Wednesday, April 22
"Fluctuating results" from COVID-19 tests concern officials + Market & airport operational restrictions extended + Drunk foreigner scares villagers + Don't worry, the monkeys are fine... and more!
Good morning! Welcome to the COVID-19 Update for Bali for Wednesday, April 22. If you find this information useful, please subscribe and share it with others in the foreigner community on the island.
If you've got a tip on a story that should be included, please contact us at newsletter@migrationmedia.net.
Status Update
Country-wide Numbers:
Source:
Indonesia National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB Indonesia): @BNPB_Indonesia
Official updates are available from the Indonesian Government here.
Bali Numbers:
Confirmed Cases Distribution:
Key: Red = Infected | Green = Recovered | Black = Died
Trends:
Sources:
Infographic comes from Bali Provincial Government COVID-19 Task Force (link).
The geographic breakdown comes from the Bali Provincial Government's data collection department (link).
Charts have been compiled using their data.
More detailed information on the locations of positive cases within each Regency, as well as the number of suspected cases ("ODP") and people under observation ("PDP"), can be found in infographics on the official websites of each Regency's COVID-19 Task Force:
Badung | Bangli* | Buleleng | Denpasar City | Gianyar* | Jembrana* | Karangasem | Klungkung* | Tabanan
*Does not yet have a dedicated Covid-19 info page. Detailed information can be found by reading official government news alerts.
The Big News
"Bali Officials Question 'Fluctuating Results' from Coronavirus Test Of Indonesian Patient" from Coconuts: An Indonesian patient in Bali’s Buleleng regency who recently returned from Italy has reportedly undergone a dozen PCR tests for the coronavirus due to “fluctuating results” that have yet to confirm that they have recovered from the viral disease... The patient, who is identified with the number 03, has reportedly been treated at a hospital in Buleleng for more than 30 days. Buleleng’s regional secretary Gede Suyasa explained that confirmed COVID-19 patients in the regency usually take about seven to eight days to recover, but in contrast, tests for Patient 03 have not shown a back-to-back negative result – which would confirm a patient’s recovery and allow them to be discharged – since he was admitted for treatment.
"Badung Extends Operational Restrictions on Traditional Markets and Modern Stores" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian): The Badung Regency Government has decided to extend the operational & hours regulation policy for shopping centers, supermarkets / modern shops / mini markets and traditional markets / markets in Badung Regency. This instruction is valid from April 21 to May 29, and will always adjust to the development of the situation at the central and regional levels... "We ask for the understanding of management and the community for the sake of our mutual safety. If you want to shop, please set the time." Regional Secretary Adi Arnawa said. He added that during the limited operating hours, shopping centers, supermarkets / modern stores (supermarkets and mini markets) were asked not to provide a seating area and not serve food on the spot, but could serve consumers with services drive thru or order delivery via online order.
"Crime Rate Falls" from The Bali Post (Indonesian): There has been a disruption of crime during the COVID -19 pandemic, Badung Police Chief AKBP Roby Septiadi says, with reported crime in his area falling by 20%. This condition occurs thanks to most people living at home... In addition, the establishment of Public Kitchens to help feed poor and newly-unemployed people has encouraged people to share with each other. "This public kitchen is also useful for fostering merit services because of empathy, so that it takes the initiative to help the community," Roby said.
Other Headlines
"Govt Responds to Talk Of A 'Bali Exodus,' Will Work to Prevent Spread Of COVID-19" from The Bali Post (Indonesian): With Bali starting to be considered a "safe zone" amid the country's COVID-19 outbreak, the Chair of the Bali Province Task Force for the Acceleration of Handling COVID-19 in Bali, Dewa Made Indra, has said that while the Indonesian government has not prohibited people's movement between provinces, the recent order on Strengthening the Prevention and Handling of COVID-19 in Bali, includes provisions to continue to protect the island from the virus spreading. One of which limits the arrival of people from outside Bali.... "With the exception of logistics, health affairs, and other official affairs we do not allow any mass arrivals," he said. If anyone comes from outside, then of course they will be faced with a rapid test team from the Task Force. If they enter from Gilimanuk Port for example, then there they will be tested rapidly before entering Bali.
"Covid-19 Operational Limits Extended, Ngurah Rai Airport Operations Down to Only 19 Hours Per Day" from The Bali Tribune (Indonesian): Angkasa Pura Airports, which conducts periodic evaluations of operational adjustments at 15 airports in light of the Covid-19 pandemic, has extended the operational adjustment period at several airports that was set to run through May to July 2020... Operating hours for I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport in Bali will be 19 hours (07:00 - 02:00) from previously operating 24 hours. The operational adjustments made are temporarily closing the International Terminal gates 1B, 1C, and gates 5-9, and temporarily closing the west entrance. "It is possible that this adjustment period will be extended if the pandemic situation still does not show indications for improvement," said Angkasa Pura Airports Managing Director Faik Fahmi.
