Tuesday, February 16
With most health workers vaccinated, elderly & local officials are next in Phase 2 + Badung govt says public to start getting shots in August + Inauguration of new Regents delayed + 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: Yesterday’s numbers made the predicted jump from the Sunday (⬆️97%) but not quite to the levels seen in prior weeks. The next couple of days will tell us if we're truly off of the peak. The bad news with fatalities continues (9), as the island keeps on its record pace for monthly fatalities (134); it’s up 15.5% from the same point in September.
Some good news... Yesterday was the sixth day in a row where recoveries have outpaced new cases, with the number of people in treatment for Covid dropping 10.5% over that span (from 3,092 to 2,773).
Click here to see the national numbers infographic and a Regency-by-Regency breakdown of yesterday’s local numbers. And in case you missed it, check out Sunday’s update for a summary of last week’s overall totals, with perspective on how they stack up against previous weeks + detailed breakdowns of the virus’ spread on a Regency-by-Regency level.
The Big News
Vaccination Update
"End of February-July Vaccination of State Officials, Citizens After That" from Radar Bali (Indonesian): The Badung Regency Government through the Badung Covid-19 Task Force is targeting to complete the Covid-19 vaccination for health workers on February 22, 2021. If the vaccination of health workers is complete, the second phase of vaccines will be continued, namely for public service officers. Such as TNI / Polri, teachers or ASN, village officers, village officials, including elderly people (seniors) who are over 60 years old. The second phase of vaccination is expected to be completed until July 2021. Because, the movement is still dynamic. "Vaccination for the wave of public services is estimated to be completed until July 2021," explained Dr. I Nyoman Gunarta, Head of Badung Health Service.
More...
Nation: "Indonesia to Begin Phase Two of Covid Vaccination" from The Jakarta Globe
Nation: "Elderly Indonesians to Join Second-phase Vaccination Program" from Antara
Nation: "Covid-19 Vaccination Phase Two For 38 Million People, Expected To Be Completed By The End Of June" from Bali Prawara (Indonesian)
Nation: "Ministry of Health: Java and Bali Second Phase Covid-19 Vaccination Priorities" from Kompas (Indonesian)
Nation: "The Indonesian Government Will Provide Compensation to Indonesian Citizens if They Experience Complications (or Death) After Receiving the Covid-19 Vaccination" from Bali Plus
"Covid-19 Has Infected as Many as 190 Health Workers in Bali Province" from The Bali Tribune (Indonesian): More than 190 doctors in Bali have been infected with the Covid-19 virus. "And of the 190 doctors who were exposed to the virus, about six of them died. With details, five doctors died in Denpasar and one doctor died in Singaraja," said Dr. Gede Putra Suteja, head of the Bali Branch of the Indonesian Doctors Association (IDI). The figure is based on rough data as of last week. And most of the doctors who died were elderly people aged over 60 years. Apart from that they are also accompanied by congenital diseases.
"The Inauguration of the Regent and Deputy Regent in Bali is Delayed, Tabanan is Still Preparing for Handover Events" from The Bali Tribune (Indonesian): The schedule for the inauguration of regents and deputy regents in six regions in Bali, the results of the 2020 regional elections may be postponed. However, preparations in the regions are still running as it should be. The Head of the Bangli Regional Secretariat's Governance Division AA Bintang Sutari admitted that he was still waiting for news from the Bali Provincial Government Bureau. Because the Ministry of Home Affairs (Kemendagri) has not confirmed the timing of the appointment of the elected regent and vice regent. "If the 17th is postponed, it means that the Regent's PLH (daily executive) will be prepared. In this case the Regional Secretary is appointed," he said.
>> Classifieds <<
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
"Make It Easy for Referrals, Marine Ambulances Start Operating in Klungkung for Free" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian): RSU Grha Bhakti Medika (RS GBM) in collaboration with the Rusdi Foundation since Thursday (4/2/2021) officially operated a free sea ambulance. This is in response to the large number of patients being treated in Nusa Penida District who have so far been crossed by boat mixed with public passengers when they were referred to hospitals on mainland Bali. Of course, this problem apart from causing discomfort for patients, staff, and inadequate medical equipment. This free special sea ambuland service is used for emergency patients. Where the patient is the holder of a Premium Assistance Beneficiary (KIS) Indonesian Health Card (PBI) or has a letter of incapacity from the local Kelian Dinas, it is known by the local Perbekel.
Prokes & Patrols
Denpasar: "Denpasar City Yustisi Team Conducts Rapid Antigen Test Against Prokes Violators" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian)
Denpasar: "Distributing Masks, Markets and PPKM Posts Targeted by Members of the Bali Police Traffic Directorate" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian)
Hospital Occupancy Update
Buleleng: "PMI Moves UDD from Buleleng Hospital" from The Bali Post (Indonesian)
Klungkung: "13 Covid-19 Patients Treated in ICU" from Nusa Bali (Indonesian)
Tourism Figures
"Air Passengers Increase at Bali Airport for CNY" from Bali Discovery: While visitors over the Chinese New Years’ holidays in 2021 are only a small fraction of years past, air arrivals to the Island at the beginning of the Lunar New Year period have shown an increase in arrivals. On Thursday, 11 February 2021, some 3,483 domestic travelers arrived at Bali’s Ngurah Rai Airport. This number increased one day later to 4,307 on Friday, 12 February 2021. Before the Chinese New Year period, the average number of daily arrivals was around 2,000 passengers.
