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

Health & Insurance.

Health Ministry Accelerates Payments to Hospitals, Clinics; Antioquia Coronavirus Cases Hit 96

Medellin Herald March 30, 2020

Colombia’s Health Ministry announced March 30 that it’s accelerating national payments totaling COP$2.1 trillion (US$517 million) to hospitals and clinics this year in order to respond to an expected surge of Coronavirus patients. The accelerated payments total a little less than half of the COP$4.5 trillion (US$1.1 billion) in subsidies budgeted for the entire year […]

Health & Insurance.

Antioquia, Colombia Boosting Coronavirus Detection, Treatment, Hospital Capacity, Financing

Medellin Herald March 29, 2020

Colombia’s National Institute of Health (“INS” in Spanish initials) announced March 29 that it’s about to receive high-tech Coronavirus laboratory-analysis equipment donated by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). “The donated equipment, reagents and biosafety elements, which will arrive in the country in the coming days, will allow the National Institute

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, […]

General News

Quarantine Goes National, Extends Through First Minute of April 13

Medellin Herald March 21, 2020

Colombia President Ivan Duque announced late last night (March 20) that the coronavirus quarantine on nearly all people and vehicles (already effective in Medellin and Antioquia) will be extended nationally through the first minute of April 13. “Essential activities, such as access to health services, purchase of food and medicine, access to banking and postal […]

General News

Drastic Quarantine Starts 7 pm March 20 on All Residents, Vehicles, Restaurants, Meetings, Gatherings

Medellin Herald March 20, 2020

Antioquia Governor Anibal Gaviria and Medellin Mayor Daniel Quintero jointly announced March 19 a drastic quarantine for nearly all people, vehicles, restaurants, meetings, public spaces and many other activities starting at 7 pm Friday, March 20 (this evening), until 3 am Tuesday, March 24. The quarantine aims to slash potential exposures to the deadly Coronavirus, […]

General News

Update: Medellin, Colombia Learning to Cope with Coronavirus; Even Nationals Banned from Returning for 30 Days

Medellin Herald March 19, 2020

Medellin and Colombia today face the same issues with Coronavirus as the entire planet — and coping steps being taken here are virtually identical to every other nation and major city. As of March 16, all foreigners have been banned from travelling to Colombia — until further notice. What’s more, starting this weekend (the last […]