Coronavirus Update #50 February 8, 2021

Cumulative number of reported cases: 1,166,079 (as of February 8)
Recovered: 963,028
Deaths: 31,763

 
Rupiah to US$14,000
Jakarta Stock Exchange Index: 6208

Overview- Some Lockdowns

Central Java broke with most of Indonesia and created a lockdown for February 6-8. Although the national case growth rate backed off slightly, falling to 12,150 on a 7-day moving average( 1% drop), the Janaury spike has sparked discussions on implementing a three day lockdown across the country. However, some ministers downplayed to possibility.

State-owned pharmaceutical firm, Bio Farma, is scaling up its production of a Chinese-made vaccine. From the 3 million shipped from China in December, about 500,00 of 1.5 million healthcare workers have received the first of two vaccinations. Bio Farma is also processing ingredients from the Chinese firm Sinovac for another 25 million doses. Sinovac has committed to 140 million does during 2021.

The Health Minister stated that some of Indonesia’s allotment from the Gavi-Covax facility will begin to arrive at the end of this month. This would amount to 13.7 million of the total 54-108 million doses Indonesia has signed up for. These would be mostly from Astra Zeneca, with some small amounts from Pfizer and Moderna. If the one-dose Johnston & Johnson vaccine becomes available through Covax it would assist Indonesia tremendously given its easier storage and transfer requirements.

Travel-

Travel restrictions to Indonesia for foreigners were supposed to end on Monday, February 8th (today). However, information on the official immigration website has not been updated to clarify whether the restrictions have been lifted/renewed.

Indonesia is extending restrictions to focus on specific regions. The new restrictions, which will run from Feb 9 until Feb 22, will impose different limitations on movements in certain districts and regencies, depending on their severity, according to an order issued by the Home Ministry. Restrictions will be eased in locations where improvements are seen.

Economic-

  • Q1 Growth: According to Indonesia’s Coordinating Minister of Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto, the country expects its economic recovery to continue in the first quarter of 2021 with a growth rate of between 1.6% to 2.1%.
  • Q4 2020 Shrink: Indonesia’s GDP in the fourth quarter of 2020 (Q4) which shrank by 2.19%, was slightly more than the 2% forecasted by economists.
  • Tesla ?: According to Indonesia’s deputy head for investment and mining coordination, Septian Hario Seto, the country has received an investment proposal from U.S. electric vehicle (EV) maker Tesla. Indonesia is the world’s biggest nickel producer, a material crucial for EV batteries, and has been publicly wooing Tesla to invest in the country to help develop its ambitious EV and battery industry plans. Septian said he could not give details of the proposal.
  • Air Disaster Report: Indonesia’s air accident investigator expects to release the preliminary report into last month’s deadly crash of a Sriwijaya Airplane on Feb. 10, the agency’s head said on Monday (02/08). The report will be uploaded to the National Transportation Safety Committee’s (KNKT) website once available.

Education/Social/Culture

Positive Pluralism trend: The Ministers of Home Affairs, Education, and Religion issued a joint decree eliminating the mandatory use of religious uniforms in public schools. Clothing affiliated with a religion is a decision for parents and the students and will no longer be up to the school or the government. The decree applies to government schools but not religious schools whether private or government-owned. The special province of Aceh is exempted.

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