Indonesian authorities abandon plans to open Bali to tourists

The Indonesian authorities have refused to open the resort island of Bali for foreign tourists, which was planned in early July, said Coordinating Minister for Maritime and Investment Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, who heads the intergovernmental group on the fight against coronavirus, Report informs referring to TASS.

He explained this by the rapid spread of the Delta variant of COVID.

“The opening of the island is impossible, so we are no longer considering such plans. The priority is to contain the coronavirus and increase the proportion of those vaccinated,” the official noted.

He also warned that the number of infected would rise, and the next two weeks will be critical in terms of the normalization of the situation.

Since July 3, the authorities have imposed the most severe socio-economic restrictions in Bali and on the island of Java. The most challenging situation is developing in Java. More than 260 people on the island died during June without receiving medical attention on time, according to local NGO LaporCOVID-19. Local hospitals are 90 percent full, according to observers.