Can’t Buy Me Love
"27.55 Million Indonesians Living Below Poverty Line Amid Pandemic" from Coconuts: Millions of Indonesians fell into poverty during the pandemic, new data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) showed, pushing the country’s poverty rate above 10%. BPS’ latest poverty data showed that as of September 2020, 27.55 million Indonesians live below the national poverty line, which represents a 2.76 million or 0.97% year-on-year increase. Proportionally, this means that Indonesia has a poverty rate of 10.19% — the first time the country passed the 10 percent mark since 2017.
More...
Nation: "Indonesia Economic Contraction Moderate: Finance Minister" from Antara
Nation: "Indonesia Books Trade Surplus Again Amid ‘Concerning’ Import Decline" from The Jakarta Post (Paywall)
Nation: "Indonesia's Foreign Debt Recorded at US$417.5 billion in Q4 2020" from Antara
Island: "The Poor Population in Bali is 196,920 People, the Highest Increase in Cities" from Bisnis Bali (Indonesian)
Island: "Rakernas II RCI, Optimistic Car Rental Business Is Still Open" from Bali Prawara (Indonesian)
Lombok: "Number of Poor Population in NTB Increased by 32,110 People" from Bisnis Bali (Indonesian)
"The Performance of the Alcoholic Beverage Industry in Bali During the Pandemic" from Bisnis Bali (Indonesian): The alcoholic beverage industry in Bali is increasingly losing money due to restrictions on operating hours at 9 PM local time which has resulted in a decrease in turnover of up to 80%. Chairman of the Association of Alcoholic Drinks Distributors (mikol) Bali Gol A Frendy Karmana said that due to the pandemic, the absorption of mycols on the Island of the Gods decreased by 60 percent due to the absence of foreign tourist visits. While its contribution to micol reaches 70% compared to the contribution of domestic tourists. Not getting there, the decline continued to 80% due to the PPKM which limited the movement hours of the community. Meanwhile the majority of people drink micol at night.
"Commission IV DPR RI Review Rice Supply in Bali During Pandemic, BULOG: Insyaallah Safe" from The Bali Tribune (Indonesian): The rice stock was not large at this time. This is because absorbing rice harvested from local (Bali only) cannot be affordable, because in the market it is more expensive than the HPP set by the Government. "But I saw that there is rice that is very good and has vitamins. Hopefully the marketing will be successful. The rice varieties are premium with added vitamins," said the Chairman of Commission IV DPR RI. The current position of the Bali Regional Office for Government Rice Reserve Rice (CBP) as of February 10, 2021 was 3,416 tons, while commercial rice was 39 tons. So that the total rice supply of BULOG Bali Regional Office amounts to 3,185 tons.
"Tuesday is Endek Cloth Day in Bali" from Bali Discovery: To celebrate the acquisition of a Certificate of Intellectual Communal Property as a Traditional Cultural Expression from the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights, Bali’s Governor Wayan Koster has issued a proclamation declaring that each Tuesday, the general public and officials should wear Bali’s native cloth – Endek Bali. Governor Koster is urging vertical organizations, higher learning places, Bali’s Regents and Mayor, local organizations, and public organizations to show their appreciation for Endek Bali by wearing the quintessential Balinese cloth every Tuesday. Certain religious days falling on particular Tuesdays – such as full moon (Purnama), dark moon (Tilem), and the anniversary of Province’s finding – are exempted from the mandate.
Of Interest
"Police in Buleleng Arrest 33-year-old Man for Alleged Rape of 14-year-old Girl" from Coconuts
"Demanding Responsibility, the DPR Will Summon the Director General of Immigration About the Escape of the Interpol Fugitive" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian)
"The Chairperson of the Bali Province IDI Corrected the Assumption That After the Covid-19 Vaccine, You May Not Use a Mask" from The Bali Tribune (Indonesian)
"Bali Gojek Drivers Appeal to Each Other to Protect Their Attributes" from Antara (Indonesian)
"Lombok Airport Runway Extension [to Be] Completed Before MotoGP" from Republika (Indonesian)
The View from Outside
"Bali Tour Guide Hopes for Covid-19 Defeat Amid Bleak Chinese New Year" from Reuters: "In the last 10 months, there's been no income, because there are no visitors," said Effendy, clad in traditional red headgear and batik sarong, as he stood in the deserted 60 ha park where the statue is a tourist draw. "My biggest hope is that we can recover from this pandemic quickly... and all activities can return to normal again," added Effendy, 65, an ethnic Chinese who also uses the name Lin Wen Hui. With foreign tourists banned to prevent the spread of the virus, Effendy now spends the bulk of his time practising the martial art of kung fu at home, while helping his wife to sell packaged rice to earn some money. The couple have even had to sell some valuables, such as rings and a necklace to sustain themselves, 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.
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