News
Thursday 9th June 2022.
June 9, 2022
The epidemiological report of the Ministry of Health (Minsa) registered 3,244 new cases of covid-19 and 4 deaths in the last hours. According to the figures released by the health authorities, one from previous dates is added to the 4 deaths for a cumulative total of 8,284 since the pandemic arrived in the country in March 2020. To date, 15,271 tests were applied and the 3,244 confirmed infections showed a positivity of 21.2%. According to the Minsa, the active cases at the national level are 27,476. Of this number, 27,152 are in home isolation and 324 hospitalized. Those in isolation are divided into 27,116 at home and 36 in hotels. Those hospitalized are 289 in the Ward and 35 in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
Of the companies that participate in the port activity, one of the ones that has grown the most in the pandemic, continues to pay the State the same container movement rate as 8 years ago, despite the fact that there is a contractual commitment to review periodically. The container movement fee that port operating companies pay to the State has not been revised since 2013. The commitment to update is agreed in the addenda of each of the port concession contracts, which were approved as a law of the Republic.
The Electoral Court (TE) specified to those who aspire to a popular election position through the independent route the minimum number of signatures they must present for the position of president, mayor, deputy and corregimiento representatives, ahead of the 2024 elections. The figures were established in the Electoral Bulletin No. 5069-F , published last Monday, June 6. The document indicates that for the position of president, signatures must be collected at the national level. All those who aspire to that position must have the support of 39 thousand 296 citizens. This, based on 2% of the valid votes cast in the last election (2019) for that position. In the case of the presidential candidacy, the three people who collect the largest number of signatures will become candidates. The percentage of signatures for deputy also depends on the valid votes in 2019 in each circuit. The TE document shows that Panama, Panama Oeste and Bocas del Toro imply the greatest challenge when it comes to seeking signatures, since in the rest of the country no more than a thousand are needed.
The deputies of the independent bench Juan Diego Vásquez and Gabriel Silva announced Tuesday afternoon, that they will not seek reelection in the positions of deputies they hold. In a joint statement, they stressed that in the 2019 campaign one of their promises was precisely not to seek re-election. “The decision was not easy,” Silva said. “We know the particular moment that the country is going through and we know that in 2024 they are going to be essential elections,” he added. However, he assured that the word of politicians must remain, despite these situations. “We want to show that the word continues to carry weight, especially when it has to do with public affairs, with politics,” Silva said.
The authorities of the Social Security Fund (CSS) are preparing to carry out the first tests of the medical equipment that is being installed in the Cardiovascular and Thoracic Institute of the City of Health. According to projections, the institute should be handed over on July 12, and before that date it is planned to test the equipment that is installed in the six operating rooms. For this purpose, progress is being made with checking the electrical and finishing works.
Panama signed a memorandum of understanding with the United States to coordinate actions for the conservation of the resources of the Tropical Pacific Marine Corridor (Cmar). According to the Presidency of the Republic, the agreement was signed during the Summit of the Americas and specifies that it consists of the support of the United States to the member countries of the Marine Corridor (Costa Rica, Colombia, Ecuador and Panama). The initiative is aimed at helping these nations achieve their objectives of conservation, management of marine biodiversity and the sustainable use of marine resources. On behalf of the Panamanian government, the memorandum was signed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Erika Mouynes.