Wednesday, August 5
Buleleng schools ordered to redirect all resources to support online learning + Pools & spas to remain closed + 20,000 tourists visit during holiday weekend + Deflationary pressures persist + more!
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Weather & Waves
Today’s Weather for Southern Bali
*NOTE: A High Wave Warning has been issued through Wednesday. Waves as high as 2.5 to 4 meters are likely to occur in five locations including the southern Bali Strait, the Badung Strait, the southern Lombok Strait, the southern Alas Strait, and the South Indian Ocean Bali-NTB.
Today’s Tides
Surf Outlook (animation shows changes from 8:00am - 6:00pm)
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: Click here to see the complete breakdown of yesterday’s numbers from our evening update.
The Big News
"Buleleng Schools Required to Adjust Work Plans Due to Covid-19 Pandemic" from Radar Bali (Indonesian): Acting Kadisdikpora of Buleleng, I Made Astika, has told school officials that the learning process that has relied on face to face must fully turn to online learning. Principals are required to make adjustments to their Work Plan and School Budgets (RKAS)."Each RKAS must now prioritize online learning. Moreover, School Operational Assistance (BOS) funds can now be used for ways to improve the learning process via online learning," he said... For a while schools were also asked to postpone activities with nuances of building rehabilitation or construction of new buildings. School principals are encouraged to allocate spending for the provision of facilities and infrastructure that support the learning process during the pandemic.
"Artificial Attractions and Spas in Bali Still Suspended" from Radar Bali (Indonesian): Visits to swimming pools, to spa services are still not permitted to seek covid safe certificates. Because these three business sectors are closely related to the application of physical distancing. Implementation of artificial attractions such as festivals for example. If not managed and coordinated with the security forces, then it is likely that physical distancing cannot be applied. While the spa business, it can not do physical distancing.
"Ngurah Rai Airport Serves 20,000 Domestic Passengers During Eid al-Agha Holiday" from Antara (Indonesian): "During the long Idul Adha holiday period [from July 30 - August 3], the movement of domestic passengers was recorded at 20,787 passengers arriving and departing from Bali," said Communication and Legal Manager of PT Angkasa Pura I Airport Branch Office I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport, Bali, Andanina Dyah Permata Megasari... "The average aircraft movements per day during the period reached 60 flights. For this domestic route, flight routes are still dominated by Jakarta and a number of other major cities," said Andanina. (Ed. Note: The Doha-Bali flight took out more people than it brought in over the weekend. Check out this story for a more detail breakdown of passenger loads along specific routes.)
Other Headlines
"48 Medical Staff at State Hospital Declared Negative for Covid-19" from Antara (Indonesian): "The test was carried out as part of tracing (tracing / tracking) , because there were families of employees of the State Hospital who were positively infected with COVID-19," said Director of the State Hospital Dr. I Gusti Bagus Ketut Oka Parwata, in Negara, Jembrana, Tuesday. He said, the swab test was carried out on 60 medical officers, as a form of anticipation and alertness so that medical personnel avoid transmission.
"Bali Experiences Deflation in July" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian): Head of the Bank Indonesia Representative Office of the Province of Bali, Trisno Nugroho, said that prices for consumables for Balinese people in July decreased compared to the previous month. The Volatile Food group experienced deflation of -1.37% (mtm), deeper than June's drop of -0.25% (mtm). The deepest decline continued for commodities such as shallots, purebred chicken, and cayenne peppers. The decline occurred in all categories of goods, namely volatile foods, core inflation and administered prices. According to BPS records, Bali Province in July 2020 experienced a deflation of 0.39% (mtm) which is deeper than the National deflation rate of 0.10% (mtm). (Ed. Note: As deflation persists across the island's economy as a whole, selected items are seeing rises in demand, which can affect supply chains and shipping costs. So don't be surprised if you're not seeing noticeable, widespread price drops for commodities in the markets. Yet. For more context, check out this story about the 25% rise in demand for black & red rice in Tabanan.)
"Bali-based Arak Treatment for Covid-19 Patients Cannot be Applied in Hospitals" from The Bali Tribune (Indonesian): The wine-based herb, Arak, which Bali Governor Wayan Koster has claimed can help Covid-19 patients recover more quickly, is being administered to "about 500 patients still being treated, whether hospitalized for those who are sick or quarantine enough for those who are in good health." However, research discovery distribution permit has not been issued so that it can only be applied only to quarantined patients... Patients who are treated in hospitals cannot be given the Arak treatment because hospitals have service standards that do not allow therapy that does not yet have a marketing authorization. "But I have continued to coordinate with the central government so that clinical research trials can be accelerated so that they can benefit the wider community," Koster said.
"BALINALE Festival Postponed Until May 2021" from Bali Discovery: Deborah Gabinetti, founder of the Bali International Film Festival (BALINALE), explained the postponement, saying: “Because of the recent announcement by the Indonesia Cinema Owners Association (GPBSI) to delay the planned 29 July reopening of theaters to the general public, we decided it would be in the better interests of all of BALINALE participants to move the 14th annual Festival until May 2021.”
"Punk Rock Icon Jerinx May Face Defamation Charge Over ‘Insulting’ Post About Indonesian Doctors Association" from Coconuts: Balinese punk rock icon/avid conspiracy theorist Jerinx has been accused of defamation by the Balinese chapter of the Indonesian Doctors Association (IDI) over a social media post deemed insulting by the group... According to the Bali Provincial Police, IDI Bali filed an official complaint against the Superman is Dead (SID) drummer on June 16 over the latter’s Instagram post, in which he derided the association for requiring pregnant women to take COVID-19 tests before labor. “Because they are proud of being pawns of the WHO, IDI and hospitals feel they can just mandate COVID-19 testing on those giving birth,” part of the post read.
"Gojek Introduces GoTransit" from Kompass: Gojek officially introduces its latest GoTransit feature. This function can be used as a guide if you want to travel multimodally with other public transport. Transport manager Gojek Raditya Wibowo said GoTransit is one of the solutions for its customers who want to travel using multimodal transport. “To improve the integration of multimodal transport, we introduced the GoTransit technology solution. This solution helps our users plan and monitor their trips to / from various public transport hubs through integrated route recommendations and operational information,” he said.
"Russian Woman Deported for Illegally Operating Beauty Clinic with Visa On Arrival" from Coconuts: Authorities have deported a Russian woman, identified as Iuliia Mamaev, for illegally working as a medical aesthetician during her stay in Bali. According to the Bali office of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights, which handles immigration-related matters, Mamaev entered Indonesia through Bali’s Ngurah Rai Airport on a visa on arrival in February, meaning she was not permitted to work during her stay. “She was deported early Tuesday morning. She violated the terms of her visa, which was just a visa on arrival, yet she opened an aesthetician practice in Mengwi, Badung,” ministry spokesman Surya Dharma said.
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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