Wednesday, March 10
Fines for foreigners not wearing masks increased to Rp. 1 million; 2nd violation earns deportation + Massive road closures in Kerobokan on Friday & Saturday for pre-Nyepi ceremony + more!
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NYEPI REMINDER: The annual Hindu holiday will be observed this coming weekend, on Sunday, March 14. All travel and commerce will be paused, and people are expected to observe a “Silent Day” from 06:00 local time on Sunday until 06:00 local time on Monday. During that period, all broadcast TV, radio, and data (cellular 4G) services are scheduled to be stopped. Home internet + some public wifi service is set to continue as normal. Traditional Melasti processions will be allowed in the days running up to the holiday so long as participation is limited to 50 people, but regular Sunday services for Christians will be held virtually. You can find more information on Nyepi and the regulations surrounding it here. NOTE: The Bali Beat’s morning news edition will not publish on Monday, March 15 in observance of the holiday, but the evening Covid-19 update will publish as normal.
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: The "Weekend Effect" has officially worn off, as the island reported over 25o new cases yesterday. Recoveries continue to outpace new infections, so the In Care number continues its slide. Deaths are inching up, while Buleleng hit the grim milestone of 100 fatalities since the start of the pandemic.
Click here to see the national numbers infographic and a Regency-by-Regency breakdown of yesterday’s local numbers.
The Big News
"Foreigners in Bali Who Violate the Health Prokes Can Now Be Fined IDR 1 Million and Expelled to Their Country" from Tribune Bali (Indonesian): In the Regulation of the Governor of Bali Nonor 10 of 2021 concerning the Implementation of Discipline and Law Enforcement of Health Protocols as Efforts to Prevent and Control Covid-19, foreigners who do not implement prokes such as the use of masks can now face a fine of Rp. 1 million. Not only that, if he continues to violate, the threat can be expelled to his country, aka deportation. The Governor of Bali, Wayan Koster, said that this rule was made because of the many prokes violations committed by foreigners. Sanctions are given after the foreigner commits the first violation by not implementing health protocols. Then, if you violate a second time, you can be deported.
"Foreign Workers Eligible for Mutual Cooperation Vaccine Program" from Indonesian Expat: “The Indonesian government pays close attention to all elements of society, including foreigners residing in Indonesia. Currently, the national vaccination program covers Indonesian citizens and the government may consider foreigners who hold Indonesian working permits,” said Wiku Adisasmito, Spokesperson for the COVID-19 Task Force. Wiku added that a specific mechanism will be announced since the government is still coordinating the mutual cooperation program. “Most importantly, companies will fund the program and it will be free of charge for the recipients,” he said.
"Badung Transportation Agency Will Divert Traffic to Catus Pata Kerobokan During Tawur Agung Kesanga" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian): the Tawur Agung Kesanga Ceremony will be held on Saturday, March 13, 2021 by taking place in Catus Pata, Kerobokan Traditional Village. In connection with these activities for the sake of orderliness and smoothness of the Tawur Agung Kesanga activities, the Badung Regency Transportation Agency will divert traffic flow at the Sang Hyang / Catus Pata Interchange of the Kerobokan Traditional Village because the intersection will be used for the Tawur Kesanga ceremony. If there are road users who break into Catus Pata for reasons that are not clear, the officers at Catus Pata will turn the road users around according to the direction of their travel destination. The diversion of traffic flow will begin on Friday 12 March 2021 from 10:00 a.m. to Saturday 13 March 2021. The traffic flow will return to normalization on Saturday 13 March 2021 after the completion of the Tawur Agung Kesanga ceremony. (Ed. note: Click on the headline to see a map of the affected area.)
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Other Headlines
"Opening Ubud Needs 100,000 Vaccines, Tourists Must Have Rapid Test Results" from Radar Bali (Indonesian): The tourist area of Ubud is planned to be opened to tourists. There are four villages and sub-districts that support the opening of Ubud. Before it opened, the people of Ubud, and tourism workers were vaccinated against Covid-19 with a need for 100,000 vaccines. Opening Ubud means that a lot of the tourism workforce is involved. "We have something to do with the opening of restaurants, destination hotels. So of course we have to vaccinate the workers there," said the Regional Secretary (Sekda) of Gianyar, Made Gede Wisnu Wijaya. His party is targeting the end of March the implementation of the vaccine can take place. In addition to preparing vaccinations, later every tourist entering Ubud will still provide evidence of rapid or swab.
Health Protocols (Prokes) & Patrols
"PPKM in Bali Is Relaxed, the Mall Operates Longer" from Bisnis Bali (Indonesian): in the extension of the PPKM which was stated in circular letter No. 6 of 2021, there were a number of easing which were imposed on the community. The easing is related to the operating hours of restaurants, restaurants, stalls and the like, from limited to 21.00 WITA to 22.00 WITA. However, restaurant owners must ensure that the capacity of on-site dining services is limited to 50% of normal capacity. Food service via delivery is permitted according to operating hours. Not only that, there was a relaxation of services until 22.00 WITA for shopping centers and malls.
