Wednesday, July 1
Foreigners to be required to use govt contact tracing app + New swab testing facility to be added at Tabanan Hospital + National Police assign 78k officers to enforce health protocols + more!
Good morning! Welcome to the COVID-19 Update for Bali for Wednesday, July 1. Please subscribe and share it with others in the foreigner community on the island. I happily put this daily newsletter together as a public service, and it will be free so long as the current emergency lasts. *A paid subscription is NOT required to access this content.* When signing up, select the "None" option and you'll get it delivered to your Inbox each day. If you would like to support my work, please consider making a voluntary contribution of US$5/month. Supporters receive an early update on the government’s daily infection & recovery numbers each night within an hour or so of their announcement… plus my enduring gratitude!
Status Update
National Numbers:
Bali Numbers:
Regency Numbers:
Confirmed Cases Distribution:
Key: Red = Infected | Green = Recovered | Black = Died
30-Day Trends:
More details on the locations of positive cases within each Regency, as well as the number of suspected cases ("ODP") and people under in-patient observation ("PDP"), can be found in charts & infographics on the websites of each Regency's Covid-19 Task Force:
Badung | Bangli | Buleleng | Denpasar City | Gianyar | Jembrana | Karangasem | Klungkung | Tabanan
Sources:
The national update comes from the Indonesia National Disaster Management Agency: @BNPB_Indonesia
The Bali Numbers infographic comes from the Bali Provincial Government COVID-19 Task Force (link).
The Confirmed Cases Distribution map & Regency Numbers figures come from the Bali Provincial Government's data collection department (link).
NOTE: While the national government includes daily testing totals in its infographic, Bali’s provincial government does not routinely release this data, so it is not included.
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 fund 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.
The Big News
"Tourists Will Be Required to Download the Care Care Application" from Antara (Indonesian): "In the tourist areas, of course, screening methods will also be used utilizing Care Protect, both for national tourists and foreign tourists when they enter Indonesia, so we will ask them to download Care Protect," said Head of the Disaster Management Operations Control Center National Disaster Management Agency (Pusdalops BNPB) Bambang Surya Putra. "That way we can track when we get information when the concerned might be involved, exposed to COVID, even we can track their whereabouts and can facilitate us for the next tracing process," Bambang said.
"Tabanan Hospital Will Have PCR Testing Center" from The IDN Times (Indonesian): The large number of swab test samples and the limited inspection facilities, has caused the Provincial Government (Pemprov) of Bali plan to add an additional PCR inspection facility. The government then chose Tabanan Hospital as the next laboratory.The Head of the Tabanan Research and Development Planning Agency (Bapelitbang), IB Wiratmaja, said that the fulfillment of the tools for PCR inspection had been promised by the Provincial Government of Bali. "We are waiting for the budget to go down. If this July the budget is certain, the facility will be ready within a week," Wiratmaja said.
"Authorities Inspect Modern Markets for Protocols to Prevent Them from Becoming A New Cluster of Covid-19 Transmission" from Antara (Indonesian): A Civil Service Police Unit together with the Bali Provincial Trade and Industry Office conducted a surprise inspection of a number of modern markets or shopping centers in Denpasar y and Badung Regency Starting from Plaza Renon, continuing to Duta Plaza (Matahari) and Tiara Dewata. Similar activities have also been carried out on Monday by targeting Mal Bali Galeria located on Jalan By Pass I Gusti Ngurah Rai... The team found that the manager had provided hand washing equipment, carried out temperature checks for mall employees and visitors, provided hand sanitizing fluids at the four entry points and spaced out the dining area by crossing them. Employees and visitors are all already wearing masks.
Other Headlines
"Due to Lots of Trash, Climbing to Mount Batukaru Tabanan Temporarily Closed" from The IDN Times (Indonesian): Climbing activities on Mount Batukau in Tabanan Regency have been suspended because many climbers are not responsible and are littering. Even though there is a pandemic, it turns out that many people do climbing activities. Many do so for praying, but some ar doing so for recreation. Based on what's been happening, staff will be more selective in only allowing access to people who want to pray. "Batukaru Temple is the source of livelihood for the people of all of Bali. If it is dirty upstream, it will affect the people of all of Bali. Not just Tabanan. Moreover, this plastic waste has an impact for the future," said Chairman of the Batukau Temple, I Ketut Sucipto.
"Nearly 78,000 Police to Guard Transition to Indonesia's 'New Normal'" from The Jakarta Post: The National Police have deployed 77,897 officers across the nation to guard the transition to the government's so-called new normal phase, during which all citizens are required to abide by the COVID-19 health protocols to prevent wider spread of the disease... Although the ban on mass gatherings has been lifted, the National Police said that it would continue in an assisting capacity to ensure public discipline and compliance with the COVID-19 protocols during the new normal phase. “We will continue to support multisectoral cooperation in controlling the pandemic and disseminating [the health protocols] to the public,” said National Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Awi Setiyono.
