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Lights off, party on at Bali karaoke bars caught flaunting COVID-19 curbs Hundreds of foreign nationals leave Bali amid coronavirus outbreak Hundreds of foreign nationals leave Bali amid coronavirus outbreak

According to the police, authorities busted the karaoke bars thanks to a tip from citizens who suspected that they remained open and thus violating restrictions. The bars apHundreds of foreigners departed Bali over the weekend, some with chartered flights organized by their respective Hundreds of foreigners departed Bali over the weekend, some with chartered flights organized by their respective peared to be closed from the outside after they turned off governments, following flight cancelations across the globe governments, following flight cancelations across the globe the lights illuminating the storefront. amid the COVID-19 outbreak. The Ngurah Rai Immigration amid the COVID-19 outbreak. The Ngurah Rai Immigration I Dewa Gede Anom Sayoga, who heads the Public Order Agency (Satpol PP) in Denpasar, said the two karaoffice said in a statement that over 200 foreigners, consisting mostly of German nationals, boarded a chartered German Airlines flight on Saturday headed for Frankfurt, while over 400 passengers consisting of mostly French office said in a statement that over 200 foreigners, consisting mostly of German nationals, boarded a chartered German Airlines flight on Saturday headed for Frankfurt, while over 400 passengers consisting of mostly French oke bars were nationals headed to France with Qatar Airways on the same nationals headed to France with Qatar Airways on the same fined IDR1 million (US$69.42) each, and have been orday. In addition, Austrian Airlines also reportedly carried over 200 passengers back to Austria. day. In addition, Austrian Airlines also reportedly carried over 200 passengers back to Austria. dered to close temporarily. Foreign missions in Indonesia have Foreign missions in Indonesia have The Denpasar Po- actively used social actively used social lice yesterday said that the bars’ staff have been called in for questioning, and that authorities are now monitoring the establishments in question to prevent repeat offences. media to assist their respective citizens. As fewer flights media to assist their respective citizens. As fewer flights “We will continue to monitor [nightlife establishments]. We become available become available will act firmly by closing them if they are caught violating due to global travel due to global travel [curbs],” Terang Ginting from Denpasar Police’s Crime Invesrestrictions, their restrictions, their tigation Unit, said. efforts include efforts include A spokesman from one of the karaoke bars told local media outlets that they have officially remained closed during the Emergency Enforcement of Restrictions on Public Activities assisting those seeking to return home to find available flights. I Putu Surya Dharma, a spokesperson from the regional office for the Ministry of Law and Human Rights, assisting those seeking to return home to find available flights. I Putu Surya Dharma, a spokesperson from the regional office for the Ministry of Law and Human Rights, (Emergency PPKM) protocol, which prohibits nightlife busitold Nusa Bali yesterday that between March 1 and 26, told Nusa Bali yesterday that between March 1 and 26, nesses from operating. nearly 254,000 foreign tourists have left the island. However, nearly 254,000 foreign tourists have left the island. However, However, they claim that some customers may have pushed their way in and were granted entry by the staff on duty, which has led to videos of their time at the bars circulating the same period also recorded over 169,000 foreign tourists arriving in Bali, he added. Travelers from Australia, Russia and the United States topped the list of visitors. the same period also recorded over 169,000 foreign tourists arriving in Bali, he added. Travelers from Australia, Russia and the United States topped the list of visitors. on the internet. (coconuts.co 10/08/2021) Last week, American and Australian citizens in Indonesia were Last week, American and Australian citizens in Indonesia were ordered to leave the country amid the novel coronavirus ordered to leave the country amid the novel coronavirus Businesses At Bali’s Padangbai Port Resort To Selling outbreak, wherein officials also cited evidence of Indonesia’s outbreak, wherein officials also cited evidence of Indonesia’s Their Boats Due To Economic Crisis current medical capacity, among other things, to urge current medical capacity, among other things, to urge immediate action. Some foreigners have decided to extend immediate action. Some foreigners have decided to extend Several transportation businesses at the Padangbai Port in their stay in Indonesia, it seems, as evident by packed their stay in Indonesia, it seems, as evident by packed Bali have resorted to selling their fast boats because use of immigration offices across Bali last week. Indonesia’s immigration offices across Bali last week. Indonesia’s the port has drastically dropped since the Covid-19 panDirectorate General of Immigration has swiftly responded to Directorate General of Immigration has swiftly responded to demic struck last year. the spike in visa extension requests, and eligible foreigners the spike in visa extension requests, and eligible foreigners unable to return to their home countries due to COVID-19 unable to return to their home countries due to COVID-19 The Head of Padangbai Port Official, Luh Putu Eka Suyasare being given an automatic extension for their stay are being given an automatic extension for their stay min confirmed that the businesses that have been relying permits. (coconuts.com 01/04/2020) permits. (coconuts.com 01/04/2020) on tourism to transport passengers from Padangbai to Gili Trawangan are struggling to survive the crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. No Large-Scale Social Restrictions policy for Bali just yet, provincial government says Hundreds of Indonesian crew members flying in from Italy skip quarantine after testing negative for COVID-19 “Some of the businesses have already sold their boats, and many others will do the same as they become unable to pay their bills since the travel restrictions The Bali provincial