Wednesday, April 29, 2020
Apart from being a Private Investigator and Polygraph Examiner, I also advise clients on how lower their security risks at their homes, offices, stores or wherever. And although I did finally get my salvoconducto, I try not to leave out for just any reason. Today however, “Sensor #2” of the alarm at one of the stores I help to monitor activated the system and couldn’t be shut off remotely. With the manager on lockdown and no salvoconducto, I offered to go and check it out personally with the technicians from the alarm company.
But my opening story isn’t even about the store. This was just a cheap marketing ploy that I wrote as a way to remind you that my company, conducts International Private Investigations, Polygraphs (when we’re off quarantine) and Risk Management studies! www.bminvestigations.com
And, I wanted to complain a bit about the atrocities I saw this morning on my way to the store.
My first complaint was merely 5 minutes from my house. I took the following photograph of a gaggle of taxis this morning on my way to the city.
Some of you will notice the blatant violation immediately. Others may have to consult this link and refer to the last page of the document for the answer.
The other thing that you’ll notice as there sure are a whole heck of a lot of cars on the road. What ever happened to the #QuedateEnCasa (Stay at home) movement? And the traffic jam wasn’t the product of the Stop-N-Go lights, as we say in Wisconsin, or from a group of unruly protestors. The congestion is simply from too many cars being on the road. The people are telling the government that they want to leave their homes, but it sure looks to me like they already left.
PROTESTS
We’ve had our fair share this week of protestors closing off roads and demanding food, milk, diapers, bonos and the attention of the politicians. We’ve seen them burn tires, spew vulgarities and even make some pretty scary threats.
But OH MAN, are you in for it when Mamá shows up to the protest toting her favorite kettle, plantains, yucca, otoe, and “I-sure-hope-that-was-a-chicken” and starts making soup at 9:15a.m. in the middle of the road. That, my friend, is the clear sign that we’re in for the long haul. And for the record, this photo was taken today at 9:15a.m. as stated and at the time of this report, 8:50p.m., they’re still there!
All told, we had quite the list of protests today blocking up everything in Colon, the highway between Panama and Colon and of course several parts of Panama City.
- Provincia de Colon
- Autopista Panama-Colon (Rio Chagres)
- Tanara de Chepo
- Villalobos
- Lotes de Pacora
- San Isidro
- Sector 5 de Samaria
- La Chorrera
- Corredor de los Pobres
- Valle de Urraca
- San Lorenzo
- El Chungal
- Loma Cova
- Sector Cabra de Pacora
- Cabuya de Tocumen
- La Siesta de Tocumen
- Via Grecia
- Los Pinos, Nueva Providencia
- La “Y del 20”
- Las Perlas de Puerto Pilon
- Agua Viva
There are several others that I’m forgetting. The bottom line is that this is getting worse, not better. We can only hope that with the new system of bonos collectable through the individual Cedula works the way it’s supposed to and that it’s enough to calm the masses before this gets out of hand.
OTHER POLICE ACTION
The police have had their fair share of excitement of course. The protestors have given them job security, but the situation has constantly kept them in harms way either from the actions of some of the protestors or their exposure to possible infection. Today one police officer was run over around 4:00p.m. by a taxi. But on a lighter side of all this mess three days ago, two motorcycle police units were able to hear the cries of a baby over the roar of their motor. Further inspection led them to discover a new-born baby abandoned at a bus stop.
Today, a group of police officers rescued a litter of puppies from a sewage drain.
TOP NEWS and TIDBITS
GOVERNOR JUDY MEANA REQUESTS TO UNIFY STRATEGY SO THAT SOLIDARITY AID GETS TO THE POPULATION AND THE PROTESTS STOP
Many representatives have not wanted to stand up and others have not dared to stand up, either because of fear or threats,because there have been threats. and other representatives have not wanted to come up with an answer, because Panama solidarity is handled by the Presidency of the Republic.
The responses that do not reach the population have generated a wave of protests in different parts of the country; and they have intensified in recent hours, as protesters are asking for support, either through vouchers or food bags. In this situation, the governor of the province of Panama, Judy Meana called on the mayors to take possession of what is happening and respond to the people,
“we cannot be throwing all the weight at the president, because there are also local governments and local authorities ”.
She assured that “many representatives have not wanted to show their faces and others have not dared to give their faces, either because of fear or threats because there have been threats and other representatives have not wanted to come up with an answer, because Panama solidarity is handled in the Presidency of the Republic ”; and affirmed “I do not have bonds or exchanges in the Interior, nor the representatives bonds or exchanges.”
Judy Meana also said that it is a question of bringing an answer to these communities that with good reason take to the streets, “I made us work together last night without distraction without making noise, because when we asked the people who closed the roads if their deputies (diputados) have come to bring help, they answered no and that is recorded ”, she emphasized that if the deputies are in the National Assembly, that they are not engaging, if they do not know how these deliveries are made and that they are not taking advantage to cause us entanglement with people “and added that people are going to realize who is and who is not helping. As for the mayors and representative who are not complying with the work that is their role as local authorities, she stressed that the request is being made.
“It is not an order, but a request, but they fulfill that request, I am not afraid to apply what the Constitution allows me, since one of the functions of the government is to supervise and render reports to the president. If the local governments are, autonomous as well, from the Governor’s office we have to watch and take actions ensuring the mayors do their jobs.”
