bali has entered the endemic phase - governor claims

Bali Governor I Wayan Koster has claimed that Bali has entered an endemic phase due to the drastic drop in Covid-19 cases.

During a meeting with Bali senators on Thursday (3/31), Koster is optimistic that Bali will soon enter the endemic phase as Covid-19 cases have dropped significantly.

"Although the WHO is the only organization authorized to change the status of the pandemic, I believe that Bali has already started to enter this phase," Koster said on Thursday.

Koster explained that on Wednesday (3/30), in Bali, there were only 40 active cases of Covid-19, with 30 recoveries and zero deaths from Covid-19.

“Omicron transmission peaked on February 9, 2022 with 2,556 cases, and transmission dropped to just 40 cases on March 30,” Koster added. Koster also claimed that Bali had distributed Covid-19 vaccine boosters to more than 50.3% of its citizens.

The reopening of international travellers, including the visa on arrival program, the zero quarantine policy and the reopening of international routes, has not had a negative impact on the transmission of Covid-19 on the island.

"It has been proven that there is no increase in the transmission of Covid-19 despite the establishment of the visa on arrival program and the zero quarantine policy for foreign tourists, we can so keep doing it," Koster concluded.