government says it has yet to consider imposing Large-Scale Social Restrictions (PSBB) policy, which requires approval from the central government, to curb the spread of COVID-19 here, claiming that it has already implemented similar steps to an extent. Over 300 Indonesian crew members from the MSC Splendida cruise ship reportedly did not undergo quarantine upon arrival at Ngurah Rai International Airport despite having flown in from Genoa, Italy on Monday night. Officials said all of them tested negative for the novel coronavirus, after rapid tests that were conducted at the airport. were implemented last year due to the global pandemic.” Suyasmin said Thursday (5/8). Suyasmin explained that from dozens of transportation businesses in Padangbai, only 1 of them is still operating. “In June 2021, 2 of the final 3 open businesses at the port decided to close their operations as well. So there’s only 1 company still remaining that is able to provide transportation services to approximately 15 to 20 passengers per day.” Suyasmin added. Speaking to Kumparan yesterday, regional secretary of the Bali administration, Dewa Made Indra, said that the provincial government is open to implementing PSBB, should risks of the novel coronavirus on the island continue to escalate and require a stricter approach. “As soon as they arrived they were checked by officers from the Port Health Authority and followed with rapid tests. The results were negative and [they] didn’t have to be quarantined,” Ida Bagus Ngurah Arda, who heads Bali province’s Manpower Agency, told Kompas yesterday. There were 316 Indonesian crew members in total who boarded a flight with Qatar Airlines from Genoa to Denpasar, via Doha. As reported by Kompas, the crew members had also Suyasmin proposes the central government revokes the travel restrictions, especially for international visitors in order to help the tourism sector recover from this major crisis. “I hope that the government will start considering re“Here in Bali we are already enforcing strict limitations. Substantially we have preceded this PSBB policy, but formally and according to the [new] government regulation of course we haven’t,” Indra said. undergone a health examination while in Genoa, after which they were declared healthy opening the border, but before it happens all the remaining fast boats that haven’t been operational since the Covid-19 pandemic started are still abandoned at Padangbai Port.” Suyasmin concluded. (thebalisun.com/ 09/08/2021) PSBB is designed to limit mobility within a region,essentially imposing the same social distancing measures that have already been seen in parts of Indonesia affected by the viral disease, though this includes additional measures and and permitted to return to Indonesia. Italy is one of the countries hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic, with over 105,000 confirmed cases and more than 12,000 deaths. Indonesians coming stricter enforcement. from COVID-19 hot zones, which includes Italy, are subject Indonesian mother tries to console son crying over Messi’s Barcelona exit The policy includes shuttering of all businesses and services to health screening by the Port Health Authority upon arrival. Should authorities find that they are exhibiting News of Argentine soccer player Lionel Messi leaving FC Barcelona has evoked tears and sadness for fans across the globe, and that includes this young man from East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), whose sorrow went viral after it was except those deemed essential, and also banning appbased motorcycle taxis from picking up passengers, meaning they are only allowed to transport goods and deliver food to customers. early symptoms of COVID-19, they will be observed at a government facility for two weeks. On the other hand, those who do not exhibit early symptoms are advised to self-quarantine for the same period. captured on camera as it showed his sweet mother trying to console him. The official implementation requires regional governments Yesterday, Coordinating Human Development and Culture The 80-second clip started out with the mother attempting to understand what was causing her son’s anguish, and the latter trying to explain that Messi was leaving Barca. to submit relevant data and reports regarding COVID-19 spread in their area to the Health Ministry, among other things, which will assess them and decide on whether or not to grant approval. The process has been criticized for being Minister Muhadjir Effendy urged Indonesians overseas to stay in the countries in which they are living. The government said there are no plans to arrange their repatriation, but that they will be provided with supplies. Indonesia is currently “So Barcelona decided to let him go. So here, if he leaves overly bureaucratic. anticipating mass arrivals of Indonesians abroad, particularly Barcelona, is he going to die?” the mother asked. “He’s not going to die, right, he’s got money. Just let it go, it’s okay.” Indonesia’s capital Jakarta, which has the highest number of confirmed COVID-19 cases, is set to become the those seeking to leave Malaysia as it enforces its movement control order (MCO), as well as crew members of international cruise ships looking to return home as some cruise lines halt Barca announced last week that it could no longer afford Messi’s salary next season, ending the diminutive megacountry’s first region to officially enforce PSBB. As of this afternoon, the city reports 1,395 confirmed cases of the their operations. For the latter, their return will likely be through Ngurah Rai, Muhadjir said, adding that there are star’s 21 years at the club. The seasoned player bade a tearful farewell to Barca during a news conference on Sunday, where he also confirmed that he was talking with French club Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) over a possible move.(coconuts.co 10/08/2021) coronavirus, including 133 deaths and 69 recoveries. Bali, for its part, has so far reported 43 confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 19 recoveries and two deaths of foreign nationals. (coconuts.com 07/04/2020) about 11,000 Indonesian crew members abroad. As of yesterday afternoon, Bali has recorded 19 positive COVID-19 cases. This includes two deaths of foreign nationals and four recoveries. (coconuts.com 01/04/2020)

