Bali Governor Wayan Koster said earlier today that the Island of Gods is witnessing a shift in phases from a pandemic to an endemic based on recent COVID-19 cases and vaccination rates.
“Seeing curve patterns from 2020 and 2021 and currently 2022, I think from the development aspect between past patterns and existing curves, we are actually entering the endemic phase,” Koster said during a meeting at the Bali Regional Council today.
Koster met with legislators to discuss the 2021 accountability report (LKPJ) and shared his thoughts on the current COVID-19 situation. The top official later conceded that, at the end of the day, the official statement on whether Bali has entered an endemic phase would have to refer to a declaration from the World Health Organization (WHO).
“But I think Bali is already in that phase. So [it’s] safe,” he added.
In his report, Koster said that the province recorded 40 new COVID-19 cases yesterday, while 30 people recovered and, thankfully, no death was reported. The highest recent daily infections rate fell on Feb. 9 with 2,556 new cases that day, but numbers have continued to decline since.
Koster added that Bali has administered booster shots to 50.3 percent of its population – the highest in Indonesia, he noted – while the first dosage coverage is at 104 percent and 95 percent for the second dosage.
“Even now with international tourists able to enter Bali without quarantine and by using visas on arrivals, there has been no increase in COVID-19 cases. So we may continue the policy,” he said, referring to the 42 nationalities eligible for visas on arrival and the recently-introduced no-quarantine policy for Bali visitors.
Reader Interactions