General News

Vehicle Repairs & Parts Sectors Next to Reopen; Construction Sector Opportunities Arise in Medellin

Medellin Herald May 5, 2020

Colombia’s Transport Ministry announced May 5 that — following consultations with local Mayors — vehicle repair shops and auto-parts stores will be the next economic sectors to be freed from Coronavirus quarantines. “Based on the requests and evaluations of the municipal Mayors, the

General News

Thousands of Manufacturers, Construction Companies Respond to Biosafety Protocols; Medellin, Antioquia Gradually Returning to Work

Medellin Herald April 28, 2020

Medellin Mayor Daniel Quintero revealed April 27 that more than 50,000 metro-area workers in manufacturing and construction already have returned to work — following a pioneering business/worker registration system for addressing the Coronavirus quarantine crisis. Passengers on the Medellín “Metro” train, bus, tram and cable-car system increased by 10% on April 27

General News

Medellin’s ‘Pico y Cedula’ Numbers Rotate April 13-19, Again for April 20-26

Medellin Herald April 13, 2020

The Medellin Mayor’s office announced last night (April 12) that the “pico y cedula” alternating-days individual permissions for grocery, medicines and banking trips are rotating today (April 13) through April 19, and then a new rotation starts again on April 20. As a result, people with cedula numbers ending in 7, 8 or 9 can […]

General News

Update: Medellin ‘Donaton’ Aids Coronavirus Victims; President Frees Food/Groceries Home Deliveries from Hours Restrictions

Medellin Herald April 12, 2020

Utilities giant EPM and the Mayor of Medellin on April 12 generated more than COP$13 billion (US$3.4 million) worth of private donations – both in cash and also in food — through a televised “Donaton por Medellin” campaign, aiming to help Coronavirus victims and especially poor families. Among the first announcing support for the “Donaton” […]

General News

EPM Utilities Function Normally Despite Coronavirus Crisis; Hidroituango Moving Forward

Medellin Herald April 10, 2020

Medellin-based multinational utilities giant EPM announced April 8 that it continues work on its US$5 billion, 2.4-gigawatt “Hidroituango” hydroelectric dam in Antioquia despite the Cornavirus crisis that forced quarantines on most commercial and industrial operations. “The works currently being carried out in the [Hidroituango] project are among the 34 exceptions

General News

Medellin Adopts ‘Pico y Cedula’ for Grocery, Drugs, Banking Trips Starting April 2

Medellin Herald April 1, 2020

The Mayor of Medellin announced April 1 that to reduce Coronavirus threats, only persons with specific cedula numbers can venture out for groceries, drugs and banking – two days each week – starting the first minute after midnight April 2 until the national quarantine ends — presumptively on April 13. “Each person will have two […]

General News

Postobon, Brinsa, Bancolombia Join Medellin’s Coronavirus Respirator Initiative with COP$10 Billion Investments

Medellin Herald March 26, 2020

Medellin-born multinational bottled-beverages manufacturing giant Postobon announced March 25 that it’s investing COP$9 billion (US$2.2 million) in the “#InnspiraMED” joint project developing special respirators for Coronavirus victims. A day later (March 26), Medellin-based international table-salt (“Refisal”) manufacturer/marketer Brinsa announced that

General News

You Can Help: EPM, Medellin Mayor Create Coronavirus Victims’ Fund

Medellin Herald March 26, 2020

The Mayor of Medellin and utilities giant EPM jointly announced March 25 the creation of “Fondo Abrazando con Amor” charity, whereby individuals and companies can donate funds to help Coronavirus victims within EPM’s area of operations. Donations can be made to the fund’s Bancolombia “cuenta corriente,” account number 598-095455-40, according to EPM. The web page […]

General News

Medellin, Colombia Taking More Steps to Avoid, Contain, Cure Coronavirus

Medellin Herald March 25, 2020

While nearly all Colombia residents (including all of metro Medellin and Antioquia) remain under a national quarantine until April 13, governments, companies, hospitals and health researchers meanwhile are taking more steps to try to contain and (eventually) conquer Coronavirus threats. Among recent examples: “Pico y cedula” restrictions on grocery shopping: While the

General News

Colombia President: Some Coronavirus Restrictions to Continue Past April 13; Emergency Funding Scheme Debuts

Medellin Herald March 25, 2020

Colombia President Ivan Duque announced March 25 that certain measures designed to contain the spread of Coronovirus will continue past the presumptive expiration of the national quarantine on April 13. The announcement came on the heels of a March 25 bulletin from the Ministry of Health indicating that confirmed Coronavirus cases rose to 470 nationally, […]