JAKARTA - Indonesia will temporarily ban all visits and transits by foreign nationals to the country to curb the further spread of the coronavirus. “President (Joko) sees that our current policy needs to be made stricter. We have decided that all visits and transits by foreign nationals to Indonesia will temporarily be banned,” Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi told reporters after a virtual ministers’ meeting with President Joko Widodo on Tuesday (March 31). Exceptions to the ban include those with work permits as well as diplomats, Ms Retno added, stressing that proper health protocols will still apply. President Joko said before the ministers’ meeting that Indonesia is stepping up measures to limit mobility among its citizens within the country, but threats of coronavirus spread also come from overseas. Mr Joko pointed out specifically that the epicentres of the pandemic have shifted to the United States and Europe. In Indonesia, Jakarta is the epicentre of the country’s coronavirus crisis, accounting for nearly half of the 1,414 confirmed cases. There are 122 deaths from Covid-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, in Indonesia so far, the highest in South-east Asia. Stay in the know with e-mail alerts. “Practically all nations have put in place limits on the flow of travellers with varying (degree of) strictness depending on the respective situation and condition in each country,” Ms Retno said. Their policies have also impacted Indonesians living overseas, many of whom have recently returned home or are preparing to head home. According to Ms Retno, the two largest groups of homebound Indonesians are Indonesian migrant workers from Malaysia as well as Indonesians working as crews on cruise ships. “The inflow traffic from these two groups has been far larger than normal,” Ms Retno said. “In terms of size, the number of Indonesians living and working in Malaysia exceeds 1 million. And there are

A Covid-19 Vaccine Certificate Soon To Be An Entry Requirement For Bali Shopping Malls

