Health & Insurance.

Seguros Sura Expands Novel Home-Care Testing, Recovery Programs for Covid-19

Medellin Herald May 21, 2020

Medellin-based insurance and health-network provider Seguros Sura announced May 21 that it’s expanding a novel home-care testing-and-recovery program for Covid-19 patients. “The company is a pioneer in this model that already operates in Antioquia, and from next week in Barranquilla, Cali and

General News

115 Towns in Antioquia Conditionally Liberated from Covid-19 Quarantine

Medellin Herald May 21, 2020

Antioquia’s General Secretary Luis Fernando Suárez announced May 21 that 115 towns in Antioquia that haven’t had a single case of Coronavirus have now been freed from quarantines for nearly all economic sectors. None of these towns are in the Medellin metro area (Valle de Aburra), however. Nor is the city of Rionegro, where Medellin’s […]

Health & Insurance.

Telemedicine Moves to Forefront in Antioquia’s Battle Against Coronavirus

Medellin Herald May 21, 2020

Antioquia Governor Aníbal Gaviria Correa on May 20 hailed leadership by the “LivingLab-Telemedicina” patient-contact-and-testing center here in the continuing struggle to detect, contain and overcome Coronavirus. “LivingLab-Telemedicine is developing as one of the greatest successes in Antioquia in confronting the Coronavirus contingency,” Governor Gaviria said following a

Other Norms

Colombia’s Transport Minister: International Flights Banned Through August 31

Medellin Herald May 21, 2020

Colombia Transport Minister Ángela María Orozco announced last night (May 20) in a nationally televised presentation on Coronavirus regulations that regular international passenger flights to and from Colombia will be banned through August 31. The surprising announcement came just one day after President Ivan Duque stated that international and national flights —

Schools

Medellin Council to Vote on Record US$1.6 Billion Budget for Public Education

Medellin Herald May 21, 2020

Right on the heels of Colombia President Ivan Duque’s new announcement that Colombia will launch alternating-shifts of physical/virtual school and university education in August, Medellin Education Secretary Alexandra Agudelo Ruiz unveiled a record-setting COP$6.2 trillion (US$1.6 billion) budget for the coming school year. If the Medellin City Council gives approval

General News

Medellin Mayor Announces Shopping-Center Reopenings Starting June 1

Medellin Herald May 20, 2020

Medellin Mayor Daniel Quintero announced May 20 that shopping centers in Medellin gradually will reopen starting June 1 – right on the heels of President Ivan Duque’s May 19 announcement about Colombia’s transition from Covid-19 “national quarantine” to more city-specific “health emergency” status from June 1 to August 31. “The openings will be staggered according […]

Other Norms

Colombia Switches from General Quarantine to ‘Health Emergency’ June 1; Ban Continues on All Domestic, International Flights & Inter-City Travel Through June 30

Medellin Herald May 19, 2020

Colombia President Ivan Duque announced May 19 in a nationwide address that Colombia will transition from Covid-19 “general quarantine” to potentially less-severe, city-specific “health emergency” regulations starting June 1 through August 31. Differences between “quarantine” and “health emergency” regulatory limits could prove to be relatively great in areas

Companies

Grupo Orbis Trims Net Loss in 1Q 2020 versus 1Q 2019

Medellin Herald May 17, 2020

Medellin-based Grupo Orbis – owner of “Pintuco” paints, “Andercol” packaging products, “O-Tek” water treatments and “Mundial” hardware products – revealed in a May 15 filing with Colombia’s Superfinanciera oversight agency that it posted a COP$2.28 billion (US$582,000) net loss for first quarter (1Q) 2020. That was a 32% improvement over the COP$3.34 billion (US$853,000)

Companies

Enka Colombia 1Q 2020 Net Income Improves, but 2Q Outlook Dims

Medellin Herald May 16, 2020

Medellin-based textile and plastics-recycling specialist Enka Colombia revealed in a May 15 filing with Colombia’s Superfinanciera oversight agency that its first quarter (1Q) 2020 net income jumped to a positive COP$1.73 billion (US$443,000), up from a net loss of COP$3 billion (US$767,000) in 1Q 2019. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization

Companies

Gran Colombia Gold 1Q 2020 Profits Jump Year-on-Year; Antioquia Mining Rebounds

Medellin Herald May 16, 2020

Toronto-based Gran Colombia Gold — Antioquia’s biggest gold miner — announced May 15 that its first quarter (1Q) 2020 adjusted net income soared to US$21.2 million, up from US$7.9 million in 1Q 2019. The company – whose principal mining operations are in Segovia, Antioquia – credited the profits improvement to “revenue growth resulting from higher […]