News
Wednesday 25th May 2022.
May 25, 2022
The Ministry of Health (Minsa) reported that in the last 24 hours, 3,876 cases of covid-19 , 3 deaths and 38 patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) were confirmed. In its epidemiological report this Tuesday, the Minsa details that 15,973 tests were applied in the last 24 hours and the 3,876 cases detected reflect a positivity of 24.3%. With regard to deaths, it is specified that the lethality is 1%. Since the pandemic arrived in the country in March 2020, 8,232 deaths from the disease have accumulated. The Minsa reported that there are 27,455 active cases nationwide, of which 27,197 are in home isolation and 258 hospitalized. People in isolation are divided into 27 thousand 35 at home and 62 in hotels. Those hospitalized are distributed in 220 in the Ward and 38 in the ICU.
In the Irma de Lourdes Tzanetatos hospital , on 24December, and the San Miguel Arcángel , in San Miguelito, isolation areas will be adapted and enabled due to the epidemiological alert recently issued by the World Health Organization (WHO) for monkeypox. Yelkys Gill, director of Service Provision of the Ministry of Health, reported that these two specialized second-level hospitals would become a close route to the Tocumen International Airport, given the suspicion of a case of monkeypox in Panama. To date, Panama has not registered a suspected case of the monkeypox virus.
The PRD deputy Petita Ayarza defended this Tuesday Bill 241, which, in addition to the creation of new townships in the Guna region of Madungandí, establishes that Lake Bayano will remain within the area. Ayarza, who presented the bill in 2020, said that what is sought is to “safeguard” and conserve Lake Bayano. “It is to say that many invaders who want to take advantage of it cannot. It is what we are looking for, the total protection of Lake Bayano”, she indicated.
The revelations made in the trial of Ricardo Alberto and Luis Enrique Martinelli Linares last Friday, in a Federal Court in New York (NY) would give new impetus to the case that is being followed in Panama for the bribes paid by Odebrecht. Several jurists consulted agree on this, although they differ on the route that should be followed: some allege that it is appropriate to present them as extraordinary evidence in the trial that will be held from next July 18, while others are inclined towards a new case. The former magistrate of the Supreme Court of Justice Harry Díaz affirms that the Public Ministry should only request the ruling of Judge Raymond Dearie, translate it, authenticate it and introduce it as extraordinary evidence in the trial. For his part, former comptroller Alvin Weeden, who in 2015 filed the complaint that led to this case, says that “the most viable thing” would be to open a new investigation. “The two brothers did not seek to belong to a criminal company, nor did they think about it. Their father asked it of them,” Rica Martinelli’s lawyer said last Friday.
Mari Carmen Aponte, designated ambassador of the United States in Panama, assured that if she is ratified in office, she will prioritize the fight against corruption as part of her diplomatic agenda. During her speech, she assured that she would work hand in hand with the staff of the embassy in Panama to advance key points, such as migration and economic and commercial cooperation. In addition, she directly referred to the fight against corruption, which, she said, threatens the foundations of an institutional democracy.
The representative of Calidonia and the Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD), Ramón Ashby, was elected this Tuesday, May 24, as president of the Municipal Council of Panama. The official councilor will oversee the council in the period from July 1 to December 31, 2022. It was reported that Ashby received the support of the 24 councilors who cast their vote in Tuesday’s session in the capital’s Municipal Council.
The authorities of Panama and Colombia dismantled a criminal group, allegedly linked to dissidents of the dissolved Colombian guerrillas of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), dedicated to drug trafficking, after the arrest of 20 people. In a binational police operation, called “Pólux”, the National Aeronaval Service of Panama (Senan) arrested eight people, while in Colombia the Navy and the police of that country arrested twelve.
A warning of prevention and monitoring is in force before the entry of tropical wave No. 2 of the season over the national territory. This was reported by the National Civil Protection System (Sinaproc) in a statement. The Directorate of Hydrometeorology of the Electricity Transmission Company, SA anticipates that this wave will enter the country on May 25 and 26. This will generate, rains between 35 to 80 millimeters, it was warned.The notice will be valid until May 27 next.