The Indonesian central government through the Economic Coordinator Minister, Airlangga Hartanto has announced that a Covid-19 vaccine certificate would be an entry requirement to shopping malls in Bali in the near future. Hartanto confirmed that the policy to show proof of a Covid-19 vaccine for each visitor before entering shopping malls in Bali is expected to be implemented in the next three weeks. As a response to this regulation, the Head of Bali Shopping Center Management Association (APPBI), Gita Sinarwulan stated that she has communicated this policy with a company called PeduliLindungi to register and provide barcode scanners in all the shopping malls across Bali as a form of support to this program. “All the shopping malls’ visitors must scan their Covid-19 certificate barcode through PeduliLindungi apps before entering the building.” Sinarwulan said on Friday (6/8). She also hopes that the government would consider revoking their restrictions and reopen all shopping centers after implementing this policy, she hopes this will help reactivate the economic activity that was negatively impacted by the emergency partial lockdown that started at the beginning of July 2021. However, Sinarwulan admitted her concern that this policy might bring an impact in reducing the occupancy rate once

Family seeks to bring home American tourist in coma following tragic scooter accident in Bali

The family of an American tourist in Bali is pleading for online donations to help bring her home to the US, after the tourist suffered a traumatic brain injury following a tragic scooter accident on the island late last month. Kaitlyn McCaffery was reportedly driving her scooter to her apartment in Bali when she crashed on July 31. Two local passersby later found her injured and unconscious on a remote road before taking her to a hospital in Denpasar, where she is currently in a coma according to a GoFundMe page set up by her family friend, Dena Gustus Cruz, over the weekend. Foreign arrivals are currently

Lights off, party on at Bali karaoke bars caught flaunting COVID-19 curbs

According to the police, authorities busted the karaoke bars thanks to a tip from citizens who suspected that they remained open and thus violating restrictions. The bars appeared to be closed from the outside after they turned off the lights illuminating the storefront. I Dewa Gede Anom Sayoga, who heads the Public Order Agency (Satpol PP) in Denpasar, said the two karaoke bars were fined IDR1 million (US$69.42) each, and have been ordered to close temporarily. The Denpasar Police yesterday said that the bars’ staff have been called in for questioning, and that authorities are now monitoring the establishments in question to prevent repeat offences.

11,838 Indonesian crews working for 80 cruise ships, as per data gathered so far,” Ms Retno added. She said the government is implementing proper health protocols at airports, seaports, border check points on these returning countrymen. Mr Joko on Monday said Indonesia needs stronger measures to limit mobility after receiving reports that thousands of workers in Jakarta and its surrounding areas have returned to their home towns after losing most or all of their income amid the coronavirus outbreak. There have been concerns of a spread of infections as people from Jakarta, the epicentre of the country’s outbreak, return home. The government is preparing regulations that would make it possible for Jakarta and other coronavirus red zones to be put under an “area quarantine”, a term observers see as equivalent to a lockdown, which would stop flows of people going in and out. (straitstimes.com 01/04/2020) Local authorities in Bali are reporting hundreds of workers having lost their jobs due to the COVID-19 outbreak and its subsequent impacts on the tourism industry, while thousands more have been instructed to stay at home without pay. In Denpasar, as many as 2,975 workers were told to stay at home without pay while another 53 workers were laid off, the city’s spokesman Gede Rai told Kompas, adding that the workers were from 37 different companies. “It’s because there is a lack of guests and hotels are not operating,” Gede Rai said. For the time being, authorities in Denpasar are reportedly planning a social protection strategy for these workers, including through Indonesian government’s pre-employment cards, which was launched last month. The cards, which aim to aid job seekers and unemployed workers, grant them access and funding to various trainings. The numbers are even higher in Badung regency, where some of the island’s most popular hotels and restaurants are located. An official from the regency’s Industry and Manpower Agency told Tribun yesterday that 198 workers have been laid off as of April 4, most of whom were employed in the tourism sector.

