Wednesday, February 10
Task Force says foreigner entry ban is extended while Imigrasi says that it isn't + Domestic travel health protocols tighten slightly + Country could slip to "Lower Middle-income" status + more!
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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's numbers shot back up yesterday, making for a yo-yo-like swing from day to day. Recoveries fell to their slowest pace in a week, pushing the In Treatment number back up to well over 3,000. The 7-day fatality rate continues to inch upwards (61)- the highest since Sep. 14. Meanwhile the country as a whole has seen a marked downshift in daily cases, showing less than 9,000 for two days straight.
It has not escaped the notice of the media and members of government that the volatility in Bali amidst a general upward trend of case numbers has come while the enhanced restrictions of the “PPKM” police have been in effect.
Click here to see the national numbers infographic and a Regency-by-Regency breakdown of yesterday’s local numbers.
The Big News
Ins & Outs
"Can I Come in Yet? What We Know About Entry to Indonesia" from Indonesia Expat: On 8th February, Government Spokesperson of the COVID-19 Handling Task Force Wiku Adisasmito held a press conference regarding the introduction of Micro PPKM taking effect on 8 – 22nd February 2021. Wiku stated that foreigners may not enter the country unless they are visa and residence permit holders in accordance with the Regulation of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights No.26 of 2020... The Indonesian Directorate of Immigration later on Monday night released infographics on its Facebook and Instagram accounts explaining the new regulations for international travelers, both foreigners and Indonesians, starting from 9th February until further notice. Several Instagram users commented to seek confirmation whether they would be permitted to enter Indonesia once again, but this post was deleted a few hours later. Meanwhile, the immigration website has been crashing due to high traffic. When access was possible at 3.30pm local time, applications for those offshore for B211A visas were not able to be processed. At the time of writing, no further statements from other ministries nor the president had been released.
Context: Confusion has reigned since yesterday. On Monday night, the Spokesman for the country's Covid-19 Task Force said that the entry ban for foreigners would be extended until February 22: "Principally, all foreigners are still barred from entering Indonesia." About 12 hours later, word came from people visiting local Imigrasi offices that visas were being granted again and that the ban had essentially been lifted. This was followed by posts on Imigrasi's social media accounts saying the same thing. These posts were quickly deleted, however. In their place, this post on Imigrasi's Facebook page says that the border closure has been "eased," and that entry will be granted to just about anyone who already holds a visa. (They give a list of visa types covered.) There is no information on whether new visas will be processed. More confusingly, even though this post went up yesterday morning, as of publishing, it has not been reposted on Imigrasi's Twitter or Instagram accounts. There has not yet been any clarification offered in the media; as soon as it is, it'll be carried here.
"2 Regions in Bali Have Not Implemented Micro PPKM, Bangli Is Still Consulting the Provincial Task Force" from The Bali Tribune (Indonesian): The enactment of micro-scale Community Activity Limitation (PPKM) in Bali which began on Tuesday, February 9, 2021 has not been implemented in two regions, Bangli and Buleleng Regencies. Meanwhile, Karangasem and Jembrana Regencies have started implementing Micro PPKM according to the Ministry of Home Affairs Instructions and the Circular of the Governor of Bali. The Bangli Regency Covid-19 Response Acceleration Task Force (GTPP) admitted that it still needed to carry out consultations with the Bali Provincial Task Force, especially regarding the implementation of PPKM according to the Minister of Home Affairs Instruction.
"Travel Requirements to Bali During PPKM Mikro" from Detik Travel (Indonesian): Not much different from the previous SE Governor of Bali , in SE Number 03 of 2021 also regulates the provisions of domestic travelers who wish to enter Bali. "Those who travel by air are required to show a certificate of negative results from the PCR-based swab test no later than 2 x 24 hours before departure or a certificate of negative results from the Antigen rapid test no later than 1 x 24 hours before departure," said Governor Koster. Meanwhile, land and sea transportation must show a certificate of negative results from the PCR-based swab test or negative results of the Antigen rapid test no later than 3 x 24 hours before departure.
CORRECTION: Yesterday we carried the story, “Indonesia Extends Border Closure, OKs Coronavac Emergency Use" from Kyodo News. This piece was from two weeks ago and was about the last extension of the entry ban. We had meant to run this story instead: "Indonesia Extends Border Closure for Foreigners by Two More Weeks" from The Jakarta Post. It was published on Monday night and included the correct new end date of the entry ban, February 22. - The misprint was an editorial oversight that came while checking the source of the Jakarta Post story, which had been picked up from Kyodo News. We regret the error.
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Other Headlines
"Cleaners Transport 5 Tons of Garbage from the River Estuary" from Nusa Bali (Indonesian): Hundreds of officers from the Badung Environment and Sanitation Service (LHK), together with the community and NGOs, cleaned up trash in the mouth of the river in the Dreamland Beach area, Pecatu Village, South Kuta District, Badung, Monday (8/2) morning. A total of 5 tonnes of trash was collected from the river mouth. Head of the LHK Office of Badung Regency, I Wayan Puja, said that garbage cleaning was carried out after receiving reports from the public that found piles of garbage in the estuary of the Dreamland Beach area. The trash is mostly wooden branches and medium-sized logs. In addition, there is also plastic waste. "The garbage that has been collected is immediately transported to the waste collection point in the land around the location," said Wayan Puja.
