Foreigners caught without masks in Bali have been given unusual punishments as the holiday island cracks down on people flouting COVID-19 health protocols.
A photograph taken and shared online by the Badung Regency’s Public Order Agency appears to show two foreign men being forced to do push-ups for officials after being caught without masks.
The Badung Regency is home to the tourist meccas of Kuta and Seminyak and is where officials have recorded the most violations of health protocols on the island.
Some 8860 offences have been reported up to this week, according to the ABC. Many of those offences were people not wearing masks properly or at all, and businesses flouting health protocols.
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Around 80 per cent of the offences were committed by foreigners, Badung Regency’s Public Order Agency chief I Gusti Agung Kerta Suryanegara told the ABC.
“Some foreigners were found walking on the beach, sitting in restaurants and riding motorbikes without masks,” he said.
Many who committed offences have been fined but for smaller mistakes, such as bringing a mask but forgetting to wear it, people have been made to do push-ups or sweep streets.
“We didn’t fine those who had admitted their mistakes … we didn’t just fine people randomly because they didn’t wear masks,” Mr Suryanegara said.
Mr Suryanegara said most of the foreigners caught breaking rules were from Europe and while none of those fined had been Australian, some Australians had been cautioned for not wearing masks properly.
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Bali began issuing fines to mandate the wearing of masks in September.
But officials are considering raising the fine, which at just 100,000 rupiah – around $9 – doesn’t appear to be much of a deterrent to foreigners.
“Foreign nationals violate (health protocols) as if we are nothing in their eyes,” Mr Suryanegara told local outlet Coconuts Bali.
“Sometimes they will be laughing as they do push-ups or other social punishments, it’s as if there’s no effect. Even if they were made to pay fines, maybe it’s too cheap for them.”
Authorities are also refusing entry to foreigners at bars and tourist sites if they aren’t wearing masks.
There have been around 900 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Bali but the impact of the pandemic on tourism – which is the island’s main source of income – has affected thousands more.
