News
Thursday 7th April 2022.
April 7, 2022
The Ministry of Health (Minsa) reported this Wednesday, that in the last 24 hours there have been no deaths from Covid-19 . The report from the Minsa Epidemiology Department highlights that to date the total number of deaths from the respiratory virus is 8,172. Regarding the new infections, the Minsa detailed that 253 are reported. 6,250 tests were applied for a positivity of 4%. There are 2,000 active cases, of which 1,924 are in home isolation and 76 hospitalized. Those in isolation are divided into 1,909 at home and 15 in hotels. Those hospitalized are 69 in rooms and 7 in intensive care units.
As of this date, the National Government authorizes, through Executive Decree No. 44 of this April 6, 2022, the holding of craft, cultural, agricultural and commercial fairs with inns, as well as dance events, discos, events of live music and cantaderas. The decree, which bears the signatures of President Laurentino Cortizo and the Minister of Health in charge Ivette Berrío, indicates that during these events all biosecurity measures ordered by the Covid-19 pandemic must be complied with.
José Alberto Álvarez, president of the Partido Alternativa Independiente Social (PAIS), on behalf of his group, filed a criminal complaint in the Public Ministry against the magistrates of the Electoral Court (TE), Heriberto Araúz and Alfredo Juncá, on the morning of this Wednesday, April 6. Álvarez declared upon his arrival at the Public Ministry that Araúz and Juncá issued a ruling in which “they exceeded the constitutional and legal limits” assigned to them. In the complaint, Álvarez requests that the magistrates of the TE be removed from their positions while the investigations are carried out.
The Electoral Court (TE) denied a request from the Realizing Goals (RM) party that sought to modify the electoral calendar of the group and, thus, establish a new date for the internal elections to choose the authorities of the Secretariats of Women and of the Youth. The RM elections are scheduled for April 24. If the calendar is changed with its respective new date, this, at the same time, would extend the criminal electoral jurisdiction to former President Ricardo Martinelli due to his condition as president of RM.
The Public Ministry reported this Wednesday, that thanks to the coordinated work with the National Police they have been able to advance in the investigations of seven homicides registered during the first months of 2022 and in three cases of disappearances of three women in the province of Chiriqui. Luis Martínez, First Superior Prosecutor of Chiriquí, said that they have apprehended the alleged perpetrators of these crimes, as in the case of missing women.
Digicel Panama SA requested yesterday, its voluntary liquidation before the Civil Courts of Justice, the company informed through a press release. According to the telecommunications company, the decision was made to close operations as a result of the approval of the merger of Cable & Wireless Panama (CWP) and Claro Panama, “a decision that represents the end of free competition for the telecommunications market in the country”. The company reported that it will continue to provide its services on a regular basis to its clients until the legal process that formalizes its exit from the Panamanian market, where it began operations 14 years ago, is completed.
Fuel prices will register a new increase starting this Friday, April 8, 2022. The cost of low-sulfur diesel will exceed that of gasoline, the National Energy Secretariat confirmed on Wednesday. It was reported that low sulfur diesel will reflect an increase of 8 cents per liter and 30 cents per gallon. According to the report from the energy authorities, a liter of diesel will be priced at $1.22 cents per liter and $4.62 cents per gallon. The two gasolines will register an increase of 2 cents per liter and 7 cents per gallon. With the new prices, a liter of 95 octane gasoline will cost $1.21 and a gallon will be priced at $4.58. Meanwhile, 91 octane gasoline will be sold at $1.17 per liter and the cost per gallon will be $4.42. The new fuel prices will take effect from 6:00 a.m. this Friday, April 8, until 5:59 a.m. on April 22, 2022.