area to prevent the spread of Covid-19. The extension will run until May 29, 2020 and covers all tourist attractions that are managed by the community, institutions and government... Head of the Badung Regency Tourism Office, I Made Badra, said that the closure of all these attractions is to meant limit the movement of tourists in the Regency. "Yes, the extension of the closure of this attraction is merely an effort to prevent the spread of Covid-19. This is because its distribution tends to increase," he said.
"10,684 PMI, 18,335 Residents In Total, Take Rapid Test, 140 Positives To Date' from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian): The Task Force for the Acceleration of Covid-19 handling in the Province of Bali states that to date 10,684 Indonesian Migrant Workers (PMI) have arrived in Bali, with a total of 18,335 Balinese citizens undergoing a rapid test, with 1,638 SWAB samples taken, resulting in 140 positive results... The Rapid Test is given to PMI at the airports and ports of Benoa and Gilimanuk. Also to medical personnel assigned to various hospitals, fellow airport staff, rapid test teams and other personnel who deal directly with at-risk groups.
Other Headlines
"Officials Ready to Act Decisively If Masses Reject PMI In Quarantine In Bali" from Gatra.com (Indonesian): There is still a rejection of the presence of Indonesian Migrant Workers (PMI) from Bali who are undergoing quarantine processes in a number of areas, and this has caught the attention of the Chair of the Task Force for the Covid-19 handling of Bali Province, Dewa Made Indra. He reminded people not to reject PMI... "The SOPs are very strict, they are well guarded, not kept out of quarantine locations. They are also guarded so as not to interact too closely with each other in quarantine. And people are not allowed to enter quarantine, "he explained. There is no reason for people to be afraid and worried about quarantine in their area. "I ask the community, there is no longer a rejection. Is it in the name of the traditional banjar, in the name of the community, or others. Quarantine is an effort to protect the community. 4.2 million Balinese must be protected. Quarantine is the instrument," he said.
"Good News from Bali! Almost 30% of Covid-19 Patients In Bali Have Recovered" from Bali Plus: In the more than 1 month since the announcement of the first Covid-19 death, the cumulative positive patients of COVID-19 in Bali on Sunday reached 135 people- including 8 foreigners and 123 Indonesian citizens. Since then, the number of patients who have recovered from the disease reached 38.
"AirAsia Ready to Resume Operating Flights On May 7th" from Bali Plus: AirAsia Group is ready to resume operating regular flights on domestic routes in various countries including Indonesia, as of 7 May. The initial phase of operations will be limited to certain domestic routes. Gradually, the airline will resume operating other routes including international routes if the situation has improved and travel restrictions have been lifted... “We are pleased to be able to fly again and serve our customers and hope to be able to operate fully as soon as possible. We have adjusted procedures for handling passengers on land and in the air with precautions related to Covid-19” AirAsia Group President Bo Linga said in a written statement on Sunday.
"Biznet Extends Free Bandwidth Upgrade, Presents Member Get Member Program" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian): Biznet is extending its upgrade of Biznet Home services free of charge until May 31, so that the community can remain productive despite their activities at home. Seeing the existing conditions, Biznet has officially increased the bandwidth capacity for Biznet Home services since last March 16th. But based on conditions that are still changing from day to day... "By extending the free bandwidth upgrade for Biznet Home customers and also open access all channels for free for Biznet IPTV customers, we hope that customers who do work from home and online learning activities at home can remain productive, can work and study smoothly, and can stay entertained with quality local and international TV entertainment shows, of course, supported by the best Internet connection from Biznet," said Adi Kusma, President Director of Biznet.
"Tourism Agents Agree Not to Time Recovery Efforts through Promotions" from the Bali Post (Indonesian): Tourism circles in Bali agree that it is not yet time to make recovery efforts through promotions to bring in tourists. But what needs to be focused on is handling COVID-19 so that the community is calm... "We are currently in a crisis, what we need to focus on is healing COVID-19 victims. So that the community can be calm, then life can go well," said Chairman of the Badung PHRI, IGN Rai Suryawijaya. "The most optimistic target for Bali is that after all of the estimated 20,000 overseas migrant workers have returned home, we can deal seriously with re-starting tourism promotions. In my estimation, in August we can declare Bali safe and comfortable."
"Are Government Numbers of Bali Workers Abroad Accurate?" from The IDN Times (Indonesian): Not long ago Governor I Wayan Koster said that the number of Balinese working in the maritime industry abroad was more than 20,000. Many of them have since returned to Bali, both by sea and air travel routes. But is this number really up to date, and is the data collection and checking of their arrival really correct? Given that Indonesian Migrant Workers (PMI) from Bali have been cited as a main source of risk that has the potential to increase the number of positive cases of COVID-19 in Bali, this is important data to have... Head of the Bali Provincial Manpower, Energy and Mineral Resources Office, Ida Bagus Ngurah Arda, hopes that the Indonesian Seafarers' Association (KPI) of Bali will help provide the most accurate data possible. But until now, according to him, Bali KPI has not been able to show the latest data of its members. Because the data submitted is 2012 data, and is incomplete.
"With Transportation Stagnant, Polair Sends Grocery Packages to Nusa Penida" from the Bali Post (Indonesian): Over the last few weeks, sea transportation to Nusa Penida has been slowed to a trickle, with the regular ferry stopped temporarily because of COVID-19. This has resulted in stalled food distribution. Bali Police have addressed this condition by sending hundreds of food packages there using the Kepodang Patrol Boat on Monday... Nine basic necessities were sent in the form of 600 boxes of instant noodles, 600 packages containing 5 kilograms of rice, 2 liters of cooking oil, 2 kilograms of sugar, 1 pack of soy sauce, coffee and packaging tests. "This basic food assistance from the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy is for people in Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Penida. The main target is for tourism actors affected by COVID-19," said Director of the Bali Regional Police Headquarters Police Commissioner.
"World Oil Prices Drop, Malaysia and Vietnam Already Lowered Fuel Prices, How About Indonesia?" from The Bali Tribune (Indonesian): The price of crude oil continues to weaken until several neighboring countries in Indonesia have responded by lowering fuel prices... "The determination of the price of fuel is very regulated. We follow a formula determined every month by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, the decision is in the government," said Pertamina President Director Nicke Widyawati in the Virtual RDP with Commission VI of the Indonesian Parliament on Thursday. "At the moment the price of Indonesian fuel is still one of the cheapest in Southeast Asia and several other countries in the world."
The View from Outside
"Indonesia Institute Reveals How Bali Has Escaped the Worst Of the Coronavirus Pandemic On 'The West Live'" from Perth Now: It was tipped to be a disaster zone but WA’s favourite holiday island of Bali has recorded just three deaths from COVID-19. Indonesia Institute president Ross Taylor will speak to The West Live host Jenna Clarke about why the tourist hotspot appears to have escaped the worst of the pandemic.
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.
If you are trying to plan travel anywhere, here are two 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 alerts feed into airlines' reservation systems, so it is the most reliable database of flight restrictions around.
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 list news items from established media sources
We do not share rumors.
We do not include opinion pieces or forecasts.
For all stories marked "Indonesian" we have used Google Translate to convert it from Bahasa. When possible, we will provide a short summary in proper English to help get the details of the piece across more efficiently, and we will polish the excerpt to help clarify the details.
For any questions, comments or tips, please contact us at newsletter@migrationmedia.net.