Wednesday, June 3
Bali beach openings tenuous, cause confusion & local resentment + 'New Normal' rules for traditional markets released + Govt considering opening schools in December or January + more!
Good morning! Welcome to the COVID-19 Update for Bali for Wednesday, June 3. 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. But if you would like to support my work, please consider taking up a voluntary subscription at US$5/month. Thanks!
Status Update
National Numbers:
Bali Numbers:
New Infections by Regency
Overall Confirmed Cases Distribution:
Key: Red = Infected | Green = Recovered | Black = Died
Bali 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 Total Confirmed Cases Distribution map & Regency Numbers figures come from the Bali Provincial Government's data collection department (link).
The 30-day trend charts have been compiled using daily government data.
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
"Sellers In Markets, Malls, Required to Wear Masks, Face Shields and Gloves In 'New Normal’: Trade Ministry" from The Jakarta Post: The Trade Ministry has issued a circular requiring, sellers at traditional markets, retail stores and shopping malls to wear masks, face shields, and gloves while conducting their activities in the upcoming "New Normal." The circular, which was issued on May 28, also requires buyers to wear masks. The circular further stipulates that both sellers and buyers must be screened for COVID-19 before being allowed to enter public areas. Anyone with a body temperature above 37.3 degrees Celsius and exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms, such as shortness of breath and coughing, will be asked to leave the area to avoid any possible COVID-19 transmission. In addition, sellers and buyers must maintain a physical distance of at least 1.5 meters from each other.
"Are Bali Beaches Open? Not Exactly." from The Seminyak Times: After checking most beaches along the Canggu coast this morning, Seminyak Times found the streets are still quiet, around half the cafes and restaurants are open, the barricades are still up at the beaches, but the surf is busy with surfers... Pereranan pecalang told Seminyak Times that shortly after the beginning of the beach lockdown they decided local Balinese surfers living in the area could go for a paddle, but not the foreigners. No reason was giving as to why that was, but we imagine it was in order to slow more people from mingling around the beach. Slowly that decision has become more flexible to the point that this week it appears that the banjar is turning a blind eye to the matter. However, that could change at any moment and people should be aware of that.
"Lion Air And Citilink Resume Bali Flights with New Rules Passengers Need to Know" from The Bali Sun: Citilink has announced a new Covid-19 prevention plan that will include both a pre- and post-flight operation to reduce the risk of infection. The new policies include:
Passenger must arrive at the airport 4 hours prior to departure.
A Covid-19 negative Rapid Test Result done within 72 hours of the flight or a negative Covid-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction Result within 7 days of departure.
Passengers must wear a mask before, during and after their flight
All passengers must have washed their hands prior to flight and use hand sanitizer during the flight
Follow all social distancing guidelines
Maintain cleanliness while on the plane
Passenger must bring their own hand sanitizer
Other Headlines
"Indonesia Examines Plan to Reopen Schools In December Or Next Year" from The Jakarta Post: According to the government’s official academic calendar, the beginning of the 2020-2021 school year is slated for July 13. However, it may order schools to reopen for on-campus activities in late December at the earliest — if the pandemic shows signs of receding. "That's just an estimation. According to our calendar, [the new school year starts] in mid-July, but I won’t recommend [students going back to campus]," Coordinating Human Development and Culture Minister Muhadjir Effendy said in a statement on Monday. He assured that the government would make a decision soon, saying the education sector would be the last to be reopened after the implementation of large-scale social restrictions (PSBB).
"Badung Prohibits Local Residents from Going to the Beach, Gus Adhi: Stop Discrimination" from Radar Bali (Indonesian): Opening access to a number of beaches in Badung Regency to tourists, but not locals, on Monday (1/6) has triggered a polemic. While Head of the Badung Tourism Office, I Made Badra, said that the two beaches were chosen because they have waves that are liked by surfers, he stressed that local residents have not been allowed into the beach... Responding to this, Anak Agung Bagus Adhi Mahendra Putra ("Gus Adhi"), DPR-RI Legislator from the Golkar Party who sat in Commission IV, stressed that discrimination between foreign tourists and local residents need not occur. "I think discrimination or differentiating between tourists and locals is not ideal. The aim of "New Normal" is to revive the economic pulse in all sectors, all segments, and all clusters. The point is still to pay attention to the health protocol."
