Economist and Bali’s go-to for Covid-19 Updates
If you’ve been following the daily Covid-19 updates on Facebook for the past two years, then Jackie Pomeroy will be no stranger. An economist by trade, Jackie first became a Local Legend back in 2017 when Bali’s Mount Agung tragically erupted, causing widespread panic and mass misinformation online. Stepping in to clear the air, Jackie did what she does best and painstakingly monitored and reported on Mount Agung’s volcanic activity each day, quickly growing a community on Facebook that would religiously follow her reports and research.
Once the dust settled following Mount Agung’s eruption, we then spotted Jackie on both local and international stages, talking about the activities that unfolded on international news channels and at Bali’s very own TedX Ubud event.
Jackie’s invaluable insights and eye for numbers were unearthed once again when the pandemic hit, when Bali was once again brought to a halt and plagued by misinformation. The inaccuracy of Covid-19 reporting unsurprisingly irked this meticulous economist, so Jackie once again stepped up as one of the only reliable sources for accurate information. Her second community Facebook page was officially born.
Through the “Bali Covid 19 Updates” page, Jackie was able to provide the masses with reliable and up-to-date information on Covid-19 in Bali and beyond, which was hard to find amidst the mass hysteria. Now with over 50,000 Facebook community group members (and counting) her commitment, dedication and incredible patience has helped thousands upon thousands of people access crucial information on local statistics, nearby vaccination centres, domestic and international travel updates, as well as scientific reports to help filter out the bias.
Honestly, we can’t even begin to imagine how Bali would have progressed through the pandemic without her help. Jackie, you’re our Local Legend!