Indonesia
Indonesia to introduce new GeNose Covid-19 test for foreign visitors to Bali
The Indonesian government says that from next month, it will allow the use of the GeNose Covid-19 detector for foreign visitors to the island of Bali. This will replace the previous requirement for a negative PCR test or antigen rapid test obtained within 2 days of arrival. From April 1, foreign visitors will be able to take the GeNose Covid-19 test either at their point of entry at the airport or harbour, or in the departure terminal before travel. They will need to obtain a negative result before they can continue their journey.
According to a report in Coconuts, the GeNose Covid-19 detector was developed at Gadjah Mada University in the city of Yogyakarta on the island of Java. The device uses artificial intelligence to detect Covid-19 through human breath. Indonesia’s Health Ministry approved its use late last year.
The introduction of the device represents a significant cost-saving for travellers to Bali. Each GeNose test costs 30,000 Indonesian rupiahs (approximately 65 Thai baht). For comparison, an antigen rapid test costs 250,000 rupiah (approximately 540 baht), while a PCR test costs 900,000 rupiah (approximately 1,940 baht).
Officials say if anyone appears to be showing symptoms of Covid-19, despite a negative test result, they will not be able to continue with their journey but will have to take a PCR test and self-isolate until the results are known. Foreign visitors are also still required to complete a Health Alert Card. However, it’s understood children under the age of 5 will not need to take any test. Indonesia will implement the new requirements effective April1 until further notice.
The governor of Bali recently designated 3 areas of the province to welcome foreign visitors. Ubud, Sanur, and Nusa Dua have all been labelled “green zones”, as part of a Covid-free corridor, with plans to vaccinate all residents.
SOURCE: Coconuts
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Dpat
Tuesday, March 30, 2021 at 11:20 am
I hope this works well
toby andrews
Tuesday, March 30, 2021 at 11:51 am
That’s it Bali is open and Thailand is still AIMING to open.
They have missed the boat, with their shall we are or shall we not.
Bali will pick up Thailand’s regular vacationers, who might never return to Thailand.
Meanwhile the Thais are trying to sell the vaccines!
Me
Tuesday, March 30, 2021 at 12:20 pm
Both Balinese and Thais are in the same boat believe me, there have been as many fanciful ideas about re-opening there as there has been in Thailand, and at least as many fail to eventuate.
ME
Issan John
Tuesday, March 30, 2021 at 12:52 pm
People said the same thing about the Seychelles, the Maldives, et al, Toby, and it never happened.
It’s just a rather childish fantasy.
Issan John
Tuesday, March 30, 2021 at 3:18 pm
“Both Balinese and Thais are in the same boat believe me”
I do, @Me.
The only country in the area that seems to have kept its head is Vietnam, as they’ve simply said “we’re closed for a year” – tourists know they’ll have to wait so there’s no point whingeing, and those in the tourism sector know the same.
For the Tobys of this world, though, Vietnam’s double (or treble) pricing and attitude to tourists as an ATM to be plundered would make even Phuket look like Utopia.
toby andrews
Tuesday, March 30, 2021 at 10:15 pm
I was in Vietnam a year ago.
Everything is cheaper there in comparison to Thailand.
When were you last there I John or are you just googling for your defective information?
A 1 USD beer is B32 in Vietnam.
In Thailand the same measure is B60.
Engage brain before using keyboard
Me
Wednesday, March 31, 2021 at 9:02 am
Bali is NOT due to re-open to foreigners anytime soon, the information in the article is not correct.
The reality is that the new test and rules to get into Bali are for Indonesians, and others, already in the country to get into Bali, in other words TRYING TO IMPROVE DOMESTIC TOURISM, and in fact this might more likely hinder that goal as Bali are SUPPOSEDLY going to introduce 3 green zones (similar idea to Phuket) where a large percentage of the local population has been vaccinated, and now the want to make it EASIER for other indonesians to travel to Bali which in itself will self defeat the total idea of the green zones as there will no NEED for the domestic tourists to vaccinate first.
Me
Issan John
Wednesday, March 31, 2021 at 9:07 am
“I was in Vietnam a year ago.
Everything is cheaper there in comparison to Thailand”
It may come as a shock to you, Toby, but for some of us – even including some here – life isn’t only about whether things are “cheaper”.
… and FWIW:
“A 1 USD beer is B32 in Vietnam.”
A “1USD beer” is around B32 anywhere – if it was more (or less) it wouldn’t be “1 USD”.
Like for like, prices are actually similar in both countries.
“I was in Vietnam a year ago”
“a year ago” all Vietnam’s borders (land, sea and air) were closed to tourists, so unless you had special dispensatiion this is unlikely – particularly as at the time you were being thrown out of Thailand.
toby andrews
Wednesday, March 31, 2021 at 6:18 pm
Yes I John it was a year and a month ago. I returned to Thailand on the 23rd of February 2020.
Happy now? Vietnam closed the border on the 23 March 2020.I was there a year and 39 days ago.
So you were right, I could not have been there a year ago.
But before you jump out of your chair dancing and punching the air. I quoted in US dollars to make comparisons cheaper. See if you can find anything cheaper in Thailand than Vietnam?
Check NUMBEO cost of living countries. I say nothing in Thailand is cheaper than Vietnam.
By the way you brought pricing up.
I repeat when were you last in Vietnam?
Me
Friday, April 2, 2021 at 3:25 pm
Toby is correct, in general most things are cheaper in Vietnam, and beer as he quoted is generally a lot cheaper. The beer I drink in Thailand is up to 4 times the price i pay in the one destination i drink it in Vietnam, the other destinations i go to a beer is a similar price, but for a larger bottle (i actually prefer the taste of the beers i drink that come in a larger bottle so it is not a cost factor for me chasing cheaper prices.
Me