The Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, who also serves as National COVID-19 Czar, says Bali will reopen when the national pandemic is brought under control. Accordingly, the National leadership plans to reopen Bali to foreign tourists in October 2021.
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As reported by Beritabali.com, over the past few weeks, Indonesia has successfully reduced the rate of new COVID-19 infections, lowered the “positivity rate” with less than 5% of those being tested found infected, lower occupancy rates at hospitals designated to treat COVID patients. Only weeks earlier, Indonesia was in the midst of a health crisis precipitated by a surge in new infections linked to the Delta-variant of the coronavirus.
Speaking at a virtual press conference on Friday, 17 September 2021, Minister Luhut said: “I am convinced that Bali can reopen in October. With (the continuing) trend in new cases like seen today, we are confident.” The Minister confirmed that he is evaluating COVID-19 contagion every week to ensure Bali can reopen in October. Adding: “We are very cautious in taking decisions because we do not want to cause a new leap in infections.”
Luhut said in reopening tourism, priority would be given to visitors from countries with their infection rates for COVID-19 under control, such as New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, and Japan.
Through Friday, 17 September 2021, Indonesia has reported 4.18 million cases of COVID-19 resulting in more than 140,000 fatalities.
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