"Passed Out Foreigner Spreads Fear Of Virus In Pemogan, Handled by COVID-19 Task Force" from Bali Express (Indonesian): On Tuesday, residents in Liligundi Gang Jalan Juwet Sari, Banjar Kajeng, Kepaon Adat Village, Pemogan Village, Densel were shocked by a pair of stranded foreigners, one of whom was laying unconscious in the street. Residents suspected that the foreigner had died and were afraid that they may have been exposed to the coronavirus. Residents reported the incident to the Kepaon Indigenous Village Mutual Task Force to handle it... The team responded in full protective equipment and followed COVID-19 protocols so as to ease the concerns of residents. "The foreigner and hi girlfriend were immediately taken to Wangaya Hospital to get a medical examination and a rapid test was carried out. The information we got, the foreigner was negative Covid-19, he was only affected by alcohol," said Chairman of the Co-19 Mutual Assistance Task Force in Kepaon Customary Village, AA Mayun Mahardika.
"Return of Migrant Workers Continues, Driving Govt Efforts to Handle 'Imported Cases'" from The Bali Post (Indonesian): The composition of COVID-19 positive cases in Bali consists of 82.67% imported cases from abroad and outside the region and 17.33% local transmission. This will drive the strategy of very strict screening at Bali's entrances. "The inspection process at the entrances must be done well through a series of checks. Both body temperature and rapid test," said Chair of the Bali Province COVID-19 Task Force for the Acceleration of Handling, Dewa Made Indra... Dewa Indra added that the overseas migrant workers (PMI) are returning to Bali because they face problems at their place of work. Therefore, it is not possible for the government to institute a policy to put the brakes on imported cases by not inviting PMIs who in fact are Balinese to return to the Island of the Gods. Most importantly, as PMIs continue to arrive, they must go through a rigorous inspection.
"Monkeys In Ubud Monkey Forest Still Given Food 3 Times A Day" from The Bali Tribune (Indonesian): Monkey Forest Ubud, a nature reserve and temple complex located in the village of Padangtegal Ubud, Gianyar, is home to more than 1,000 long-tailed monkeys (Macaca fascicularis). It is a popular tourist attraction, and is often visited by more than 3.000 tourists per day. However, the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic means that the area covered with large trees had to be temporarily closed... "During the closure of the Sacred Mandala Wenara Wana (Monkey Forest Ubud) we have carried out 3 things that are our priority, namely 1. Maintaining the stability of ape feed; 2. spraying disinfectant in every area that often contact with visitors conducted regularly; and 3. rejuvenation of forests that support the ecosystem of this tourist area which is supported by the Watershed Management and Unda Anyar Protected Forests," said the general manager of the mongkey fores Ida Bagus Purwadita.
The View from Outside
"The West Live: Bali Economy Collapses Despite Holiday Hotspot Escaping Worst Of Coronavirus Pandemic" from Perth Now: Coronavirus is having a “catastrophic” impact on Western Australia's favourite holiday island of Bali despite the fact it has recorded just three deaths from the disease... The Indonesian province appears to be escaping the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic, with a total of just 135 infections, but is still experiencing a huge economic fallout in what the head of the Indonesia Institute has labelled a "really cruel twist." President Ross Taylor told The West Live host Jenna Clarke that by all accounts Bali should be the epicentre of the coronavirus disaster in Indonesia, which has recorded more than 6,700 cases, and that he was baffled it had not experienced a greater impact.
"Indonesia Bans Ramadan Mass Exodus Tradition to Curb Coronavirus Spread" from The Sydney Morning Herald: Indonesia will ban the mass exodus tradition, locally known as mudik, at the end of the Muslim fasting month in May in a bid to curb the spread of coronavirus in the country, President Joko Widodo said on Tuesday... Health experts had warned that allowing millions in the world's biggest Muslim-majority country to travel to their home villages after Ramadan could hasten the spread of the disease. "I have taken the decision that we will ban mudik," Joko told a cabinet meeting, using the Indonesian term for the homecoming journey. "That is why the relevant preparation needs to be done."
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.
If you are trying to plan travel anywhere, here are two 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 alerts feed into airlines' reservation systems, so it is the most reliable database of flight restrictions around.
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.
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We only list news items from established media sources
We do not share rumors.
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For all stories marked "Indonesian" we have used Google Translate to convert it from Bahasa. When possible, we will polish the excerpt or write a summary in proper English to help clarify the details.
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