Covid-19 Transmissions In Bali Are Currently Below 1%
Bali officials have confirmed that Covid-19 transmissions on the island have been significantly reduced as the Covid-19 vaccine gets distributed to the residents.
The Secretary of the Bali Covid-19 Handling Task Force, Made Rentin confirmed that the current active Covid-19 case is below 1% of the total population in Bali.
“We have good news, the active Covid-19 cases in Bali is 406 (0,85%) as of Sunday (13/6), which means it’s below 1% of our total population on the island.” Rentin said on Sunday morning (13/6).
He also explained that almost three million of Bali residents have received the Covid-19 vaccine.
“A total of 2,958,350 Bali residents have received the Covid-19 vaccine, and that number is a combination between the people who have received the first dose of Covid-19 vaccine and those who have completed the second dose of vaccination.”
Rentin added. He also said that the province of Bali still has enough vaccine supply to complete the vaccination program before reopening the international travel corridor in the near future.
Rentin said that Bali has recorded 44 new additional Covid-19 cases, 42 recoveries and 0 deaths on Sunday (13/6). Meanwhile, the Spokesman of Denpasar Covid-19 Handling Task Force, I Dewa Gede Rai admitted that this achievement is a result of the people’s compliance with the prevention protocols and the rapid distribution of the Covid-19 vaccine in Denpasar and other regions of Bali. He also reminds people to keep supporting the vaccination program in order to achieve herd immunity before finally reopening the border to revive Bali economy from the crisis caused by the pandemic. (thebalisun.com 15/06/2021)
President Approves 10 Proposals From Bali’s Governor
The Indonesian President, Joko Widodo has approved 10 proposals that have been requested by the Governor of Bali to revive their economy.
During a meeting that was attended by several ministries such as the State Secretary Minister, Tourism Minister, Finance Minister, Governor of Indonesian Bank and the Bali Governor on Monday morning (7/6) around 9:30am, President Jokowi invited them to discuss several main topics. Such as, the Covid-19 vaccine distribution in Bali, optimizing domestic tourism, prevention protocol implementation, reopening of the international travel corridor and optimizing creative economy in Bali.
During the meeting, Koster also proposed 10 requests to help Bali’s economy recover. The requests included:
– another 3 million doses of the Covid-19 vaccine for Bali residents in order to finish the vaccination program by July 2021
– optimizing domestic tourism by providing special incentives
– optimizing the ‘Work From Bali Program” by reaching all the government’s institutions and ministries
– hosting more big international events in Bali
– proposing to reopen the international travel bubble by the end of July 2021
– continue the cash assistance program for the Bali tourism sector
– extending the instalment period for tourism businesses
– providing new skill set training program for Bali people
– providing soft loan programs for the tourism sector
– allowing Bali to host virtual Bali Arts Festival on July 12th 2021
After discussing and considering all aspects and conditions, the President has approved all 10 proposals that were requested by the Bali Governor.
“President Jokowi has finally agreed and instructed related ministries to help us implement all these programs in near future.” Koster said. (thebalisun.com 14/06/2021)
19 Bali Inmates Poisoned After Consuming Toxic Disinfectant Liquid
A woman who has been serving prison time at the Kerobokan Prison has died after consuming disinfectant liquid on Friday morning (11/6).
The Head of the Female Warden of Kerobokan Prison Class IIA, Lili confirmed that dozens of the inmates in the Kerobokan female prison were rushed to the Sanglah Public Hospital after consuming toxic liquid.
“19 of our inmates were rushed to Sanglah Hospital this morning, and 1 of them has died after consuming disinfectant liquids inside the prison cell.” Lili said on Friday morning.
The incident occurred after several inmates attempted to consume disinfectant liquid that was mixed with a fruit packaged drink.
“At first, they told the doctor inside the prison that they had stomach problems, but then we decided to transport them around 10:00am to the hospital as they finally admitted that they had consumed toxic liquids which made their conditions get worse.” Lili added.
Shortly after, the doctor of the Sanglah Hospital confirmed that one of the inmates had died in the emergency room. Meanwhile, the Head of Emergency Room at the Sanglah Hospital, I Made Mulyawan confirmed that he has been receiving patients from Kerobokan Prison this morning.
