Medellin + Antioquia news

Hidroituango’s Collapsed ‘GAD’ Diversion Tunnel Closed Permanently, Bringing Huge Relief

Medellin Herald May 4, 2022

EPM announced this morning (May 4) that — following years of efforts – engineers have finally achieved permanent closure of a problematic auxiliary diversion tunnel (“GAD” in Spanish initials) that collapsed in 2018 and subsequently threatened to destroy the US$5 billion “Hidroituango”

Health & Insurance.

Colombia to Ease Covid-19 Mask Mandate in Ventilated Areas Starting May 1, 2022

Medellin Herald April 25, 2022

Colombia President Ivan Duque and Health Minister Fernando Ruiz jointly announced this morning (April 25) that the face-mask mandate aiming to stifle  the spread of Covid-19 will ease starting May 1, 2022 – but only in well-ventilated areas where at least 70% of the local population has gotten at least two vaccine doses and 40% […]

Infrastructure

Long-Awaited Puerto Antioquia Construction Begins, Start-up Seen in 2025

Medellin Herald April 23, 2022

Colombia President Ivan Duque and Antioquia Governor Anibal Gaviria jointly announced today (April 23) at a dedication ceremony that the long-awaited “Puerto Antioquia” ocean-freight port linking Medellin and other major Colombia cities to the Atlantic is now starting construction and due for start-up in 2025. “Puerto Antioquia is an historic megaproject that will allow us

Health & Insurance.

Covid-19 Vaccinations Top 80 Million Here; 34.6 Million Fully Vaccinated

Medellin Herald March 25, 2022

Colombia’s Health Ministry revealed today (March 25) that nationwide vaccinations against Covid-19 have now totaled 80.2 million, with 34.6 million people now fully vaccinated. Meanwhile, intensive care unit (ICU) occupation caused by Covid-19 cases has plummeted, enabling many more Colombians to have rapid access for other medical cases. Of Colombia’s total 10,789 ICU

Health & Insurance.

Antioquia Surpasses 10 Million Covid-19 Vaccinations; 80% of Colombia Joins-In

Medellin Herald February 19, 2022

The department of Antioquia — including Medellin and all its neighboring cities– has just exceeded 10 million vaccinations against Covid-19, with 67% of the population here now completely vaccinated (in most cases, at least two doses). This follows on the heels of a simultaneous announcement by Colombia President Ivan Duque that Covid-19 vaccinations nationwide

General News

Medellin Citizens Annual Survey: Mayor Quintero Worst in 16 Years

Medellin Herald February 4, 2022

The just-released, annual “Medellin Como Vamos” (MCV) citizen survey reveals that Medellin Mayor Daniel Quintero has delivered the worst performance of any Medellin Mayor in the entire 16 years of MCV annual citizen surveys. The result undercuts progress made in the last two decades here, during which Medellin citizens historically have indicated relatively positive,

Health & Insurance.

Colombia Tops 70 Million Vaccinations Against Covid-19

Medellin Herald January 24, 2022

Colombia Health Minister Fernando Ruiz announced this morning (January 24) that total vaccinations against Covid-19 here have now surpassed 70 million. What’s more, as of January 22, 2022, 30.78 million Colombians had received complete dosages (in most cases two shots, or else the single-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine). In addition, 5.1 million Colombians have now […]

Infrastructure

Repaving at Medellin’s International Airport Spells Closings February 19-20, 26-27; Second-Runway Expansion Talks Accelerating

Medellin Herald January 20, 2022

Airplan – the operator of Medellin’s José María Córdova (JMC) international airport in Rionegro – confirms that runway repaving will require a partial halt to flights at JMC on Saturday and Sunday February 19-20, then again on Saturday and Sunday February 26-27. The two weekend closures – each lasting 36 hours — start 2-am on […]

Infrastructure

Colombia VP Marta Lucia Ramirez Hails Crucial Puerto Antioquia Financing Deals

Medellin Herald January 8, 2022

Colombia Vice President Marta Lucía Ramírez announced January 5 the addition of US$397 million in financing deals supporting the US$627 million “Puerto Antioquia” ocean freight project near Turbo, Antioquia. Part of the new funds will come via the privately held Financiera de Desarrollo Nacional (FDN) group, which just confirmed a US$103.7 million loan package involving

Infrastructure

Vias del Nus Highway Now Opens Medellin to Northern Atlantic Ports

Medellin Herald December 5, 2021

Colombia President Ivan Duque on December 4 officially inaugurated the long-awaited “Vias del Nus” highway connecting Medellin northward to Atlantic freight ports. The new, 157.4-kilometers-long highway includes a four-lane, twin-tube tunnel that breaks through the historically problematic “La Quiebra” mountain, which until now has snagged road transport to and from