Overview- Case Numbers Jump Significantly

Indonesia reported 33,729 new cases on Saturday, the highest daily tally since September. The number of daily deaths has also climbed to 44, four times it was a week ago. The country now has close to 165,500 active cases, with Jakarta, West Java, Banten, and Bali combined accounting for 85 percent of the active cases.

The Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, has asked Indonesians aged 60 years and above not to leave the house for the next month to avoid Covid-19 severe sickness or death caused by the Omicron variant, which is spreading at a breakneck pace and is expected to peak in three or four weeks. “Based on the data, most of those who died from Omicron were elderly, had comorbidities, and had not been vaccinated,” Luhut said. He also said Indonesia will tighten social restrictions in the Jakarta and Bali as coronavirus cases rise sharply, a senior minister said on Monday. Under new regulations, supermarkets, malls and restaurants will operate at 60 percent capacity and houses of worship will be reduced to 50 percent of capacity, said Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Pandjaitan. It was not immediately clear when the measures would take effect.

Indonesia shifted back to its previous policy of making learning in school optional, due to the rising number of COVID cases. The revision rolls back a decree that education minister Nadiem Makarim and four of his Cabinet colleagues signed on Dec. 21, 2021, which required schools in regions under level 1 and 2 PPKM to resume full-capacity classroom learning by the beginning of 2022.

Travel-Garuda Flies to Bali from Japan

Flagship carrier Garuda Indonesia initiated the opening of Bali’s airports for international flights by resuming its weekly flights from Narita International Airport in Japan to I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali on Feb. 3. I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport spokesperson Taufan Yudhistira said the Garuda flight was the first international regular flight to land on the island after nearly two years since Indonesia’s border closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Singapore Airlines is expected to resume its flights on February 16.

Indonesia closed and then re-opened the Jakarta airport for tourists. According to the Jakarta Post: “The Transportation Ministry has retracted a ban on international tourists entering Indonesia via Soekarno-Hatta airport that came about due to incorrect wording in a recently issued circular letter. A previous ministry circular letter No.11/2022 issued on Sunday stated that foreign tourists and returning Indonesians from overseas vacation “may only enter” through the Bali, Batam and Bintan airports, a list that excludes the airports in Jakarta and every other region. Ministry spokesperson Fitri Indah clarified in a press release on Monday that the circular was meant to say “may enter” through the Bali, Batam and Bintan airports.”

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-

·     Huge Foxconn Investment: Taiwan’s Foxconn Technology Group, the world’s largest electronic components maker and maker of Iphones, will build electric cars components, electric batteries, electric motors and relocate its telecommunications spare part manufacturing facilities from China to the Batang integrated industrial area in Central Java in a move estimated to bring $8 billion direct investment to Indonesia. “We had signed the [memorandum of understanding] early this month. They will come to Batang,” the Investment Minister and Head of the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) Bahlil Lahadalia said.

·     2021 Growth: The GDP rose 3.69 percent in 2021 from the preceding year, driven largely by a rebound in investment, Statistics Indonesia (BPS) reported on Monday. “The driver is a combination of improvement in health care and mobility and the sustained global economic recovery, as well as the fiscal stimulus,” BPS head Margo Yuwono said in an online press briefing on Monday.

·     Inflation Up: Indonesia has seen its highest inflation in more than two years in January, driven by increases in foods, beverages, tobacco products prices, and utility costs. The Central Statistics Agency, or BPS, reported on Wednesday that the food, beverages, and tobacco expenditure group were the largest contributor to the 0.56 percent inflation in January 2022.