Friday
Friday 18th February 2022.
February 18, 2022
The Ministry of Health (Minsa) reported that in the last 24 hours there have been 1,221 new cases of Covid-19 and 6 deaths. The epidemiological report for this Thursday, also indicates that 9,749 tests were applied for a positivity of 12.5%. With the six new reported deaths, the number of deaths since the pandemic arrived in the country amounts to 7,993 for a lethality of 1.1%. The Minsa explained that the active cases in the country total 11,241, of these, 10,897 are in home isolation. It is specified that 10,820 are at home and 77 in hotels. In addition, 344 people are hospitalized, 292 in the ward and 52 in the intensive care units.
Due to the complaints of a dozen Ngäbe-Buglé indigenou
s citizens, the Ministry of Health (Minsa) began this Thursday, an investigation into the alleged surgical procedures of salpingectomy in its facilities. According to the complainants, the surgical procedure was performed on them in hospital facilities without their due consent. Salpingectomy consists of the removal of the fallopian tubes in women, which leaves them in a situation of sterility. According to a statement from the Ministry, reports were requested from the regional health authorities of the Ngäbe-Buglé region and in the provinces of Bocas del Toro and Veraguas.
“The students of the Autonomous University of Chiriquí ( Unachi ) feel offended because the rector [ Etelvina Medianero de Bonagas ] wants to perpetuate herself in power.” This was expressed by the
student leader Max Sanjur, one of the hundreds of participants in a protest held this Thursday, in front of the Unachi headquarters, in the city of David. It is about at least 200 students of this house of higher studies, who reject a legislative initiative that would allow the current rector to be elected for the third consecutive time. “That [reelection] not only undermines university autonomy, but also causes corruption in the university,” he said. “A student just out of the sixth year of school is p
art of the administrative staff, when the rest of us have to finish a degree,” Sanjur complained. “We are tired of having relatives inside… an entire roster of a single family in Unachi,” he added.
The passenger/visitor movement through the different entry points to the country exceeded 350 thousand travelers in the month
of January 2022, the National Migration Service reported this Thursday . According to the entity’s report, the total figure was 369 thousand 287 travelers who passed through immigration control posts, of which 198 thousand 30 were registered as incoming and 171 thousand 257 departures. Regarding the nationalities of foreigners, the passage of 50 thousand 681 Americans, 46 thousand 739 Colombians, 26 thousand 522 Costa Ricans and 18 thousand 610 Venezuelans is detailed; this includes mobilizations between entrances and exits to Panama.
The Judicial Branch already has the $15 million earmarked for the implementation of the judicial career. The transfer of departure was approved unanimously by the Budget Committee of the National Assembly (AN) Wednesday afternoon. The presiding magistrate, María Eugenia López, appeared before the commission. López thanked President Laurentino Cortizo for committing to provide these funds to the Judicial Branch, and to the Assembly for expeditiously approving the funds. This she explained, will be used “in
order to hire and reinforce staff of the dependencies that serve as a base for the judicial career.”
For a total of $16,537,752, that was the transfer of items that the National Assembly approved Wednesday to the Ministry of Education (Meduca) so that it fulfills commitments such as the construction of modular classrooms, the advance payment of works, painting works, appointment of teachers, among others. The Minister of Education, Maruja Gorday de Villalobos, specified before the Budget Commission of the Assembly that $7 million 562 thousand 657 are for the appointment of 1,819 educators who will complete the 3,061 positions of the national appointment contest of 2022.
The head of the National Directorate of Traffic Operations, Fernando Sanjur, announced that the vehicular operation for the dates of the Carnival will begin at noon on Friday, February 25. Sanjur specified that he has already coordinated with the Transit Authority to carry out the respective actions and that it will be the same as the operations carried out on previous special dates. “Starting Friday at noon, until Tuesday,” Sanjur said about the duration of the operation. “Lane inversions will be made so that there can be a more condescending vehicular flow with drivers,” said Sanjur.
The Land Traffic and Transportation Authority (ATTT), in coordination with other entities, is analyzing different proposals to modify the penalties for driving while intoxicated and speeding. One of the main initiatives that is being debated is to cancel the driver’s license of those who commit a fourth offense for driving while intoxicated. “There is the idea of talks by Alcoholics Anonymous, so that these repeat offenders have to go through re education before driving again,” said Ordóñez, who added that people must receive a document that guarantees that they have complied with this training.