Tuesday, March 16
President Widodo visits island today + Confusion after Health Minister says island can't reopen until 2022 + More doses ordered, national & island govts accelerate vaccination schedules + more!
Good morning! Welcome to The Bali Beat for Tuesday, March 16. If you’re not a subscriber, sign up here to get this update delivered directly to your Inbox each weekday morning, along with every 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: Bali didn’t report any Covid-19 numbers on Sunday due to Nyepi, and yesterday’s new case numbers were way below the levels that they’ve been at for the last 6 weeks. As is their policy, the island’s government does not make testing numbers available, so there is no way to know for sure how the holiday affected the volume of tests administered. Deaths, however, remained at an elevated level.
Click here to see the national numbers infographic and a Regency-by-Regency breakdown of yesterday’s local numbers, which includes a look back at last week’s overall totals.
The Big News
"President Jokowi to Bali [Today], Menparekraf Review the Readiness of the Location of the Massive Covid-19 Vaccine" from Tribune Bali (Indonesian): The President of the Republic of Indonesia, Ir. H. Joko Widodo will make a working visit to Bali Province tomorrow with a number of activity agendas. Apart from Harris Hotel and Residence Sunset Road, the President also goes to Ubud Royal Palace... One of the agenda is to review the mass vaccination of workers in the tourism sector and the creative economy on the Island of the Gods and mass vaccination in Ubud, Gianyar, which will be used as a green zone in preparation for receiving foreign tourist visits. There are already around 100,000 tourism and creative economy workers in Bali registered for this mass vaccination program.
Context: Large-scale preparations have been made in Ubud in anticipation of the President’s visit, both in terms of security and ceremony. The vaccination program that he will witness today will include 653 people from 13 of the city’s Banjars. In addition to his visit to Ubud, the President had also been scheduled to visit a vaccination center in Klungkung, as well as the site of the massive Bali Cultural Center which is now under construction. Word came yesterday, however, that this part of the visit had been called off.
"Bali Tourism Association Blasts Health Minister’s Plan To Reopen Border In 2022" from The Bali Sun: There has been a discourse from the Ministry of Health to hold back the opening of the full Bali borders until 2022 for foreign tourists. Association of the Indonesian Tours and Travels Agencies (ASITA) has criticized the Health Minister’s plan saying it would be detrimental to the economy to postpone the reopening. The Head of Regional ASITA Representatives for Bali, I Putu Winastra said that this scheme will bring the economy to fall into a deeper crisis. “It’s impossible to be implemented. Besides, that scheme was just a request from the Health Minister, and I think other Ministers like the Tourism Minister have a different solution to solve this problem,” Winastra said.
Context: The Health Minister’s pronouncement that Bali would not be able to re-open its borders to international tourists until 2022 was made as he visited Ubud on Friday with Governor Koster. The decree contradicts plans by the Governor and Tourism Minister Uno to open so-called “Green Zones” of vaccinated populations that can be recognized as safe for international visitors by other countries. While the head of ASITA has criticized the plan. there have not yet been any direct comments made on this new timeline by the Governor or the Tourism Minister However, Minister Uno did say yesterday that he was calling for a “coordination meeting” of Ministers on Wednesday to “equalize perceptions in the reopening of Bali in receiving foreign tourist visits.” He also said that he wants the issue settled in time for a meeting that he has scheduled for March 27, to which he will invite 15 Ambassadors to discuss the viability of their reopening plans. Meanwhile, many industry actors seem to be resigning themselves to another year of waiting for tourism to re-start.
Nyepi Round-up
"Nyepi Celebration, Badung Police Claims No Big Crowd Found" from The Bali Post: The Nyepi celebration in the jurisdiction of the Badung Police in general was safe, orderly and conducive. Badung Police Chief AKBP Roby Septiadi claimed that there were no large crowds and prokes violators. It's a little bit crowded but still a reasonable rate. There was no big crowd and it was spontaneous,” said Kapolres Roby.
More...
"Nyepi, 1,115 Hindu Prisoners Received Special Remissions" from Antara (Indonesian)
"201 Prisoners at Kerobokan Bali Prison Receive Remission for Nyepi Day" from iNews Bali (Indonesian)
"Electricity in Nusa Penida Goes Out During Nyepi Day" from Suara Bali (Indonesian)
"Tabanan City Ensures There is No Nyipeng after Nyepi Day" from Suara Bali (Indonesian)
"Alert 36 Personnel, Kuta Beach Bali Task Force Special Attention for Hotel Guests Who Want to Play to the Beach" from Tribune Bali (Indonesian)
"The Last 4 Days Approaching Nyepi, Domestic Passenger Movement at Ngurah Rai Airport Reaches 34,373 People" from Tribune Bali (Indonesian)
"This Is the Atmosphere of Ngurah Rai Airport on Nyepi Day" from iNews Bali (Indonesian) [Video]
"On Ngembak Geni Holiday, Banyuwedang Hot Spring Crowded with Visitors" from Bali Express (Indonesian)
"On Ngembak Geni Holiday, Lovina Beach and Air Sanih Crowded with Visitors" from Bali Express (Indonesian)
"On Ngembak Geni, Sanur Beach is Still the Favorite of the Residents" from Bali Express (Indonesian)
>> Classifieds <<
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Other Headlines
"The Nusa Dua Area Is Ready To Welcome 24 Events During 2021" from Bali Prawara (Indonesian): Even though it is still in a pandemic atmosphere, good news is blowing from the Nusa Dua area. The reason is, during 2021, until next November, the Indonesian Tourism Development (Persero) or the Indonesia Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) as the manager of The Nusa Dua tourism area, noted that there were 24 reservations for the event. Of all these events, including a number of Meeting, Incentive, Convention, Exhibition (MICE) activities on a national scale. Unmitigated, it is estimated that this event will be attended by a total of more than 6,500 participants. Reservations include from a number of national organizations, financial and educational institutions.
