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

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” […]

Health & Insurance.

Medellin Consortium Getting Close to Production of Coronavirus Ventilators; Liquor Manufacturer Now Supplying Disinfectant Alcohol

Medellin Herald April 11, 2020

Three prototypes of mechanical ventilators being developed for Coronavirus victims by metro-Medellin-based Sampedro Medical Industries, the University of Antioquia and the EIA University are now set to move to human trials following successful tests at CES University School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Husbandry here. The development teams are now preparing for tests

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 […]

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