Vaccination Update
"Govt Aims to Ensure National Vaccination Program Completed by 2021-end" from Antara: Coordinating Economic Affairs Minister Airlangga Hartanto highlighted the government's target to complete the national vaccination program by the end of 2021. "The target is that 182 million people can be vaccinated by the end of this year," Hartanto noted. "Today, about 160,000 people are vaccinated per day. The next target will be increased to around 500,000 people per day and then raised to one million people per day. This vaccination must also be balanced with the readiness of vaccinators and the availability of vaccines."
More...
Nation: "BPOM Permits AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccine for Emergency Use" from Bali Suara (Indonesian)
Nation: "Indonesia Receives 1.1 Million Doses of AstraZeneca Vaccine" from The Jakarta Globe
Nation: "Over 3.3 Million Indonesians Receive First Covid Jab" from Antara
Nation: "Indonesia to Inoculate 21.5 Million of Elderly Population by June" from Antara (Indonesian)
Badung: "Dozens of Badung Police Personnel Carry Out Vaccinations Guided by Health Workers" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian)
Buleleng: "To Speed Up Vaccinations, Buleleng Covid-19 Task Force Continues to Carry Out the Scheduling Process"from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian)
Buleleng: "Buleleng Receives an Additional 1,000 Vaccine Vials" from Nusa Bali (Indonesian)
Denpasar: "More than 28,000 Denpasar People Have Been Vaccinated Against Covid-19" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian)
Karangasem: "Thousands of Teachers in Karangasem Get Vaccinated, But Many Have Not Got It" from Radar Bali (Indonesian)
Klungkung: "This Is the Schedule, Dozens of Pedanda in Klungkung Will Be Vaccinated With Covid-19" from The Bali Post (Indonesian)
"Badung Breaks Record for Negative Economic Growth of -16.52%" from Bisnis Bali (Indonesian): Badung is the district with the lowest economic growth in Bali throughout 2020, contracting up to 16.52% on an annual basis (year on year / yoy). Based on data from Bank Indonesia, Badung's economic growth in 2020 will be the lowest in the last seven years. The realization of Badung's economic growth in 2020 is lower than the cumulative economic growth of Bali. Just a note, cumulatively, in 2020, Bali's economy will be minus 9.31%. Denpasar experienced the second lowest economic growth in Bali with a contraction of 9.42% (yoy). The third position is occupied by Gianyar with economic growth contracted by 8.38% (yoy) during 2020.
"Micro-scale PPKM Effectively Works to Stem Covid-19 Spread: KPC-PEN" from Antara: Micro-scale public activity restriction (PPKM) imposed in Java and Bali was effective in thwarting the transmission of COVID-19 in February 2021, COVID-19 Handling and National Economic Recovery Committee (KPC-PEN) Chief Airlangga Hartarto stated. "When it took effect, 25 out of the 128 districts and cities in Java and Bali were at a high risk (of COVID-19 transmission). Until its enforcement on February 28, the number of red zones declined to 10." Hartarto noted that the number of districts and cities, with moderate risk for COVID-19 transmission, fell to 86, from 97, and the number of districts and cities, with a low risk of COVID-19 transmission, increased to 32, from six earlier. "This proves that micro-scale public activity restriction has been successful," he remarked.
"Menparekraf Calls for Indonesia to No Longer Chase Number of Tourist Visits" from The Bali Post (Indonesian): The number of tourist visits will no longer be a target in the future. This was disclosed by the Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy (Menparekraf) Sandiaga Uno. He said Indonesia was no longer chasing tourist numbers. His party focuses on encouraging sustainable tourism. "In the medium and long term, we are the preferred destination in Southeast Asia for foreign tourists with the concept of quality and sustainable tourism. We will no longer chase numbers. Wow, it was wrong yesterday to chase numbers. We just pursue quality," said the Menparekraf.
Of Interest
"Note, This Is the Schedule for Gilimanuk Port to Close on Nyepi" from The Bali Post (Indonesian)
"Erotic Art in Indonesia: Outwardly Scorned, Secretly Enjoyed" from The Jakarta Post
"The Goa Gong River Estuary is Full of Garbage" from Nusa Bali (Indonesian)
"Starting [Today], Aircraft Passengers Are Prohibited From Bringing Wooden Matches and Lighters [Onboard]" from Tribune Bali (Indonesian)
"Hoping Guests Come, Hotels Still Provide Nyepi Packages" from Bali Express (Indonesian)
The View from Outside
"Tomorrow Will Be Better" from Foreign Correspondent: Bali’s natural beauty and rich culture have made it a tourist magnet but since COVID19, the island is struggling to stay afloat. Locals are questioning their dependence on tourism and the over-development it has unleashed.
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 TheBaliBeat@outlanders.global.
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