Bali plans to hold Nyepi-like observance to curb COVID-19 spread

Bali province’s Majelis Desa Adat, or traditional village council, says there are plans to hold a Nyepi-like observance later this month as part of an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19 on the island, with the final decision set to be announced tomorrow. The council’s chief, Ida Panglingsir Agung Putra Sukahet, told Tribun yesterday that nothing has been decided for the time being, as authorities would need to hold a meeting first. “We will decide on April 8. If it’s going to happen we will issue an official circular from the traditional village council,” Agung Putra was quoted as saying. The observance, locally referred to as sipeng, will only mandate that people stay at home for three consecutive days and will not follow the exact same rules as the Balinese Day of Silence, according to reports. Ordinarily, Nyepi encourages self-reflection by prohibiting activities such as lighting a fire, working, and traveling or going out, among others. The planned sipeng, however, would only prohibit people from leaving their homes. While official details have not been announced, news of sipeng quickly made its rounds on social media, showcasing divided opinions among local residents. Prompted by concerns over COVID-19, som e are supportive of the initiative, while others question how people are expected to meet their daily needs should the observance take place. “I agree, but it’s

Thousands of workers in Bali on unpaid leave, hundreds more laid off

“Everywhere [in Indonesia] is pretty much facing the same condition. We don’t know when this will end,” Ida Bagus Oka Dirga, who heads the agency, said. He added that in Badung, more than 6,000 workers from 78 companies have been instructed to stay at home and given between 50 to 70 percent of their minimum salary. “Right now, with the hotels empty, of course workers will burden the operational cost. That’s why they have instructed them to stay home. However, we do hope they won’t be laying off [these workers],” I Made Badra, who heads the Tourism Agency in Badung, told Tribun.

Bali hotels roll out cheap promos or shut to survive coronavirus outbreak

The Bali Hotel Association (BHA), whose members include general managers of over 100 four-star and five-star hotels and resorts in Bali, said that most accommodations and restaurants in Bali have opted to temporarily close for at least one month. “At this time, almost all hotels and restaurants in Bali are closed temporarily for one to two months, as we monitor the most up to date situation,” BHA chairman I Made Ricky Darmika Putra told state news agency Antara yesterday. Ricky also responded to circulating information that many hotels in Bali are up for sale, clarifying that those reports are false. In addition, he explained how hotels that are still open have less than 10 percent occupancy rates, while most restaurants have cut their operational hours short. Meanwhile, some other hotels are still seeking to attract potential customers, and are rolling out cheap promotions on long-term stays. One example is Lv8, a hotel located in Canggu, which offers a one-month stay fee starting from IDR8million (US$481). For perspective, the hotel’s normal daily rate ranges from IDR800K-1 million. (coconuts.com 07/04/2020)

JAKARTA - Indonesia will temporarily ban all visits and transits by foreign nationals to the country to curb the further spread of the coronavirus. “President (Joko) sees that our current policy needs to be made stricter. We have decided that all visits and transits by foreign nationals to Indonesia will temporarily be banned,” Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi told reporters after a virtual ministers’ meeting with President Joko Widodo on Tuesday (March 31). Exceptions to the ban include those with work permits as well as diplomats, Ms Retno added, stressing that proper health protocols will still apply. President Joko said before the ministers’ meeting that Indonesia is stepping up measures to limit mobility among its citizens within the country, but threats of coronavirus spread also come from overseas. Mr Joko pointed out specifically that the epicentres of the pandemic have shifted to the United States and Europe. In Indonesia, Jakarta is the epicentre of the country’s coronavirus crisis, accounting for nearly half of the 1,414 confirmed cases. There are 122 deaths from Covid-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, in Indonesia so far, the highest in South-east Asia. Stay in the know with e-mail alerts. “Practically all nations have put in place limits on the flow of travellers with varying (degree of) strictness depending on the respective situation and condition in each country,” Ms Retno said. Their policies have also impacted Indonesians living overseas, many of whom have recently returned home or are preparing to head home. According to Ms Retno, the two largest groups of homebound Indonesians are Indonesian migrant workers from Malaysia as well as Indonesians working as crews on cruise ships. “The inflow traffic from these two groups has been far larger than normal,” Ms Retno said. “In terms of size, the number of Indonesians living and working in Malaysia exceeds 1 million. And there are 11,838 Indonesian crews working for 80 cruise ships, as per data gathered so far,” Ms Retno added. She said the government is implementing proper health protocols at airports, seaports, border check points on these returning countrymen. Mr Joko on Monday said Indonesia needs stronger measures to limit mobility after receiving reports that thousands of workers in Jakarta and its surrounding areas have returned to their home towns after losing most or all of their income amid the coronavirus outbreak. There have been concerns of a spread of infections as people important to inform the general public way ahead of the actual dates. So it doesn’t seem so abrupt.” “So will there be provision of food from the government?” “Those who have plenty of money from monthly salary have it good as they can simply stock up, but what can we do when we depend on daily income. If it were to happen for four days please think it further wisely.” As of yesterday afternoon, Bali confirmed eight additional cases of COVID-19, bringing the island’s total to 43. This includes 19 recoveries and two deaths of foreign nationals. (Coconuts.com 07/04/2020)

