Corona Virus Memo #98 January 17, 2022

Cumulative number of reported cases: 4,270,794(as of January 17)

  • Deaths: 144,167
  • Recoveries: 4,118,164
  • Fatality rate: 3.3%

Rupiah to US: 14,323
Jakarta Stock Exchange Index: 6645
Inflation: 1.87%
Reserves (US$ Billions): $144.905 (December 31, 2021)

Overview- Cases Could Grow to 60,000 by February

Indonesia reported 1,054 new COVID-19 cases on Saturday, the highest daily increase in three months, as the government braces for a new wave of coronavirus infections driven by the spread of the Omicron variant. Daily death rates have not changed, remaining under 10 per day.

Director of Prevention and Control of Vector and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases at the Health Ministry Siti Nadia Tarmizi predicted that cases would reach 60,000 by mid-February.

A free booster program began on January 12, initially for people over 60, even though only 42% of Indonesia’s elderly are fully vaccinated

Travel-Country Bans Lifted/Quarantine Reduced to 7 Days

The government lifted existing restrictions on entry from 14 countries (including southern African nations, US, Denmark, and France), giving in to Omicron’s worldwide spread and the impossibility of discriminating by countries. A COVID Taskforce spokesperson said: “If we decide to keep the list of restricted countries in place then that could complicate cross-border travel, which we still need in order to maintain national stability and spur the economic recovery.”

Meanwhile it reduced mandatory quarantines to 7 days.

Religious Travel Permitted: Religion Minister, Yaqut Cholil Qoumas clarified that there is no prohibition for pilgrimages (umrah) because of Omicron“There is no law that prohibits citizens from going abroad when they get a visa unless they are in a legal trouble. So if they get a visa, they have the right [to travel overseas], but the government has the right to arrange the regulations,” he explained.

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-

·     Q4 Growth Above 7%: The latest Business Survey conducted by Bank Indonesia indicated business growth in the fourth quarter of 2021, as reflected by a weighted net balance (WNB) of 7.10%, down slightly from 7.58% in the third quarter of 2021 yet significantly stronger than the -3.90% recorded in the fourth quarter of 2020.

·     Manufacturing Index Reveals Expansion: The latest Prompt Manufacturing Index-Bank Indonesia (PMI-BI) moved above the 50% threshold into an expansionary phase in the fourth quarter of 2021 at 50.17% from 48.75% in the third quarter of 2021. All components contributed to the improvement.

·     2021 Trade Surplus: Statistics Indonesia (BPS) reported Monday that the country’s exports reached US$231.54 billion and imports $196.20 billion in 2021. This resulted in a surplus worth $35.34 billion, the highest since $39.63 billion reached in 2007.

·     Poverty Rate on Downward Curve: Statistics Indonesia (BPS) reported Monday that the country’s poverty rate had reached 9.71% or equal to 26.50 million people in September 2021, continuing a downward trend since March 2021. The figure marks the lowest poverty rate since the country confirmed its first COVID-19 cases in March 2020, when it stood at 9.78%. However, the latest figure remains higher by 0.49% points than the September 2019 level.

 

Foreign Affairs-

G20 Presidency: Indonesia kicks its presidency of the Group of 20 (G20) into high gear this month with a flurry of activities and events including forums for CEOs of companies from member countries where they will discuss issues from sustainable development to women’s empowerment. The Office of the Coordinating Economic Minister, which is responsible for the scheduling and substance of Indonesia’s G20 presidency, said that on Jan. 27 representatives of companies from the 20 member countries and another 40 from non-member countries would begin what it called an inception meeting for Business 20 (B20).

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