Wednesday, May 13
Government bans foreign workers from entering the country + Denpasar Vice Mayor says #NotAllVillages will enforce PKM rules + Buleleng to (slowly) start easing economic shutdown + more!
Good morning! Welcome to the COVID-19 Update for Bali for Wednesday, May 13. 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
Country-wide Numbers:
Source:
Indonesia National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB Indonesia): @BNPB_Indonesia
Official updates are available from the Indonesian Government here.
Bali Numbers:
Confirmed Cases Distribution:
Key: Red = Infected | Green = Recovered | Black = Died
Bali 30-Day Trends:
Sources:
Infographic comes from Bali Provincial Government COVID-19 Task Force (link).
The geographic breakdown comes from the Bali Provincial Government's data collection department (link).
Charts have been compiled using their data.
More details on the locations of positive cases within each Regency, as well as the number of suspected cases ("ODP") and people under observation ("PDP"), can be found in charts & infographics on the official websites of each Regency's COVID-19 Task Force:
Badung | Bangli | Buleleng | Denpasar City | Gianyar | Jembrana | Karangasem | Klungkung | Tabanan
How You Can Help
Each weekday we'll let you know about an organization or a person who is trying to make a difference for the people of Bali in these difficult times, and how you can pitch in.
Karma House Bali: The storied tattoo parlor in Ubud is committed to giving back to the community in this time of crisis. They are donating a portion of the proceeds from every tattoo inked to their fund to feed families in Bali who have been devastated by the collapse of the tourism industry. Each tattoo completed allows them to feed a family for 2 weeks. In addition, they're using their shop as a hub for the distribution of supplies to families in need in the area, and they've launched a fundraising effort to raise money to support these efforts. You can see updates on their work on their Facebook page and you can make a direct donation on their Acts Of Kindness Collective page here.
Please visit this page to see a list of all of the efforts that we've featured so far. If you know anyone who is raising funds, delivering food, organizing volunteers, or otherwise trying to rally people to the cause of assisting our neighbors here in Bali, please let us know by sending an email to newsletter@migrationmedia.net.
The Big News
"Government to Suspend Entry for Foreign Workers During COVID-19 Outbreak" from The Jakarta Post: The government has suspended entry for foreign workers during the COVID-19 outbreak following reports that hundreds of Chinese workers have tried to enter Southeast Sulawesi... "The government aims to reduce the spread of COVID-19 by limiting foreigners from entering the country. This policy will be in effect until the situation improves," presidential spokeswoman for legal matters Dini Purwono said on Monday.
"Vice Mayor Says Not All Villages In Denpasar Will Apply PKM Rules" from Radar Bali (Indonesian): According to the Deputy Mayor of Denpasar, IGN Jaya Negara, the Restrictions on Community Activities (PKM) rules coming to Denpasar on may 15 will not necessarily be in force across all 44 villages within the city, as each can decide for themselves whether to impose the restrictions or not... Vice Mayor Jaya Negara said that the Denpasar City Government chose PKM over Large-Scale Social Restrictions (PSBB) because PSBB implimentation is a long and complex process and must receive approval of the Ministry of Health. "We chose PKM to prevent local transmissions from happening as quickly as posisble- before it's too late. The goal is fast, easy implementation. Since no approval is needed for PKM, it allows us to achive our goal," he said.
"As Covid-19 Cases Decline There, Buleleng Government to Begin Relaxing Restrictions On Economic Activity" from Radar Bali (Indonesian): The Regent of Buleleng has imposed strict rules on traditional market operating hours and shopping centers in Buleleng Regency; starting Wednesday the government will relax these regulations, with all economic centers permitted to open at 6:00 a.m. and close at 6:00 p.m... "Let the economy move more. Starting tomorrow it opens at 6 am and closes at 6 pm. We will see the development in 2 weeks," said Buleleng Regent Putu Agus Suradnyana. Even so, the policy does not yet apply in Bondalem Village, which remains in lockdown.