Health Protocols (Prokes) & Patrols
Badung: "Police Monitor Tourist Places to Anticipate Prokes Violators" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian)
Bangli: "Five Residents Netted Violating Prokes at Kintamani Tourism Object" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian)
Karangasem: "At Padangbai Port, Dozens of Netted Passengers Do Not Bring Negative Sukets" from The Bali Post (Indonesian)
Vaccination Update
"Indonesia Delays AstraZeneca Vaccine Rollout" from The Jakarta Globe: The Drug and Food Supervisory Agency, or BPOM, decided on Monday to delay the use of Covid-19 vaccine produced by UK pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca amid reports of blood clots after it was administered. Indonesia received 1.1 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine last week through global procurement scheme Covax. BPOM head Penny Lukito said the decision was taken as precautions while awaiting further recommendation from the World Health Organization and the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE) regarding the safety of the vaccine.
More...
Nation: "Over 4 Million Indonesians Have Received Covid-19 Vaccine" from The Jakarta Globe
Nation: "More Than 10,500 [PLN] Employees Across Indonesia Have Received Covid-19 Vaccination" from Bali Prawara (Indonesian)
Nation: "Govt to Procure 426 mln Doses of Covid-19 Vaccines" from Antara
Nation: "Vaccine Arrivals to Push Pace of Immunization in July-Dec: Minister" from Antara
Nation: "Indonesia Expects Moderna, Sinopharm Vaccines for Private Inoculation Drive" from The Jakarta Post (Paywall)
Nation: "Military Readies 102 Health Facilities for Covid-19 Vaccination" from Antara
Island: "2 Million People in Bali Are Targeted to Have Been Vaccinated Against Covid-19 by Mid-2021" from Tribune Bali (Indonesian)
Island: "Menparekraf Sandiaga Uno Will Present Vaccination Centers in All Tourist Villages in Bali" from Tribune Bali (Indonesian)
Island: "26,000 Migrant Workers From Bali Will Be Vaccinated Before Returning To Work" from Bali Prawara (Indonesian)
Buleleng: "70% of Buleleng People Are Targeted to Get Vaccines in the Next Three Months" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian)
Denpasar: "39,000 More People in Denpasar City Have Been Vaccinated with Covid-19" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian)
Denpasar: "Denpasar City Government Targets 1,100 in Special Vaccinations" from Tribune Bali (Indonesian)
Denpasar: "Bali Mandara Hospital Target of Vaccination of 500 People per Day" from Bali Express (Indonesian)
"Residents of Banjar Alengkong Songan Were Shocked by the Discovery of a Baby Girl Behind the Toilet" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian): Head of Public Relations of the Bangli IPTU Police, I Wayan Sudiarsa, explained that the unfortunate baby who was found started when the witness finished using the toilet behind his house. "The baby was found wrapped in cloth and covered with blood," he said. After an examination by the medical team the baby was declared in good health. And for the time being the baby is still entrusted to the Kintamani V Health Center.
Health Services Update
"Positive Covid-19 Rises Again, Isolation Room Is Canceled Closed" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian): Managing Director of the State Hospital, dr. Ni Putu Eka Indrawati when confirmed after the return of 6 confirmed Covid-19 patients at the State Hospital who had been declared cured, Monday said that after the positive cases of Covid-19 decreased, his party planned to close one isolation room. It is planned that the closed isolation room will be used as an ICU room so that the State Hospital, which previously had only one ICU room, could have two ICU rooms. "But positive cases of Covid have increased again and the closure of one isolation room has been postponed until the situation improves," he said.
"It Turns Out That the SE Governor of Bali No. 06 of 2021 Has Not Been Approved by the Center" from Radar Bali (Indonesian): The latest Circular Letter issued by the Governor of Bali and released by the Provincial Government of Bali has not received approval from the central government, aka it is still in the process of submission... A young man who was about to fly from Jakarta to Denpasar, Bali, was asked to do a repeat antigen rapid test because the certificate of the antigen rapid test results that his brother showed to the officer was stated through the 1x24 hour stipulation. Even though according to the latest SE (SE Number 06/2021) issued by the Governor of Bali, especially on the point of requirements for domestic travelers (PPDN) who will enter the Bali region, all travelers are required to show a negative certificate of antigen rapid test results a maximum of 2x24 hours before departure.
Monkey Business
"Feeding Monkeys in Sangeh Reaches Rp. 15 Million per Month, Manager Screaming, Worried About This" from Tribune Bali (Indonesian): In addition to decreasing visits, Sangeh's tourist attraction (DTW) also experienced a decline in turnover. It's just that routine spending cannot be stopped, because the monkeys must be fed so they don't get wilder. To feed the monkeys, the manager has issued a budget of IDR 15 million per month. The Operational Manager of DTW Sangeh , Made Please said that in Sangeh Village , Sangeh Village, Abiansemal District, Badung, there are hundreds of monkeys that must be cared for in order to stay alive and tame to visitors.
More...
"Nyepi, A Gang of Monkeys Enters the Village" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian)
Of Interest
"No More Delays: PON XX to be Held in October" from The Jakarta Globe
"Tourists Start to Leave the Three Gili Destinations in Lombok" from Repbulika (Indonesian)
"Indonesia's Foreign Debt Reached US $ 420.7 billion" from Antara (Indonesian)
"The Deputy Governor of West Nusa Tenggara is Positive for Covid-19, Was Vaccinated Twice" from Republika (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 TheBaliBeat@outlanders.global.
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.
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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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