Tuesday, July 7
3 more deaths + Mass testing of healthcare workers in Tabanan after nurse tests positive + Pandemic expert endorses Denpasar's efforts so far + Buleleng tests 100s of traders in local markets + more!
Good morning! Welcome to the COVID-19 Update for Bali for Tuesday, July 7. 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!
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
"61 Healthcare Workers in Tabanan Undergo Swab Testing After One Tests Positive" from The IDN Times (Indonesian): After a healthcare worker at a public health center (puskesmas) tested positive for Covid-19, puskesmas in the Tabanan District area must be temporarily closed. All health workers carried out isolation independently, and on Monday underwent a swab test. A total of 61 health workers at the puskesmas underwent swab testing... I Putu Dian Setiawan, Spokesperson for Tabanan's Covid-19 Task Force said that in addition to 61 healthcare workers, there were also people and health workers from private hospitals in Tabanan also taking part in the swab testing, making for a total of 82 health workers who underwent swab testing. This group was determined by contact tracing among healthcare workers at the puskesmas and private hospital nurses who had helped to treat Covid-19 patients some time ago.
"Pandemic Expert Calls Denpasar City Government's Handling of Covid-19 Correct, Describes Two Ways to Aggressively Find Cases" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian): Pandemic Expert at Udayana University Prof. Dr. DN Wirawan MPH said, "The focus on finding cases that are being intensified by the Denpasar City Government together with GTPP is the right step to accelerate the handling of Covid-19 at this time, so that after being found it is immediately quarantined and isolated." If within two weeks the percentage can be around 10%, then the handling has entered the right track (on the right tract). "If possible, about 10% of the presentation is already on the right tract, and if it can be below 10%, it means that we have almost succeeded in dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic outbreak," he explained.
"Buleleng Ensures Covid-Safe Markets, Hundreds of Traders Take Live Rapid Tests" from Radar Bali (Indonesian): At least 300 traders in 6 traditional markets in Buleleng - Pancasari Market, Banjar Market, Sangsit Market, Bungkulan Market, Buleleng Market, and Seririt Market - have undergone mass rapid testing to ensure traditional markets in the Regency are free of Covid-19. From the results of the rapid test, the task force did not find any traders who were declared reactive... "In Buleleng, there is no market cluster yet. Only the Bondalem Market last May has had any cases. Well, we are now doing a rapid test so that we can state that our markets are safe from covid. If it is safe, then our next task is to ensure that the market does not become a cluster of contagion," said Gede Suyasa, Secretary of Buleleng's Covid-19 Task Force.
Other Headlines
"Coming to Phase I, Bali Has Not Yet Announced the List of Destinations to Be Opened" from The IDN Times (Indonesian): Based on the monitoring of IDN Times , several beaches in Badung Regency namely Melasti Beach, Batu Belig Beach, Berawa Beach, Balu Bolong Beach and several others have indeed loosened visitors, even though they have not entered Phase I new normal. But monitoring is still being done so that no one violates the COVID-19 handling protocol that has been set... Observation Sunday (5/7) afternoon, the visitors have entered the Kuta Beach area. While on Monday (6/7) morning, the activities of some residents seemed normal as usual. Some were seen exercising, surfing , cleaning the beach and other activities. Washing facilities have been prepared at Kuta Beach, it's just not functioned yet. When asked about the list of tourism destinations that will be opened in phase I, Putu Astawa asked IDN Times to wait for a release from the Governor of Bali. "Wait for the release of Mr. Gub yes (Koster)," he said.
"Tabanan Ready for Department of Tourism Phase of New Normal Certificate and Socialization" from Nusa Bali (Indonesian): A number of tourist destinations in Tabanan Regency are ready to operate again when the new normal begins; they are just waiting for the decision of the Governor of Bali. While the Department of Tourism (Dispar) also continues to conduct socialization including informing the management of tourist destinations about the ownership of new normal certificates, especially related to the health protocol Covid-19... From the results of all DTWs reviewed such as to Ulun Danu Beratan, DTW Jatiluwih, and Tanah Lot, the SOP for the health protocol is ready. In addition, his party has gone down to all the destinations in Tabanan to socialize the Covid-19 health protocol. "Even though the center has already discussed the existence of a new normal, Tabanan still refers to the decision of the Governor of Bali and the Tabanan Regent and the Covid-19 task force in Tabanan," Gede Sukanada explained.
"Transportation Agency: Rapid Tests for Truck Drivers Entering Bali Still Mandatory" from Detik (Indonesian): Freight truck drivers have been demanding that the East Java provincial government waive rapid test fees when crossing to Bali, but the authority is not only the East Java Provincial Government. The Provincial Government of Bali also has authority... "This is still being discussed about the rapid test of the drivers. So here, the rapid test is the authority between provinces. The Governor of Bali has authority; the Governor of East Java has authority. This can only be solved by the central government," Kadishub said. East Java, Nyono in Surabaya, Monday.
The View from Outside
"Bali Set to Welcome Back Tourists Even as Virus Cases Surge" from Bloomberg: While local tourists can visit the beaches, temples and the popular surfing spots across the island from July 31, foreign visitors will be allowed from Sept. 11, the Bali government said in a statement. The reopening of the tourism industry is part of a plan to restart the economy in a phased manner, it said... Bali, popular with backpackers from Australia to China, had some success in containing the virus outbreak in its early phase, but saw infections soar in June with the return of more migrant workers and a ramp-up in testing. The world’s fourth-most populous country has the most number of infections and fatalities in Southeast Asia, forcing authorities to impose mobility restrictions and mandatory virus testing before flights, discouraging fliers.
Non-Covid News of Note
"Police Hose Down Papuan Student Activists During Peaceful Rally in Denpasar" from Coconuts: Police were said to have used a water cannon on activists during a peaceful rally held by the Papuan Student Alliance (AMP) in Denpasar earlier today, along with reports of alleged physical assault against some participants, who were commemorating the 22nd anniversary of the Biak massacre. A number of videos uploaded to Facebook by AMP show moments when the water cannon was deployed, as well as one participant who appears to have been briefly detained... “This is the attitude from the country which claims to be a democracy,” a speaker at the rally can be heard in one of the videos seen by Coconuts. Ni Kadek Vany Primaliraning, who heads the Legal Aid Foundation (LBH) in Bali said that authorities blocked rally participants, took away some of their protest items and disrupted the masses. She also confirmed that some participants were beaten and were blasted with a water cannon. “This is excessive, especially because authorities used violence,” Vany said.
"National Police Open Online Application for International Driver’s License" from The Jakarta Post: The National Police have made it possible for the public to apply for an international driver’s license online and avoid physical contact amid COVID-19 concerns... After completing the personal data form, you will be required to upload a number of documents, including a photo of your valid driver’s license, ID card, passport, your most recent photo set against a blue background, and – if you are a foreign national – a copy of your permanent stay permit (KITAP).
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 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. You can see their confirmation of this policy on June 11 here, and see a cringe-inducing PSA here.
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.