Other Headlines
"In Face Of Growing Rate Of Local Transmissions, Bali Changes COVID-19 Strategy" from The IDN Times (Indonesian): According to Dewa Indra, Regional Secretary of the Province of Bali and Chair of the Bali COVID-19 Task Force, the government's strategy for fighting the spread of the virus is shifting thanks the increasing number of local transmissions. While the initial focus was on adding layers of protection at all entrances to the island, now they will shift to more internal vectors... The Task Force, medical personnel, the Indigenous Village-based Mutual Assistance Task Force and other parties will coordinate on intensified education of the local community on using masks, washing hands, keeping a distance, healthy body and avoiding crowds. The plan also includes references to isolation in the community and even placing limits on activities within the community if infections spike.
"Bali Adds One More Laboratory for Covid-19 Swab Specimen Testing" from The Bali Tribune (Indonesian): The Provincial Government of Bali has prepared another laboratory to be used as a test site for Covid-19 swab specimens. The laboratory will be in the Bali Provincial Health Service. The Head of the Bali Provincial Health Office, Ketut Suarjaya, said that the Bali Provincial Government is still trying to establish a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) that will be placed in the laboratory... Currently, the island's three laboratories can test as many as 490 swab specimens in a day, including 150 specimens at Sanglah Hospital in Denpasar, 300 specimens at RSPTN Unud, and 40 specimens at FKIK Unwar.
"Citing Success Against Covid-19 Without PSBB, President Wants Bali to Become A Model for Other Areas In Indonesia" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian): According to President Joko Widodo, although Bali did not implement Large-Scale Social Restrictions (PSBB), the Island of the Gods has showed an adequate ability to suppress the rate of spread of the virus that began in Wuhan, China. "The task force within the scope of traditional villages is a very good step in the process of limiting territories to the process of isolation if there is an increase in cases. This is the way we want, because those at the lowest level know best what to do. I think if all villages do that [like in Bali] it will greatly facilitate supervision and control," the President praised... The high recovery rate in Bali and the low death rate are also in the spotlight of President Jokowi as another proof of Bali's success in handling Covid-19. "I think other provinces can follow what Bali is doing," he hoped.
"Garbage Volume Declines During Covid-19" from The Bali Post (Indonesian): The outbreak of Covid-19 has an impact on the volume of waste. The Head of the Karangaseem Environment Agency, I Gede Ngurah Yudiantara, said that the volume of waste has fallen by around 5 cubic meters since last April. Previously, the average volume of waste transported by officers every day reached 60 cubic meters, but now it has decreased to 55 cubic meters... "The decline in the volume of waste occurs in traditional markets. For solid waste in the community, there is no increase or decrease. The decline in organic and non-organic waste is around 5 cubic meters every day," he said.
"Farmers Ask Government to Purchase Unwanted Products from Farmers for Groceries" from The Bali Post (Indonesian): Farmers are now experiencing a significant income decline because agricultural products that were previously supplied to hotels and restaurants, are now just piled up in the market. The selling value is also low... One farmer, Ketut Purna, from Singakerta Village, Ubud, hopes that the government can provide a solution to this condition. Namely, buying farmers' products to be donated to residents directly affected by this plague. "Please make the farmers' produce bought by the government then donated. Do not the government only donates instant noodles. If you can help farmers, for example, chili is needed by all people, now the chili farmers can be assisted by the government to be taken directly then donate to those who need it," he said.
"Property Sales in Bali Slump, Down 90%" from Bisnis.com (Indonesian): DPD Bali Indonesia Real Estate Company Association said that property sales in the region dropped significantly, by 90%. DPD Chairperson of the Indonesian Association of Real Estate Companies (REI) Bali, Pande Agus, said that the impact of Covid-19 has had an extraordinary effect on property demand on the Island of the Gods. "Bali is almost 78% dependent on tourism; if tourism is sluggish, it will also affect other business sectors including property," he told Bisnis.
"Across the River and Shrubland, Tourists In Bali Desperate to Do Anything to Get to the Beach" from Kompas (Indonesian): To prevent the spread of Covid-19, access to all beaches in Bali is closed. However, a number of foreign tourists are still stubborn by stealing opportunities to enter the beach area. Head of Badung PP Satpol, I Gusti Ketut Suryanegara, admitted that it was difficult to prevent the undisciplined behavior of these tourists. He said that the foreigners were willing to do anything to get into the beach area. Some of them crossed the river to break into the bush. "If they get bitten by a snake or a thorn they risk themselves," he said. Foreign tourists enter the beach before the officers or guards arrive. They then left the beach area when officers began arriving.
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.
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.