Tuesday, March 2
Guv & Tourism Minister tout new "Green Zone" plan to reopen sections of island to visitors + 200 police officers per day getting vaccine + Man recounts 36-day stay in Imigrasi detention + more!
Good morning! Welcome to The Bali Beat for Tuesday, March 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
*NOTE: The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has released an early warning to be aware of the potential for high waves of up to four meters off of Lombok, the Bali Strait - Lombok - southern Alas, and the Indian Ocean south of Banten to West Nusa Tenggara.
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 the island reported the fewest number of new cases on a weekday since January 4. Also, it's the first day with two districts reporting zero cases in a long time (Bangli & Buleleng). This dip could be the result of the “Weekend Effect,” where reduced testing capacity results in lower case numbers being reported, but another day or two of cases in this range will make it a genuine trend. Deaths, however, are a lagging indicator and remain high.
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
"Indonesian Officials Setting Up Covid-19 ‘Green Zones’ in Bali" from Coconuts: Talks of opening up Bali to mass tourism have sprung up again recently as the province’s daily COVID-19 cases dropped in recent weeks, with Bali Governor Wayan Koster saying that there might soon be COVID-19 “green zones” on the island open to all travelers. “[The Bali administration] along with the Health Ministry are formulating green zones, and these green zones are places where both domestic and foreign tourists will be allowed to visit,” Koster said at the launch of a drive-thru vaccination center in Nusa Dua yesterday. The governor has yet to reveal more details about the plan.
Context: The Governor and Tourism Minister both spoke yesterday on what they believe he conditions will be for reopening Bali to foreign visitors. Governor Koster said that Bali already had the highest percentage of vaccinated people among provinces in Indonesia, and that creating confidence for foreign governments in terms of the health of any citizens who visit is key. Minister Uno said that the “Green Zone” would encompass Nusa Dua and Ubud, and that it was being coordinated at every level of government. However, its ability to open would be dependent on Covid-19 infection rates and buy-in from foreign governments, whose ambassadors he is in constant contact with about the proposal.
"My 36-Day Horror Experience at Immigration Detention Centre Denpasar" from Indonesia Expat: Denpasar Immigration ultimately took away my passport and I was given a lengthy interview. Immigration assured me several times that:
I would not have to pay the overstay after 60 days as the agent/sponsor was responsible.
There would be no escort fees.
I would be in the Detention Centre for about two to three days. I could leave as soon as I booked a flight ticket. However, I was not allowed to book my flight and leave within days without going to the Detention Centre or have a pre-booked air ticket for a couple of days after arriving at the Detention Centre.
I would have full access to my phone, laptop, etc.
I would be free to walk about at the Detention Centre but would not be able to leave the premises.
Four people in total went into the detention centre on the same day, all conned by this visa agent. We had all individually been informed the same. Apart from not having to pay the overstay, categories two to five stated above were all completely incorrect.
"Reducing the Risk of Covid-19 in Prisons, Foreign Inmates Can Get [Early Release]" from Radar Bali (Indonesian): After an evaluation, the assimilation [early release] program of the Indonesian Ministry of Law and Human Rights to reduce the risk of Covid-19 transmission in prisons or remand centers continues. This new rule is regulated in Permen No. 32/2021. There are several groups of prisoners who cannot be assimilated even though they have served half the sentence. "For example, prisoners of immoral cases or crimes against children, such as pedophilia, cannot assimilate," said Head of the Bali Regional Office of Law and Human Rights, Suprapto yesterday. Apart from cases of crimes against children, cases with weighting as stipulated in Article 365 of the Criminal Code, also cannot be assimilated.
>> Classifieds <<
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Other Headlines
"Not Being Treated at the Hotel, OTG / GR in Karangasem Is Directed to Independent Isolation" from Radar Bali (Indonesian): The Karangasem Regency Government has not yet issued a policy for people without symptoms (OTG or Mild Symptoms (GR) Covid-19 to be treated centrally in hotels. At present, the Karangasem Regency Government is thinking about budget items that could possibly be shifted so that central isolation financing can be carried out by the district. Karangasem Regent I Gede Dana emphasized that the handling of residents who are temporarily isolated can be handled independently. He said, the Karangasem Regency Government has currently prepared a Learning Activity Center (SKB) in Jasri, Subagan Village, Karangasem as a quarantine location.
