Tuesday, February 2
Random public testing spreads across island + Pres. Widodo says that PPKM "isn't effective," enforcement hasn't been "stern" enough + Island tourism rises in Dec, but 2020 is worst year ever + more!
Good morning! Welcome to The Bali Beat for Tuesday, February 2. 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.
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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: Deaths continue to be elevated, with the running 7-day total continuing to hover around 50 victims. On the positive side, there have now been three days in a row with new cases numbering right around 250, and with recoveries outnumbering new infections. During the last two weeks, Sunday and Monday’s totals were declines relative to the previous week, so we'll have to wait until today's numbers come out to see if this is a new trend, or if it fits with the cycle we've seen since mid-January.
If you subscribe to this newsletter, you already receive the evening summary of Covid-19 data. I wait to publish that until the national Task Force releases its infographic, which happens at random times (they usually get it out in the 5 o’clock hour). The local Bali numbers tend to be published at least a couple of hours earlier, and I’ve recently begun sending out an early glimpse of them on my Twitter account. If you’re interested in seeing those figures just as soon as I’ve compiled them, you can follow me there; I’m @zax2000.
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
"President Joko Widodo Admits Java-Bali PPKM Restrictions Aren’t Working" from Coconuts: The central government’s Enforcement of Restrictions on Public Activities (PPKM) partial lockdown protocol has not produced the desired outcomes, President Joko Widodo said, as he mulls the fate of the policy. In a cabinet meeting, Jokowi conceded that PPKM, which has been enforced in high-infection cities and regencies in Java and Bali, has done practically nothing to contain the spread of COVID-19. “We have to say it like it is. It isn’t effective,” Jokowi said. “The essence of PPKM is to limit mobility, but I’ve seen that the implementation hasn’t been stern nor consistent.” (Ed. Note: You can view the video of Widodo making his remarks here.)
"2020 Is the Lowest Year for Foreign Tourists Visiting Bali" from Bisnis Bali (Indonesian): The visit of foreign tourists to Bali during 2020 was the lowest for the last 10 years with a total of 1,050,505 visits. Foreign tourist visits to Bali during 2020 were recorded to have decreased by 83.26 percent compared to last year (year on year / YoY). Meanwhile, in December 2020 there were 150 foreign tourist visits with details of 127 visits from I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport and sea ports totaling 23 visits. The arrival of foreign tourists (tourists) to Bali in December 2020 was recorded to have decreased by 99.97 percent compared to the record for the same period last year (YoY) but rose 183.02 percent compared to the previous month (month to month / mtm).
Context: Additional reports say that Bali saw a total of 164,000 total visits in December, a rise of 13.58% from November, but a drop of 88.08% from December 2019. Also, hotel occupancy on the island in December reached 19%, which was an improvement over the 9.32% rate in November.
Hospital Capacity Update
"Buleleng Hospital Starts Operating the Covid-19 ICU Room with Negative Pressure" from Nusa Bali (Indonesian): Director of Buleleng Hospital, Dr. Putu Arya Nugraha SpPD, said that the negative pressurized room [with 9 beds] is an isolation room equipped with a special tool to suck aerosols, so that if there are aerosols in the room, they will not get out. "This room will maintain security, both patients and people outside the isolation room. Right now, there is an outbreak, so there are more Covid-19 patients than in general conditions. But under normal conditions there are not too many patients who need a negative pressure room. So it becomes unrealistic if we make a lot of rooms. So now what is made is one that is in accordance with WHO standards in this Lely runag," he said.
More...
Denpasar:"Isolation Room Almost Full, the Task Force Asks Residents to Return Home" from Radar Bali (Indonesian)
Denpasar:"Oxygen Needs at Sanglah Hospital Denpasar Increase by 40%" from The Bali Tribune (Indonesian)
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Business is tough in the best of times, but these days- Wow. Thankfully, there’s a supportive spirit among the foreigners who remain in Bali; this newsletter is proof. If you’ve got a product or service that needs local support to succeed, let this community know about it here.
Other Headlines
"The Impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic in Bali, Unemployment in Bali Soars, This is the Difference with 2019" from The Bali Tribune (Indonesian): "Based on August 2020 data published in November, in 2020 there were 144,500 unemployed people or the equivalent of 5.63%," said Ida Bagus Ngurah Arda, Head of the Bali Province Manpower and Energy and Mineral Resources (Disnaker) Office. According to him, the number of unemployed people in Bali has increased compared to before the Covid-19 pandemic which only reached 1.33% in 2019.