“We have received a total of 19 patients from the Kerobokan prison today, and we’ve lost one of them. So we’ve been trying our best to help the rest recover from consuming the toxic liquids.” Mulyawan concluded.(thebalisun.com 14/06/2021)
Over 2,000 Cruise Ship Workers Go Back To Work Overseas
Over 2,000 cruise ship workers who had been laid-off for over a year due to the Covid-19 pandemic have gone back to work overseas.
The Head of the Bali Labor Agency, Ida Bagus Ngurah Arda confirmed that many workers have gone back to work on cruise ships. “Around 2,702 migrant workers have gone back to work on cruise ships again after over 1 year of being laid off due to Covid-19 pandemic as of today (10/6).” Ngurah Arda said on Thursday morning (10/6).
However, Ngurah Arda explained that the amount of workers who went back to work recently is still considered small in comparison with the migrant workers who have been previously laid-off.
“It’s still nothing compared to 15,742 cruise ship workers who were laid-off in 2020 due to the pandemic, but it’s still a good sign and it brings hope to the people who have been struggling to survive during these hard times.
He also explained that the Bali provincial government has made a regulation that will protect the rights and responsibility of each migrant worker while working overseas in accordance with the Governor’s Regulation Number 12 Year 2021. Governor has also created a system which makes the provincial government easier to control and supervise Bali migrant workers.
“Apart from that system, the provincial government will also cooperate with the private sector to provide training and education in order to increase the quality of our human resources in the future.” Ngurah Arda concluded. (thebalisun.com 13/06/2021)
35 kilograms of medical waste found in Gianyar regency traced back to local doctor: reports
The culprit behind littered medical waste in Bali’s Gianyar regency is allegedly a contract worker at a local hospital, as revealed in a meeting among concerned parties at the Bali Regional Legislative Council (DPRD) this week.
In late May, trash bags that add up to about 35 kilograms containing various medical waste, from bottles to infusion lines and syringes, were found in Bitera sub-district, Gianyar. Police soon launched an investigation into the case in an attempt to locate the culprit.
During a meeting attended by representatives from the Gianyar Health Agency, Gianyar Environmental Agency, Sanjiwani General Hospital, and members of DPRD Bali, it was revealed that the littered medical waste might have involved a doctor working at Sanjiwani.
According to reports, the doctor instructed a contract worker hired by the public hospital to take the medical waste from his private practice and dispose of it at Sanjiwani’s medical waste facility. Those who attended the meeting did not reveal identities of the possible suspects.
Ida Komang Upeksa, acting head of Gianyar Health Agency, said Sanjiwani does not allow the use of its medical waste facility by anyone else but the public hospital. Such a practice might therefore be a violation of existing law.
Meanwhile, Gianyar Police said they have yet to identify a suspect in the case.
“We are still investigating and we have yet to find the suspect,” general crimes unit head Laorens Rajamangapul said.
The incident has sparked concerns about the disposal of medical waste in Gianyar, with DPRD member Ni Made Ratnadi calling on the authorities to step up monitoring and collecting data on private practices in the area to ensure they are treating their medical waste responsibly.
A female prisoner from Kerobokan Prison has died while another is being treated for liver failure following a mass poisoning incident where 21 convicts drank disinfectant mixed with an instant beverage.
“Right now, one patient is being treated in the inpatient room,” I Made Mulyawan, who heads the emergency unit at Sanglah General Hospital, said earlier today.
Last Thursday, a number of prisoners began complaining of gastric pain.
“At first they said they had stomach ulcers, so we gave them medicine. But then they started throwing up, so we became suspicious [and we asked] what they consumed. And then they confessed,” Lili, who heads one of the female units at Kerobokan Prison, said previously.
Lili said they drank disinfectant that was mixed with an instant orange beverage popularly known as Nutrisari. She added that all of them wanted to get drunk and attempted different concoctions, before finally using the disinfectant, which they assumed might give off the same effect as alcohol.