Health Protocols (Prokes) & Patrols
Badung: "Preventing the Spread of Covid-19, Badung Police Offices Increase KKYD" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian)
Badung: "PPKM Micro Patrol, PP Police Call Open 24 Hours Only for Culinary Business" from Radar Bali (Indonesian)
Denpasar: "Holds Sidak in Pemecutan Kelod Village, Yustisi Team Nets 19 Prokes Violators" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian)
Denpasar: "Covid-19 Task Force Disbands Cafe Visitors in North Denpasar" from Radar Bali (Indonesian)
Gianyar: "Seven Dimly Lit Cafes in Gianyar Are Threatened With Permanent Closure" from Radar Bali (Indonesian)
Jembrana: "Not Wearing Masks, Residents in Jembrana Sentenced to Push-ups" from Radar Bali (Indonesian)
Jembrana: "Breaking Opening Hours, 3 Discrete Entrepreneurs" from Nusa Bali (Indonesian)
Vaccination Update
Island: "A Total of 13,700 Phase II Vaccines Are Available for Bali Tourism Actors" from Bisnis Bali (Indonesian)
Island: "The Initial Vaccination Process Takes Place at the Bali Police, 200 Personnel Every Day" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian)
Island: "Police Officer in Bali Afraid of Injecting the Covid-19 Vaccine, Crying Hysterically Seeing a Syringe" from iNews Bali (Indonesian)
Island: "Journalists in Bali are Scheduled to Get Covid-19 Vaccinations" from Nusa Bali (Indonesian)
Badung: "Badung Vaccination Discussion Meeting, Vice Regent: Vaccination Will Be Done Gradually" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian)
Buleleng: "After the Council and ASN, It Is the Turn for Journalists and Traders to Get Vaccinated" from Bali Express (Indonesian)
Tabanan:"Public Servants in Tabanan Begin Vaccination" from The Bali Post (Indonesian)
Economy News
"February Bali Experience Deflation, Horticultural Products Show Inflation" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian): In February 2021, Bali Province experienced deflation of 0.15% (mtm). This deflation occurred in all categories of goods, namely volatile food, administered prices and cores. Head of the Regional Representative Office for Bank Indonesia for the Province of Bali, Trisno Nugroho said that the volatile food group experienced deflation of 0.15% (mtm) compared to the previous month. The price decline was seen mainly in the commodity of broiler chicken, oranges, tomatoes, shallots and mangoes. Core inflation goods group recorded deflation of 0.09%. The decline in commodity prices for gold, jewelry and canang sari was the main contributor to deflation.
More...
"Denpasar Records 0.2% Deflation in February 2021" from Bisnis Bali (Indonesian)
"The Exchange Rate of Balinese Farmers Has Decreased, This is the Cause" from Bisnis Bali (Indonesian)
"Investment Potential in the Hotel and Restaurant Sector in Bali Is Still High" from Bisnis Bali (Indonesian)
"Many Companies Close During Pandemic, 721 Workers Layoffed in Gianyar" from Bali Express (Indonesian)
"Rice Production in Bali Has Decreased Due to a Decrease in Harvested Area" from Bisnis Bali (Indonesian)
Tourism Figures
"BPS Records Only 10 Foreign Tourists Come to Bali in January 2021" from The IDN Times (Indonesian): The Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) of Bali Province recorded 10 foreign tourists visiting Bali in January 2021. There was a decrease in visits reaching 99.99% compared to January 2020 with 536,611 visits. The data was conveyed by the Head of the Bali Province BPS, Hanif Yahya. Most of the foreign tourists who came in January 2021 were by sea, namely the ports of Tanjung Benoa and Singaraja, which recorded eight visits. Meanwhile, the other two visits were by air, namely I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport.
"BPBD Calls There are 48 Disaster Points in All Districts in Karangasem" from Radar Bali (Indonesian): Based on data collection, the Karangasem Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) noted that there were dozens of disaster points such as fallen trees and landslides in Karangasem. Even based on data collected through the Disaster Management Operations Control Center (Pusdalops) BPBD Karangasem, there are as many as 48 disaster points spread across 8 (eight) sub-districts in Karangasem after the extreme weather in Karangasem, last Sunday (28/2). "There are already 19 points or locations that have been handled either by our rapid response team or officers from the Koramil, Polsek, Karangasem SAR Post, the Karangasem PLN Team and several agencies and the community," said Chief Executive of the Karangasem BPBD, IB Ketut Arimbawa. Meanwhile, for the other 29 points, he stated that the team could not be handled and would be continued on Tuesday.
"Kuta Beach Affected by Seaweed Trash" from Nusa Bali (Indonesian): Kuta Beach Tourism Object, Badung, received another shipment of garbage, Sunday (1/3) morning. The rubbish that was sent along the coast was in the form of seaweed. This seaweed waste is the impact of the west monsoon or west wind. The Badung Environment and Sanitation Service has cleaned up the sent garbage. This seaweed waste has been monitored since Saturday (27/2). Seaweed shipments are spread evenly on Kuta beach. For two days, officials from the Badung Environment and Sanitation Service have stepped in to do the cleaning. “Every morning seaweed garbage appears along Kuta beach. The Environmental and Cleanliness Service Team is still on standby and doing cleaning as well as transportation," said local resient Kadek Dwi.
Of Interest
"The 4.3 M Earthquake Occurred in Jembrana Bali" from Detik (Indonesian)
"This Bird Wasn’t Seen for 170 Years. Then It Appeared in an Indonesian Forest." from The New York Times (Metered Paywall)
"Indonesians Find Fun on OnlyFans Amid Draconian Pornography Law" from The Jakarta Post
"President’s Security Detail Fly-kicks Motorcyclist on Shut Road Outside State Palace (Video)" from Coconuts
"Sanglah Hospital Is Expected To Have Standard And Qualified Health Services" from Bali Prawara (Indonesian)
"Tabanan Has a Tour of 'Bali Chocolate Village' (Video)" from Antara (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.
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 try to 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.