The governor of East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) says he would rather face the coronavirus rather than letting his citizens die of hunger, as his administration announces that tourist destinations in the province will begin reopening on June 15.

Bali’s best known for being a surfer’s paradise and the bucket list destination for a beach holiday, with its breathtaking natural beauty and yoga retreats. These days though, the resort island isn’t seeing as much tourism due to the COVID-19 pandemic that’s been sweeping the globe.

The Safari Park in Bali’s Gianyar regency has named their newborn baby giraffe “Corona,” after the coronavirus. 

“Corona’s birth went smoothly, with the medical team monitoring everything via CCTV […] The baby giraffe will be nursing from birth until it’s about four months old,” Yohana Kusumaningtyas, a member of the veterinary team from Taman Safari Indonesia (TSI) group, said.

As talk of a so-called “new normal” begins to creep into the national discourse here in Indonesia, tourism players in Bali are reportedly drafting guidelines for health protocols with views abound that the time after COVID-19 will establish a “new era” for the popular holiday destination.

The Denpasar Police have reportedly questioned at least seven people for an event that drew a crowd of dozens and ignored the city’s Restrictions on People’s Activities (PKM) protocol last week, with the Bali governor calling on the public to refrain from “dramatizing and politicizing” the incident.