Corona Virus Update #97 January 10, 2022

Cumulative number of reported cases: 4,254,666 (as of January 10)

  • Deaths: 144,127
  • Recoveries: 4,115,747
  • Fatality rate: 3.3%

Rupiah to US: 14,323
Jakarta Stock Exchange Index: 6691
Reserves (US$ Billions): $144.905 (December 31, 2021)

Overview- Omicron Up But No Surge Yet

Cases of the highly transmissible Omicron variant continue to grow in Indonesia, three weeks after the country reported its first confirmed case, but the new variant has not so far brought the type of surge recorded in many countries. Experts have said, however, that the Omicron variant is far more widespread among the population than the official data showed, adding that the third wave of infections could be coming in the near term. The Health Ministry recorded 414 confirmed cases of the new coronavirus variant as of Saturday, Jan. 8. Of which, 31 cases were local transmission.

Travel-Bans for 14 Countries (including transit passengers)

Visitors from 14 countries are barred from entering Indonesia under the current travel restrictions aimed at reducing the risk of the spread of the highly contagious Omicron coronavirus variant. The ban includes travelers who have transited through the countries. The 14 countries include South Africa, Botswana, Norway, France, Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Eswatini, Lesotho, the United Kingdom, and Denmark.

Updated Travel Restrictions for Airplane Passengers Traveling within Indonesia during PPKM

These restrictions apply to flights between airports on the island of Java, flights from/or to airports on the island of Java, and flights from/or to airports on the island of Bali.

·     The documents below are required and to be presented (digital copies available using PeduliLindungi App for Indonesian citizens) during check-in at airports:

·     Vaccine certificate/card, minimum of first dose.

·     Certificate or letter of negative RT-PCR results whose samples were taken within a maximum period of 2×24 hours before the departure.

·     Indonesia Health Alert Card (e-HAC) for all passengers (Indonesians and non-Indonesians)

Indonesia Travel Restriction Details can be found here.

Economic-

·     Foreign Reserves Remain High: Indonesia’s official reserve assets remained high at USD144.9 billion as of end-December 2021, despite being lower than USD145.9 billion as of end-November 2021. The decline of official reserve assets in December 2021 was influenced, amongst others, by the need for the government’s external debt payment. The position of official reserve assets was equivalent to financing 8 months of imports and servicing the government’s external debt, and well above the international adequacy standard of three months imports.

·     Consumer Confidence Optimistic: The latest Consumer Survey conducted by Bank Indonesia revealed how consumers remained upbeat in December 2021, with a Consumer Confidence Index (CCI) recorded in the optimistic territory at a level of 118.3, relatively stable compared with 118.5 in November 2021.

·     Jokowi Reviews Impact of Nickel Export Ban: “Today, we have had 19 months of trade balance surplus. Where did it come from? From banning nickel export. We are seeing a figure of US$20.8 billion. Back then, the export of land with nickel ore would only generate US$2 billion a year. This means that there is a really high jump,” Widodo said on Thursday, January 6. President Jokowi next wants to ban the export of bauxite, an important component in electric vehicles.

·     Coal Shortage Over: Senior Indonesian officials announced the coal shortage has ended and it remains to be seen if the export ban through the end of January will be rescinded. Right now, there seems to be no problem [with supplies]; the emergency is over,” Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Minister Luhut Pandjaitan told reporters in Jakarta on Thursday. Several countries, including the Philippines, that rely on Indonesian coal have requested the ban be ended.

Foreign Affairs-

Health Diplomacy Top Priority: Indonesia’s top diplomat recently revealed the country’s plans to place health diplomacy amongst its priorities as it enters 2022, in a bid to promote an inclusive global recovery from Covid-19 and help make the world more prepared for future pandemics. “In 2022, health diplomacy will remain a priority for Indonesia,” Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi said.

US Supplies Additional Pfizer Doses: The United States Embassy in Jakarta announced an additional delivery of 7,052,760 doses of Pfizer vaccine to Indonesia, which comes from the partnership between COVAX, UNICEF, and the Indonesian government. The latest donation arrived at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Jakarta in four shipments. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken noted that this shipment came to fruition after a meeting between the presidents of the two countries in Glasgow. “After President Biden and President Jokowi’s very productive meeting a few weeks ago in Glasgow, President Biden asked me to come here to advance our work together on a number of critical issues,” said Blinken. “That includes stopping the COVID-19 pandemic. The United States has donated more than 25 million vaccines to Indonesia”

sources: International and Indonesia news media, Bali Update (from balidiscovery.com), Reformasi Weekly, US Embassy website