In spite of tight supervision, Lili said the prisoners managed to get their hands on a bottle of disinfectant, which was used to clean the cells. (coconuts.co 13/06/2021)
Woman found dead at bottom of Uluwatu cliff, suicide suspected
A 29-year-old woman was found dead at the bottom of a cliff in Sunset Point, Uluwatu, with authorities suspecting that she may have committed suicide.
The victim, identified by her initials MG, was found yesterday. According to reports, evacuation proved challenging due to the location’s terrain, and authorities eventually took her body with a rubber boat to Dreamland Beach before she was taken to Sanglah General Hospital.
At the top of the cliff, authorities found the victim’s personal items, including a motorbike, jacket, cellphone, and an ID card.
South Kuta Police Chief Yusak Agustinus Sooai said that the victim had gone missing since Sunday, and are now looking into the possible cause of death.
“There is suspicion that it might have been suicide,” Yusak said.
Indonesia currently does not have a fully functioning government-run suicide prevention hotline, but if you or anyone you know is suffering from depression and/or contemplating suicide, you can get more information and resources from several local NGOs dealing with mental health and suicide prevention, such as intothelightid.org and Bali-based Love Inside Suicide Awareness (LISA) helpline at +628113855472.
95-km Denpasar-Gilimanuk Toll Road by 2024
Slowly and surely, and despite the troubled national economy caused by the global COVID-19 pandemic, the Indonesian Government is moving ahead with plans to expand its transnational highway network.
As reported by Beritabali.com, the Indonesian Ministry of Public Works and People’s Housing (PUPR) has announced that a 95-kilometer-long toll road connecting the western Balinese port of Gilimanuk with Mengwi will be completed by 2024.
The PUPR Minister Basuki Hadimuljono said the new toll road would become the second toll road operating in Bali after the Bali Mandara Toll Road that opened in 2013 that connects Sanur-Ngurah Rai Airport-Nusa Dua. As the proposed Gilimanuk to Denpasar Toll Road is being constructed, plans are also in hand for the Sumatra-Trans Jawa Highway to be extended to the easternmost port on Java at Banyuwangi.
Hadimuljono, in a statement issued on Friday, 07 August 2020, said: “The Trans-Java Highway has already reached East Probolinggo and will connect to Banyuwangi. Once in operation, Java and Bali will be connected with an alternative land route. The toll road will be faster and provide wonderful views. Besides, a family traveling in a single-vehicle will find travel (to Bali) cheaper than flying on a plane.”
The PUPR Minister credits the toll road as an unsolicited project presented on the initiative of the private sector that the National Government is enthusiastically welcoming. This approach is in keeping with the directive of Indonesian President Joko Widodo to seek alternative ways of financing toll roads that will not burden the State Budget (APBN).
“What’s more, the initiator of the toll road project is not a State-owned Company (BUMN). The PUPR Ministry encourages non-BUMN entities to invest in toll road projects actively. The new toll roads will be built without support from the Government. Financial projections demonstrate the highway will produce a good return on investment (IRR) as the roads will provide new access roads on routes that are already heavily traveled,” Minister Basuki Hadimuljono commented.
The Gilimanuk-Mengwi Toll Road project has already entered the feasibility review stage. The study is under review, and it is expected that a principle permit.
Currently, the stage of the Gilimanuk-Mengwi Toll Road development plan has entered the feasibility study (FS) stage and will soon be evaluated before the issuance of a principle permit.
The Minister said the Governor would have the final say on the new toll road’s actual location. In October 2020, the project will be put out to tender with construction work expected to commence in March 2021.
Bali Governor, I Wayan Koster, defends the second Bali toll road development as necessary to reduce traffic congestion on the roads during peak travel hours. The road, says the Governor, will provide quicker access to Denpasar and the reverse direction from Denpasar to Gilimanuk.
The Governor said the first phase of the 95-kilometer road project would be a 20-kilometer stretch of highway connecting Pekutatan – Soka. The second phase will join Soka and Mengwi, followed by a third phase connecting Gilimanuk to Pekutatan.
Current estimates put the total cost of the Gilimanuk-Mengwi Toll Road at Rp. 14 trillion. (balidiscovery.com)