"Customs At Ngurah Rai Airport in Bali Launches Online Service As Part of New Normal" from Antara (Indonesian): "Adjustments to the service are diverted via electronic mail, telephone, facsimile, or video call media using WhatsApp applications or video conferencing applications. As for documents (hardcopy) that must be submitted, it can be done through an intermediary mechanism for security officers," said the Head of Information Services Counseling Section Customs Ngurah Rai, Bali, Teddy Triatmojo. He said the inspection of goods was still carried out by officers and equipped with masks and gloves. In addition, periodically spraying disinfectants is carried out in the Ngurah Rai Customs office.
"Indonesia's Premature Easing of Restrictions Risks Prolonged First Wave: Experts" from The Jakarta Post: Indonesian epidemiologists, who predicted the first wave would reach its peak sometime in mid to end of June, are concerned that the premature easing might stretch out the pandemic. "The first wave hasn’t finished yet. If preventive actions are not carried out consistently and correctly, we will run the risk of experiencing greater peaks," epidemiologist Iwan Ariawan from the University of Indonesia told the Post on Friday... Epidemiologist Windhu Purnomo from Airlangga University’s School of Public Health said fellow experts predicted the first wave might end in September, but he also warned of a lengthy wave and potential rebounds amid loosening policies. "Seeing the trends of high infections, I am now less optimistic," Windhu said.
"Special Interview Owner Krisna Souvenirs Bali: I Strive The Number of Employees Can Be Like Before" from The Bali Tribune (Indonesian): Owner of Krisna Souvenirs Bali, I Gusti Ngurah Anom, or better known as Ajik Krisna, closed all branches of Krisna Souvenirs Bali last March. The new place of business will operate again on Monday, 22 June. Despite closing down his business, Ajik Krisna still paid a number of bills. Then how does Ajik Krisna's strategy rise from this appalling condition? The following are excerpts of the interview.
"An Example of the New Normal: Warung Pepe Reopens, Applies Strict Health Protocols To Visitors" from The Bali Tribune (Indonesian): A number of restaurants in the Badung Regency are now open and stretched and visited by a number of young people. But the health protocol for preventing the spread of Covid-19 must be applied by restaurant or cafe managers... "Before entering guests, we check that the body temperature is set at 37.3 degrees, but here our standard is 37 degrees, we cannot allow guests to enter," explained General Manager of Kuta's Warung Pepe, I Komang Sudiarsa. Furthermore, guests are required to wash their hands in the two sinks provided, one of which is a touchless sink or not touching the faucet but uses a foot pedal to open the water faucet in the sink. The layout of tables and chairs we have reduced by up to 60 percent and the distance between tables is at least one meter, which previously could be 4 people per table, now only 2 to 3 people.
Non-Covid News of Note
"Badung Produces 130 Tons of Trash, Twitani Baru TPS Can Manage 20 Tons" from Radar Bali (Indonesian): The Badung Regency Government is using part of the Mengwi Terminal area as a Waste Management Facility (TPS), however, the TPS has only been able to manage 20 tons of waste per day from a total of 130 tons of waste per day being produced... Previously, the Mengwitani TPS discourse was proud of because a machine that uses containers as a combustion tube is capable of scorching 5 tonnes of waste per hour. It's just that now the machine is not yet perfect. Even mentioned a small capacity combustion engine. "The engine capacity is small. If a large machine is not like that, the building is like a factory. We use this container, so sometimes there is still left over and then it is disposed of at the Suwung landfill," explained the Former Head of Water Resources of the Badung PUPR Office.
"Critical Electricity Reserve Conditions, Koster: Bali Must Be Clean Energy Independent" from Berita Bali (Indonesian): The existing electricity condition in Bali in 2019 has an installed capacity of all power plants in Bali of 1,440.85 MW. While the generated power is 927.20 MW, while the highest peak load is 920 MW, so when compared to the power capacity, the electricity reserve in Bali is only 0.77% and this is a very critical condition considering the minimum safe reserves of 30% of peak load... Bali's Draft Regional Regulation on the Provincial Energy General Plan for 2020-2050 (RUED-P) aims to make Bali become energy independent, sustainable and equitable while increasing the renewable energy mix, which is currently only 0.4% but will increase to 11.15% in 2025 and to 20.10% in 2050.
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. You can see their confirmation of this policy on June 11 here, and see a cringe-inducing PSA here.
Local travel website Traveloka has a helpful page with a summary of what’s needed to travel to and within the country. You can also order a rapid test or swab (PCR) test via their platform: Link
The British Embassy in Jakarta has recently posted a great summary of the Indonesian government's travel restrictions on their Facebook page. You can read it here.
The EU has launched a website to help travelers stay informed about how member states will be accelerating the reopening of their borders. Through the “EU Re-open” website, travelers can enter the name of the country they wish to visit and find out the rules that will apply after each place's coronavirus lockdown. Information on the EU Re-open website and app will continue to be updated in line with the developments of the coronavirus pandemic.
If you are trying to plan travel anywhere, here are some 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 Travel Information Manual Automatic (Timatic) database feeds into airlines' reservation systems, so it is the most reliable list of flight restrictions around.
Revolver Maps' Travel Restrictions Database - This list pulls directly from IATA's Timatic database and arranges the countries in lists that are easier to navigate and creates share-able links for every country. NOTE: This is a third-party service and they warn that the updates to their system can be delayed by several hours for certain countries.
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.
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 will 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.