"4 Residents Of Village Isolated, 38 Others are Negative Rapid Tests" from Bali Express (Indonesian): Following up on the case of a 12-year-old child, from Serongga Village, Gianyar, who died before his positive swab results came back, four people who are were close contact with the victim have gone into isolation in their homes while waiting for the results of their own swab tests to come back. Meanwhile, 38 residents of the village who had contact with the victim have undergone rapid tests and the results are all negative or non-reactive.
"In Badung Village of Covid-19 Victim Thousands Line Up for Rapid Test" from iNews Bali (Indonesian): The Health Office (Dinkes) of Badung Regency, Bali Province held an advanced rapid test in Banjar Sayan Baleran, Werdi Bhuwana Village, Mengwi District. The rapid test was carried out after a local resident who tested positive for Covid-19 died. In contrast to the first rapid test which was once rejected by some residents, this time thousands of residents were enthusiastic about taking the rapid test. In total there were 1,021 people who took part of the 1,200 residents targeted for the rapid test. "Of the 1,021 rapid tests, 18 were reactive," said the Head of the Badung Health Office, Nyoman Gunarta. Those with reactive results have been sent to Mangusada Regional General Hospital (RSUD) to undergo a swab test. Then they will undergo quarantine in the halfway house that has been prepared.
"Koster: The Entrance of Bali is Guarded Strictly, Not Many Passed" from Radar Bali (Indonesian): Bali Governor Wayan Koster has responded to reports that a number of people have been able to corss from Java to Bali without proper identification or health certificates by sayinh that additionla personnel will be added to entry ports and that additional checkpoints alog the rpads leading away from them will be added... He stressed that the island's Covid-19 Task Force was not playing games. "It's tight (the entrance to Bali), but because that time comes together with many people (finally there are those who escaped). But, it has been handled at Gilimanuk. We have done filtering up to Ketapang (Banyuwangi) East Java. So, there aren't many who escaped."
"Indonesian Air Force Soldiers Help Watch Passengers Arrive At Ngurah Rai Airport" from Antara (Indonesian): "Every day our members number 20 people on duty at Ngurah Rai Airport, divided into 10 members on domestic arrivals and 10 members internationally. This is part of our efforts to assist Bali's Covid-19 Task Force," said Lanud Commander I Gusti Ngurah Rai, Colonel Pnb Radar Soeharsono.
"Prices Stable, Bali Sees Deflation In May" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian): Price pressures in the Province of Bali in May 2020 still showed a decline compared to the previous month. Deflation is particularly evident in the commodity canang sari, cayenne pepper, chicken egg garlic, and gold jewelery. Based on BPS calculations, in May 2020, the Province of Bali experienced deflation of 0.11% (mtm), slightly more restrained than the previous month which experienced deflation of 0.33% (mtm). Meanwhile the achievement of national inflation was recorded at 0.08% (mtm)... "The fall in price pressures is caused by weak demand due to the cessation of the tourism industry which is the impact of Covid-19. Maintaining supply and distribution in the month of Ramadan also keeps food prices stable. This is due to the occurrence of chilli harvest in the main centers and the arrival of garlic supplies," said Head of Bank Indonesia Representative of Bali Province, Trisno Nugroho.
The View from Outside
"Coronavirus Indonesia: Bizarre Punishments for Those Flouting Lockdown Rules" from 7News [Video]: Forcing offenders to bury coronavirus victims, sleep overnight in haunted houses, clean up rubbish, do push ups or recite the national anthem. They’re just some of the novel ways authorities in Indonesia are punishing those who defy COVID-19 rules... As the sprawling nation’s infection and death toll continues to climb, authorities are punishing those who fail to wear face masks, fail to social distance and who travel in contravention of bans. Many of the punishments are aimed at public shaming, such as forcing people to do push ups whilst being filmed, while the haunted house is to provide a deterrent to stop people travelling.
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.
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.
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.
Common abbreviations to be familiar with:
PMI: Indonesian migrant worker
PSBB: Policy of extreme social distancing. Officially restricts forms of transportation and prohibits certain types of business from operating. Requires any permitted businesses to enforce strict social distancing guidelines.
OTG: Possible cases, with no symptoms.
ODP: Suspected cases, being monitored. People with fever or respiratory symptoms such as congestion, sore throat, cough, travel in countries or areas with local transmission, or contact with a confirmed case of Covid-19. Tracked and placed under out-patient observation.
PDP: Probable cases, under observation. People with acute respiratory illness with at least one symptom such as cough, sore throat, congestion, light or heavy pneumonia, and travel in countries or areas with local transmission, or contact with a confirmed case of Covid-19. Usually placed under observation in an isolation ward at a designated hospital pending swab testing results.
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.