from Jakarta, the epicentre of the country’s outbreak, return home. The government is preparing regulations that would make it possible for Jakarta and other coronavirus red zones to be put under an “area quarantine”, a term observers see as equivalent to a lockdown, which would stop flows of people going in and out. Coordinating maritime affairs and investment minister Luhut Pandjaitan said in a video message on Tuesday that the government would take the decision within this week, stressing however Indonesia would use the term lockdown. Indonesia would also issue a presidential emergency decree that would allow the government to have an annual budget deficit of larger than 3 per cent – currently not allowed by the existing laws – so that it could spend more to deploy cash, especially to the poorest population in the country. This exemption would apply for three years, before a normal threshold of 3 per cent would be reinstalled for 2023 annual budget year. “(Finance Minister) Sri Mulyani is currently making her calculation. What if we give the bottom 40 per cent or 20 per cent direct cash handouts. It is being thoroughly calculated,” Mr Luhut said. President Joko said on Monday that over the past eight days alone, 876 buses had transported about 14,000 people in Greater Jakarta back to their home towns, mostly in West Java, Central Java, Yogyakarta and East Java provinces. Others had taken the trains and ships home, he added. These are mostly daily-rated workers such as push-cart food sellers, in what is termed the informal sector of the economy. (straitstimes.com 01/04/2020)

Bali’s The Nusa Dua improves safety measures amid pandemic

State-owned enterprise Indonesia Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) is implementing safety measures to help stop the spread of COVID-19 at tourist destination The Nusa Dua in Bali. I Gusti Ngurah Ardita, managing director of The Nusa Dua, told Antara news agency that a letter had been sent to tenants, urging them to provide hand sanitizers and regularly spray disinfectant in public areas, including toilets, pray rooms, ATM booths and shuttle buses. “This is in accordance with a circular letter from Bali’s provincial administration on improving hygiene and sanitation to combat the virus,” he said. Tenants at The Nusa Dua are also required to check the temperature of all staff and visitors and to routinely clean their sites. A crisis center has been set up for guests, with services that include delivery to the nearest hospital and routine check-ups with health agencies. Ardita added that The Nusa Dua’s employees have been working from home from March 16, except for security and cleaning staff, who have been equipped with protective gear and follow physical distancing measures while on duty. As of March 26, the occupancy rate at The Nusa Dua had dropped 30.45 percent since February. “We hope the pandemic will end soon and tourism in Bali can improve,” said Ardita. On Tuesday, Bali declared a state of emergency by imposing stricter measures on visitors in an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19 as cases continue to climb with local transmission detected. With the status, the resort island will tighten checks at entrance gates and enforce a 14-day self-quarantine for all people entering the island. (thejakartapost.com 01/04/2020)

Denpasar mayor urges city residents to stay at home amid coronavirus outbreak

The Mayor of Denpasar yesterday urged the city’s residents to refrain from returning to their hometowns and stay at home instead, as part of an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19 in Bali. “I am asking all residents living in Denpasar for the time being do not go anywhere, including to go to your hometown, stay at your respective homes [instead] to break the chain on COVID-19 spread,” , as quoted by state news agency Antara. Many of those who live in Denpasar hail from different parts of the island and even the country. With the social and physical distancing advisory in place and the option to return to their family homes might make sense financially, officials fear it might contribute to further spread of COVID-19. According to Denpasar government’s, there are currently 96 people under monitoring in the city, along with two patients under observation and two more who have tested positive for the novel coronavirus. Across Bali, the total number of positive COVID-19 cases stand at 10 as of yesterday afternoon, including two deaths of foreign nationals, while a total of 141 patients have been placed under observation, as per data from the provincial government.

