Editorial

Medellin Mayor’s Mishandling of EPM Board Causes Catastrophic Plunge in Public Image

Medellin Herald September 3, 2020

A new survey of voting-age residents here shows that Medellin Mayor Daniel Quintero damaged his favorable image in handling the Covid-19 crisis by excluding the Board of Directors of EPM — the city’s biggest money-maker — from a Hidroituango lawsuit decision that could turn

General News

Medellin Metro Boosts Passenger Capacity Limit to 50%

Medellin Herald September 3, 2020

Following a new regulation issued by Colombia’s Health Ministry allowing a boost in public-transport passenger capacity, Metro de Medellin announced September 3 it’s switching to a 50% limit on capacity – up from 35% previously. Both limits are designed to help thwart Covid-19 cross infections by reducing crowding, according to Metro and the Health Ministry. The […]

General News

VivaAir, Avianca, LatAm, EasyFly Resume Domestic Flights at Medellin’s JMC Airport

Medellin Herald September 1, 2020

Airplan – operator of Medellin’s Jose Maria Cordova (JMC) international aiport – announced September 1 the resumption of flights by four air carriers to seven Colombian cities today. VivaAir was first out of the gate for its new service from JMC to Cali, as well as to Santa Marta, San Andres and Bogota.  Avianca likewise […]

Other Norms

‘Pico y Cedula’ Abolished in Medellin Metro Area

Medellin Herald August 31, 2020

Área Metropolitana del Valle de Aburrá (AMVA, the Medellin metro council of governments) announced last night (August 30) that “pico y cedula” shopping restrictions have at long last been abolished. Such restrictions had been imposed in the Medellin metro area since late March, aiming to help thwart the spread of Covid-19 infections. While Colombia’s national […]

Other Norms

Colombia Updates Covid-19 Restrictions for Domestic Flights; ‘Pilot’ International Flights in September Will Require Covid-19 Tests

Medellin Herald August 31, 2020

Colombia’s Health Ministry announced August 30 that passengers traveling to San Andres island — or any other Colombian Department (state) with special vulnerability to Covid-19 outbreaks — must get a Coronavirus test within 48 hours prior to boarding the aircraft. What’s more, “pilot” international flights starting in September will require passengers to pass a

General News

Avianca Restarts Medellin-Bogota Flights September 1; Medellin-Cali, Medellin-Cartagena Restart September 7

Medellin Herald August 28, 2020

Colombia’s biggest national airline Avianca announced August 27 that it will restart national flights from Medellin’s Jose Maria Cordova (JMC) airport to-and-from Bogota starting September 1, then on September 7 relaunch flights at JMC to-and-from Cali and Cartagena. Following five months grounded because of Covid-19 quarantines, Avianca restarts with 14 national routes,

Laws & Regulations

Colombia by Itself Won’t Block International Flights: Health Ministry

Medellin Herald August 27, 2020

Colombia’s Health Ministry officially announced August 27 that it no longer intends to block international flights to and from Colombia. But other nations have yet to reciprocate. “After analysis with epidemiological information that suggests that Colombia is reaching the peak and observing a reduction in the speed of transmission of Covid-19, added to other estimates,

Other Norms

Colombia National Tourism Reopens September 1: Intercity Car Travel, Hotels, Beaches OK

Medellin Herald August 27, 2020

Colombia Commerce, Industry and Tourism (MinCIT) Minister José Manuel Restrepo confirmed August 27 that tourism throughout Colombia restarts September 1 — including intercity private-car, bus and airplane transport modes. With the lifting of “pico y cedula” restrictions in Medellin, Rionegro and other nearby cities starting next week, that means that people here can

Other Norms

Colombia’s Covid-19 Quarantine to Continue through November; Might Complicate Medellin’s Plan to Axe Pico-y-Cedula

Medellin Herald August 25, 2020

Colombia President Ivan Duque announced last night (August 24) that the national Covid-19 quarantine –which includes many current exemptions — will continue through November 30. The announcement potentially could trip-up Medellin Mayor Daniel Quintero’s new plan to lift “pico y cedula” shopping restrictions starting next week. Area Metropolitana de

Health & Insurance.

Colombia to Test Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 Vaccine in September

Medellin Herald August 25, 2020

Colombia Health Minister Fernando Ruiz announced August 24 that 60,000 volunteers here will participate in a test next month of a Covid-19 vaccine developed by U.S.-based health-care giant Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen subsidiary. “With this [Janssen] company we have been working for more than a month in conversations about the possibility of conducting phase-3 clinical