Monday
Monday 17th May 2021.
May 17, 2021
In the last 24 hours there have been no reported deaths due to Covid-19. There is a total of 6,296 accumulated deaths, for a fatality of 1.7%. In Panama there are 359 thousand 214 patients recovered from the disease. While active cases this Sunday total 5,367. In addition, 344 new positive cases were detected this Sunday, for a cumulative total of 370,877. 6,626 tests were applied to detect those infected, a percentage of positivity of 5.1% is maintained. In home isolation, 5 thousand 26 people are reported, of which 4 thousand 768 are in their residence and 258 in the so-called hospital hotels. While the hospitalized number 341, of them 281 are in a ward and 60 in an intensive care unit.
The Minister of Health, Luis Francisco Sucre, confirmed that on Sunday, May 16, there have been no deaths due to Covid-19. This is the first time during the pandemic that no deaths have been recorded, the official said. Sucre stressed that Panama has acquired 9 million doses of vaccines against the new coronavirus.
The Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture of Panama (Cciap) questioned the “sudden announcement” by the health authorities regarding the curfew and the total quarantine in the provinces of Chiriquí and Veraguas, measures that came into effect on Saturday night. According to the business union, “not only does it not adhere to the points stipulated in the contingency plan that had been announced, but it opens the door to uncertainty once again, which does not help the reactivation and generation of jobs in these areas and in the country in general”.
After the execution of a pilot plan with a group of companies, the process of voluntary massification of electronic invoicing will begin in June. This will be an alternative that businesses can adopt as a billing mechanism. Those who are interested in doing so may formalize their intention through a form that will be available on the digital platform of the General Directorate of Income (DGI) . Freelancers and companies with annual income of less than $ 1 million will be able to download a free biller that the DGI will make available to them. Meanwhile, larger companies that want to make the transition will need to have a Qualified Authorization Provider (PAC).
The most recent controversy in selective transport about the “Even and Odd” revealed the crisis in this sector, especially in Panama City, which in recent years has been impacted by the arrival of Uber-like technology platforms and changes in mass passenger transport, such as the Metro and the Metro Bus. The province of Panama, which has a population of about 1.5 million inhabitants, is the one that maintains the largest registry of taxis deployed on its streets, with 33,773. In contrast, a city like Medellín, in Colombia, with 2.5 million inhabitants, has around 20 thousand vehicles dedicated to offering taxi services. Although taxis should not disappear as a service, there is an urgent need for an improvement in the system, which involves everything from good manners, use of technology to less polluting vehicles and, of course, an urban mobility policy with people in mind.
The Second Criminal Court for Liquidation denied the provisional lifting of the impediment to leaving the country requested by the legal defense of businessman Carlos Caneto Araúz.
The administration of the Panama Metro reported that as part of the actions to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus, its operational personnel and the police will be vigilant that users comply with the mandatory wearing of the face shield.
Members of the security forces in Colón seized 2.6 tons of drugs in the last two days, captured seven people and seized three Go Fast speedboats . This was reported by the Ministry of Public Security, this Sunday, May 16, after indicating that it was achieved by the “maritime blockade” that they implemented against criminal organizations and drug trafficking.