Foreigners who have breached Bali’s coronavirus health protocols have been forced to do push-ups, with images of the unusual punishment going viral on social media. Many head to the Badung regency area, where the popular Kuta and Seminyak beaches are located.
Here, local authorities have recorded the highest number of coronavirus health protocol violations in Bali, with 8864 offenses occurring up to this week.
While many of them were local Balinese, 80 per cent of people who had been fined for violating COVID-19 regulations were foreigners, mostly from Europe.
It was stated that “Some foreigners were found walking on the beach, sitting in restaurants, and riding motorbikes without masks,” but those who committed minor mistakes, such as bringing their mask but not wearing it, were asked to do push-ups or sweep the street.
Although many Australians have been cautioned for not properly wearing masks, none have yet been fined over that. In September, Bali started fining residents caught without a face mask 100,000 rupiah ($9).
Overall, the Public Order Agency has recorded more than 15,000 offenses in Bali since the mandatory mask rule was introduced.
It was said that so far authorities have gathered 15.3 million rupiah ($1400) from the fines in Badung alone.
Indonesia began rolling out its vaccination program last Wednesday, with the president and got a huge dose of the Chinese-developed Sinovac vaccine. Bali started administering vaccinations the following day.
Throughout the pandemic, more than 850,000 people in Indonesia have been infected and there has been more than 20,000 cases in Bali and Indonesia recorded its highest number of daily cases – 11,557 – two weeks after end-of-year holidays.
Tighter restrictions had been imposed in Java and Bali, requiring places including shopping centres, malls, and restaurants to close by 9.00pm. However, local media reported that authorities were involved in an argument after several foreigners refused to leave a restaurant after the deadline.
Here’s the video that was posted:
Last week, the Governor of Bali said since many foreigners were “difficult to manage” the Bali government would take further action.
“Tourists not wearing masks will not be given entry to tourist destinations and restaurants,” he said.
“So they will not be given any services if they don’t wear a mask. That’s our decision … because there are already many violations committed by foreign tourists.”