The government has extended its COVID-19 curbs on Java and Bali until Aug. 16, but will ease them in 26 areas, as official data showed infections have plunged in the capital Jakarta but are increasing elsewhere. In one of Asia’s worst epidemics, authorities restricted mobility to stem the spread of the highly transmissible Delta variant of the coronavirus on Java and Bali in early July, and since extended them to other areas with high infection rates. “Don’t let the improvement that we’ve achieved laboriously go to waste,” Luhut Pandjaitan, Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Minister, tasked with overseeing the response in Java and Bali, said late on Monday. Malls will reopen at 25 percent capacity for vaccinated people, except for children and the elderly, and people must show their vaccination proof using a digital application, Luhut said. People’s vaccination status will determine which health protocols they must adhere to in sectors like tourism and education, whether they have to wear masks or not, said Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin. Restrictions in areas outside Java and Bali will be extended until Aug. 23 as cases went up by 1.2 percent, whereas cases on Java and Bali dropped by 27 percent this month. “Our success in breaking the chain of coronavirus spread requires discipline and cooperation from everyone, not only the government, but also the public in heeding the instructions and suggestions from officials,” Rai Mantra said. Last week, a nurse who tested positive for COVID-19 reportedly went home to Tabanan regency, prompting officials to trace her close contacts immediately.

In Jakarta, there were 14,619 infections on July 12, but on Monday, there were 727, government data showed. Overall bed occupancy rates at the city’s hospitals dropped to 39 percent from 90 percent. The spread of the Delta variant, first identified in India, has put regions with weaker healthcare systems under strain. The occupancy of intensive care beds in Gorontalo on Sulawesi island has surpassed 90 percent, while the level in three regions on Sumatra island was above 80 percent, health ministry data showed. Meanwhile, in East Kalimantan the number of infections has soared from 922 cases in the second week of June to 12,127 in the first week of August, the health agency chief said. (thejakartapost.com/ 11/08/2021) it’s implemented. “We’re definitely concerned that people might become reluctant to visit our shopping center, but we will still support the government’s program in achieving herd immunity in Bali.” Sinarwulan concluded. She also urges the government to publicly inform the community regarding this program before implementing the policy. (coconuts.co 10/08/2021) banned in Indonesia due to the coronavirus outbreak with some exemptions, such as officials visiting for diplomatic purposes, and existing holders of the Temporary Stay Permit (KITAS) and the Permanent Stay Permit (KITAP). Though McCaffery had purchased an international medical insurance, her family said the company is refusing to pay the cost of evacuating her back to California. With the distance and ongoing border closures, it is estimated that the cost to transport her will be around a quarter million dollars, which is the goal of their fundraising. As of this article’s publication, the family has raised over US$200,000 from around 2,700 donors. McCaffery grew up in Santa Clara, California and graduated from Cal State Fullerton with a degree in business entrepreneurship. Her Instagram posts, as well as descriptions from her family, depict her as a world traveler. Her most recent photo was uploaded on July 30, and she appears to have been in Indonesia since early June. The co-founder of her online business Sunfara, whose first name is Ellie, has been providing daily updates on McCaffery’s condition. McCaffery is said to be stable as of this morning, and might soon be taken off the ventilator once doctors deem she is ready. (coconuts.co 10/08/2021) “We will continue to monitor [nightlife establishments]. We will act firmly by closing them if they are caught violating [curbs],” Terang Ginting from Denpasar Police’s Crime Investigation Unit, said. A spokesman from one of the karaoke bars told local media outlets that they have officially remained closed during the Emergency Enforcement of Restrictions on Public Activities (Emergency PPKM) protocol, which prohibits nightlife businesses from operating. However, they claim that some customers may have pushed their way in and were granted entry by the staff on duty, which has led to videos of their time at the bars circulating on the internet. (coconuts.co 10/08/2021)