Prokes & Patrols
Island: "The First Day of Micro PPKM in Bali: Criminal Sanctions in Gianyar | Bangli Still Coordinating" from The Bali Tribune (Indonesian)
Badung: "First Day of Micro PPKM in Badung, Rapid Tests were Held in the Red Zone" from The Bali Post (Indonesian)
Badung: "Badung Limits Hours of Business Activities to 21.00 WITA" from Antara (Indonesian)
Bangli: "9 Villages in Bangli Enter the Red Zone, Two Villages in the Orange Zone" from Nusa Bali (Indonesian)
Denpasar: "First Day PPKM Micro Scale, Yustisi Team Denpasar City Nets 2 Prokes Violators" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian)
Gianyar: "Gianyar Implemented Micro PPKM in 70 Villages" from Antara (Indonesian)
Jembrana: "To Minimize the Rate of Covid-19, Jembrana Implements Micro-PPKM" from Radar Bali (Indonesian)
Karangasem: "Two Sub-Districts Enter the Red Zone" from Nusa Bali (Indonesian)
Tabanan: “Regency Government Implements Micro PPKM, In Accordance with the Indonesian Minister of Home Affairs Instructions" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian)
"2 Foreigners Accused of Masterminding US$215,000 Skimming Schemes in Bali" from Coconuts: Ambariyadi Wijaya, deputy director of the special crimes unit at the Bali Police, said that seven national and regional banks across Bali recently reported that their ATM units were broken into late last year. These units were located in tourist spots, gas stations, and quiet areas in Denpasar, Badung, and Gianyar. The banks reported that their clients have lost upwards of hundreds of millions of rupiah, prompting a formal investigation that led to the arrest of the seven Indonesians, who are members of two different groups. Authorities reportedly seized more than 2,100 fake ATM cards during the arrests.
Vaccination Update
"‘We’ll Do It in 15 Months’: Health Ministry Counters Study Saying Indonesia Needs 10 Years to Vaccinate Population" from Coconuts: This week, Bloomberg projected that, based on countries’ current vaccination rates, Indonesia would need more than 10 years to vaccinate 75% of its population to achieve herd immunity against the coronavirus, if it continues to administer jabs at the current rate of around 60,000 people per day. “We are committed to carry out [the mass vaccination program] in 15 months, maximum. We can even speed it up to 12 months by ensuring vaccine availability,” the Health Ministry’s COVID-19 vaccination spokeswoman Siti Nadia Tarmizi said. Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko was less kind about Bloomberg’s projection, suggesting that the outlet “should re-educate themselves.”
More...
Nation: "Press to Receive 5,000 Covid-19 Vaccines From February-end to March" from Antara
Tabanan: "83.32% of Health Workers in Tabanan Completed Undergoing COVID-19 Vaccination" from The IDN Times (Indonesian)
More Ins & Outs
"Indonesian Tourism Minister Sandiaga Uno Plans Turbo-charged 5-year Visa for High-spending Tourists" from Coconuts: The long-term visa, Sandiaga said, would specifically target foreigners seeking to spend time in Indonesia during the winter months in their home countries. “The concept is a long-term stay [or] second home visa with a five-year validity. They would have to deposit IDR2 billion (US$142,958) [to be eligible for the visa]. For families, [they would have to deposit] IDR2.5 billion (US$178,698),” Sandiaga said. The long-term visa, Sandiaga hopes, would encourage even more spending from foreign tourists, which may positively impact local economies that have been battered by the pandemic.
Can’t Buy Me Love
"Indonesia May Return to Lower Middle-income Status: Minister" from Antara: With its economy contracting 2.07% in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Indonesia is projected to return to its status as a lower middle-income country, the National Development Planning Ministry said. GDP declined from US$4,174.9 per capita in 2019 to US$3,911.7 per capita in 2020, while GNI declined from US$4,047 to US$3,806 during the period. At the end of 2019, the World Bank upgraded Indonesia's status as an upper-middle income country from its previous status of a lower-middle income country, with income above US$4,046. "If the growth in 2021 can reach 4.5-5.5%, and 5% in the next year, we will have an income of US$4,000; thus, we can return to the status of an upper middle-income country," added National Development Planning Minister/National Development Planning Agency head, Suharso Monoarfa.
More...
"Unemployment in Bali Becomes 144,500 People, in Badung Increases Drastically" from Bisnis Bali (Indonesian)
"Foreign Exchange Transactions in Bali Decrease During 2020, Entrepreneurs: Not Oblivious to Hospitality"from Bisnis Bali (Indonesian)
"Pig Supply Scarcity, Buyers Outside Bali Dare to Pay 27% More Expensive" from Bisnis Bali (Indonesian)
"Receiving Audience of Breeders, Council Supports the Prohibition of Entry of Pig Breeds from Outside Bali" from The Bali Tribune (Indonesian)
Of Interest
"Indonesia Targets Over $372 Billion in Investment to Speed Up Recovery" from The Jakarta Post
"Employees Exposed to Covid-19, Social Services and BKPAD Temporarily Closed" from Bali Express (Indonesian)
"The Supply of Drinking Water in Denpasar Was Disrupted Due to Mud Floods" from Antara (Indonesian)
"Chinese New Year Celebrations in Gianyar to be Held On A Limited Basis" from The Bali Post (Indonesian)
"Visits Down, Monkey Forest Increase Promotion and Adjust Rates" from The Bali Post (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.
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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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