Prokes & Patrols
"Dozens Of Citizens Join Rapid Antigen In Front Of Bali Museum, A Positive Citizen" from Bali Prawara (Indonesian): On Monday, Kodim 1611 / Badung held a rapid antigen activity, in front of the Bali museum, Denpasar. Which, this activity not only targets people who are exercising, but also traders and parking attendants around the Puputan Badung field area. Dandim 1611 / Badung Colonel Inf I Made Alit Yudana who participated in the activity said that this activity was aimed at public places that were used by the community for activities. The puputan Badung field was chosen because according to him the area was widely used by residents for sports. From the 100 kits prepared, officers managed to take 65 rapid antigen samples. After the results came out, of the 65 people, one resident living in Denpasar (27) was positive. While the rest were negative. For those who are positive, then a PCR test is recommended.
More...
Island:"Jokowi Calling Ineffective, Deputy Chairperson of the Bali Dprd, Suyasa, Asks the Local Government to Study the Implementation of PPKM" from The Bali Tribune (Indonesian)
Badung:"Early Covid-19 Screening, Badung Prepares Thousands of Rapid Antigen Tests" from Radar Bali (Indonesian)
Badung:"PPKM Phase II, Badung Arranges Pengabenan and Marriage to Prevent Traditional Ceremony Clusters" from The Bali Post (Indonesian)
Badung:"There are Still Motorists Who Don't Use Masks, Badung Police Do This" from The Bali Post (Indonesian)
Buleleng:"Kodim 1609 / Buleleng Plans to Conduct Rapid Test During Pagerwesi at Jagatnatha Temple" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian)
Tabanan:"TNI-Polri Tabanan Conducts Rapid Antigen Test at the Preparedness Market" from Antara (Indonesian)
Denpasar:"Kesdam IX / Udayana Facilitating Free Rapid Antigen for the Elderly" from Bali Prawara (Indonesian)
"Inflation Slows as Covid-19 Restrictions Reduce Demand" from The Jakarta Post: Indonesia’s annual inflation rate slowed in January, after a rally in the last four months, as the country’s ongoing struggle with the COVID-19 pandemic and extended lockdown limited consumers’ purchasing power. The country’s consumer price index (CPI) in January fell by 1.55% year-on-year (yoy), the lowest since November, as income and demand were strained by the health crisis, Statistics Indonesia (BPS) announced on Monday. The inflation rate was below Bank Indonesia’s (BI) target range of 2%-4% this year. On a month-to-month basis, the CPI rose by 0.26%.
Vaccination Update
"539,532 Healthcare Workers Given Covid Shots So Far" from Antara: Indonesia has so far vaccinated 539,532 healthcare workers against COVID-19 in 92 districts and cities across 34 provinces. A total of 57,387 workers were administered the vaccine on Monday. Of the total, 35,406 received their second vaccine dose, the Health Ministry informed in a statement issued here on Monday. The government has prioritized 1,531,072 healthcare workers for the current stage of the vaccination program, which kicked off on January 13, 2021. Of the total workers, 1,501,491 have re-registered for the vaccination process.
More...
Nation:"Indonesia to Receive Donation of Up to 23.1 Million Doses of Astrazeneca Vaccine" from Coconuts
Gianyar:"Hundreds of Health Workers in Gianyar Are Not Vaccinated Because They Have Congenital Diseases" from Radar Bali (Indonesian)
"Kuta Beach Abrasion Again, PUPR Office Deploys Heavy Equipment" from Nusa Bali (Indonesian): The length of the abrasion is about 500 meters and causes a number of coconut trees to collapse. In order to rearrange these objects, the Badung Regency Public Works and Spatial Planning Agency (PUPR). deploy heavy equipment to the site. The structuring plan was started on Tuesday (2/2) today. Bandesa Adat Kuta I Wayan Wasista, confirmed that Kuta Beach has experienced abrasion again. According to him, abrasion was caused by the extreme weather that had occurred recently. The sea water rises and causes the sand to be carried by the current into the middle of the sea. As a result, not only was the sand eroded, a number of coconut trees on the beach had also collapsed. "The condition of the back sea water is indeed in high tide, plus the strong winds caused a number of trees to fall. "This abrasion has been reported to the PUPR Office and followed up immediately," he said.
Of Interest
"Indonesia's Young Workers Seek Lives Outside Congested Jakarta" from Nikkei Asia
"Studies Report Estimated True Active Covid-19 Cases In Indonesia" from Indonesia Expat
"CNY and Eid Holidays Cancelled? House Urges Review Amid Rising Covid-19 Cases" from Coconuts
"Pork Population in Bali Decreases by 42%, Prices for Seeds and Finished Meats Rise" from The Bali Tribune (Indonesian)
"Discuss Development of Nusa Penida Police, Bali Police Chief and Klungkung Regent Meet" from Bali Puspa news (Indonesian)
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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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.
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