Several foreign tourists were expelled from the Indonesian island of Bali on Monday after being caught without masks, a first as Indonesia faces an outbreak caused by the Delta variant of the coronavirus.
Three visitors from the United States, Russia and Ireland were placed on flights to their home countries after being caught without masks in public places, in violation of new zero tolerance rules adopted in Bali, according to the authorities.
Cases quadrupled in one month
"They violated basic health standards requiring the wearing of a mask during this period of state of emergency," said Jamaruli Manihuruk, head of judicial administration in Bali.
A Russian woman who refused to observe quarantine after testing positive must also be expelled, as soon as she no longer carries the virus, he added.
These four foreign tourists are the first to be deported for violating the new rules in force in Bali.
Indonesia, the world's fourth most populous country with nearly 270 million people, has recorded a record 40,427 positive people in the past 24 hours, as well as 891 deaths.
The number of daily cases has quadrupled in less than a month.
The new, much stricter social distancing rules are to remain in effect in Indonesia at least until July 20.
The island of Bali has so far been less affected than the rest of the country, but the number of infected people is increasing every day.
The island has recorded a total of 56,000 cases and 1,648 deaths.
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