Today’s the day. If you leave the house without a mask on, authorities in Bali may fine you IDR100,000 (US$6.77) as part of a new regulation issued to control coronavirus transmissions on the island.
Under the regulation, individuals, businesses, as well as public places and facilities are required to implement health protocols at all times. Individuals are subject to the IDR100,000 fine should they fail to wear masks outside of their homes, whereas business and public facilities are subject to IDR1,000,000 fine or have their permits temporarily revoked if they don’t provide health precaution facilities.
There are few exceptions for individuals, such as when they give a speech, eating, chanting prayers, or doing other activities that may require them to take off their masks. The public is also expected to physically distance themselves from each other in public.
Bali’s Deputy Governor Tjokorda Oka Artha Ardhana Sukawati, or Cok Ace, said the regulation seeks to raise awareness among the public.
“What’s important is people’s awareness. One of the key things we can do is wear masks, and that’s what has been laid out under the health protocol,” Cok Ace said earlier today.
Bali has seen a rising number of COVID-19 cases, with more than 100 daily cases recorded all of last week. The province’s record high of 196 daily cases was reported on Friday. As of yesterday afternoon, the provincial tally stands at 6,212, including 105 deaths.
Cok Ace said that people’s mobility on the island has risen significantly since Bali reopened to domestic tourism, especially in tourist attractions such as Kintamani, Bangli regency and Bedugul, Tabanan regency.
“[However], we see there is still a lack of awareness among them to use masks,” Cok Ace said.
“They are mostly young people who have better immunity and they don’t look like they are infected, [but] they could be asymptomatic. But what happens when they return to their homes?”
