Bali cops mass disinfectant spraying, as nine Aussie surfers are stranded in Sumba

Bali cops mass disinfectant spraying, as nine Aussie surfers are stranded in Sumba

Balinese authorities have begun the mass spraying of disinfectant around tourism hotspots to stem the spread of COVID-19.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is expected to have a devastating effect on the Indonesian Island, which derives most of its income from tourism.

The islands biggest market was China before the banning of flights between China and Bali, followed by Australia which has imposed a self-quarantine on all overseas travellers of 14 days.

It is also being reported that nine Australians are stranded on a surf boat near Sumba with authorities refusing to let them disembark, according to The Daily Telegraph

The surfers, mostly from Newcastle, cleared a coronavirus screening ten days ago before embarking on their trip.

Brydon Roper, one of the stranded surfers, posted to an Indonesian social media forum to call for help.

“The harbour master is not letting us off the boat due to coronavirus. The East of Sumba have restrictions on westerners coming here. We were tested by government officials before boarding the boat in Lombok and registered with the harbour master to arrive today (Saturday),” he said.

The Daily Telegraph reported that the boat is now preparing to sail to Labuan Bajo in Flores.

Indonesia has so far reported only 96 cases of COVID-19 despite its staggering population of 270 million. Five people have so far died of the virus there, with the first recorded death names as British tourist Kimberley Finlayson. It is being reported Finlayson had pre-existing medical problems.

Featured image source: iStock.com/LiveLifeTraveling

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