TRUCKERS ONLY HAVE 72 HOURS TO DOWNLOAD AND EXIT FROM CENTRAL AMERICAN COUNTRIES
Panamanian truckers are having problems in moving and unloading cargo when traveling to Central American countries. Countries such as El Salvador and Costa Rica have imposed limits of 72 hours to enter and exit, while Nicaragua contemplates a limit of only 10 hours. Carriers point out that this time is too short. They ask for help from the National Government, specifically the Ministry of Commerce and Industries and the Chancellery so that they can agree on better terms and thus be able to carry out their tasks.
https://www.tvn-2.com/economia/Camioneros-horas-descargar-paises-centroamericano_0_5567443242.html
ENSA AND NATURGY INVOICE THE FIRST DISCOUNT TO CUSTOMERS
The customers of the electricity distribution companies Ensa, Edemet and Edechi began to receive the energy billing for the month of April, which includes a 50% discount for those who consume up to 300 kilowatt hours (kWh) per month and 30% to customers who consume between 301 kWh and 1,000 kWh per month, as part of the subsidy assumed by the Government following the outbreak of the coronavirus (Covid-19). Customers who consume up to 300 kWh per month already received a subsidy between 25% and 43%, depending on the range of consumption, but in the wake of the economic crisis due to Covid-19, the Government is now providing an additional percentage in paying the bill to subsidize 50% of those who consume up to 300 kWh per month, for three months. For example, a customer who consumes less than 100 kWh per month, with the subsidy of the Tariff Stabilization Fund (FET) received 43% of subsidy, and now with the discount for the billing months of April, May and June, they will receive a additional subsidy of 7%, for a total of 50%. In the case of clients who consume more than 200 kWh per month, with the regular subsidy they received 25% and now they will be granted another 25%, to reach 50% in these three months. The FET subsidy, which was created in 2004, tries to benefit those who consume less energy, including those with less income and fewer household appliances, with a tariff reduction.
As a measure of financial relief amid the current Covid-19 pandemic, the group of customers consuming 301 kWh to 1,000 kWh per month will now get a 30% discount benefit that they did not previously receive, as those who found in this group have no subsidy in the rate. This discount is applied by the distribution companies after an agreement with the Government, which also included a consensus not to make power cuts during these three months due to late payment by customers. The distribution companies said that for four weeks they announced that they were suspending supply cuts due to non-payment of bills, understanding that the situation caused by the coronavirus pandemic is impacting customers’ finances.
But both Ensa and Naturgy reported that they have had a decrease in the collection by payment of the bill of consumption of electrical energy. “It is important that customers with income try to pay their bill, although those who accumulate a balance for these three months will not be charged a surcharge,” explained Esteba Barrientos, manager of Ensa. The electricity companies are in charge of offering the service, but they depend on the generators that produce the energy and the state-owned electric transmission company, which is in charge of transporting it to the consumption centers. Hence, for every $ 100 that distribution companies charge on the energy bill, approximately $ 70 is for generators, $ 10 for transmission service and $ 20 for distribution. Naturgy reported that, to preserve the safety and health of employees and customers, it decided to close the customer service centers, reinforcing the digital service channels at 800-8346, edemetedechi@naturgy.com and the Naturgy app. For its part, Ensa, which does keep its customer service offices open, indicated that it also offers the service digitally, through its website and at 323-7100.
https://www.prensa.com/impresa/economia/ensa-y-naturgy-facturan-el-primer-descuento-a-clientes/
CROWDED SUPERMARKETS, CONSUMERS ASK TO REINFORCE SANITARY MEASURES
This Tuesday, April 28, the day assigned to men, several supermarkets in Panama City woke up crowded with buyers. Buyers noted that men only have two days to go shopping in many weeks. They recognize that they must be organized, and ask that hygiene measures be reinforced to avoid the spread of COVID-19. In addition, they appreciate the work and sacrifice of the workers in the supermarkets, as well as all the professionals who remain active during the quarantine providing essential services. They claim that supermarkets are well supplied.
FIRST DEBATE APPROVED MONTHLY DISCOUNT IN PRIVATE SCHOOLS
The National Assembly approved in the first debate a bill for private schools that offer virtual classes to charge half of the monthly payments to parents. Project number 300, among other things, intends that private schools that are offering classes virtually, cannot charge more than 1 to 50% of the total value of the monthly fee. The proponent, the deputy Javier Sucre, stated that this project, which was approved in the first debate unanimously, seeks to eliminate the “abuse” that is taking place on the part of some educational establishments, which intend to continue charging a 100% monthly payment.
Sucre assured that he received innumerable complaints from parents on this matter, for which he believes that, within the National Assembly, in some way, these parents can be supported. There are many schools that are not harmonious with reality and the problem that the issue of the COVID-19 pandemic has brought about in the country.
“169 private schools have filled out the form from the Ministry of Education to apply to the criteria for virtual classes. 140 decided to wait until Meduca reopens the regular school year. ”
Within the same project, also called “emergency plan”, another point raised was the right that all students should have to receive virtual classes, despite having some type of debt due to the difficult economic situation facing their parents. Meanwhile, the national coordinator of the National Union of Parents, Candidates and Associations of Parents of Educational Centers, Javier Lombardo, considered that the project is positive because the problem of lack of payments is a reality that many parents face.
The leader of the parents assured that he only hopes that once this project is approved by the Assembly, the Executive sanctions it. The Ministry of Education (Meduca) established clear rules for schools wishing to teach classes virtually.
35 PRIVATE SCHOOLS ALREADY HAVE APPROVAL OF THE MEDUCA TO GIVE VIRTUAL CLASSES
To date, 169 schools have filled out the form to give virtual classes.
Gina Garcés, national director of Education of the Ministry of Education (Meduca), reported that 35 private schools already have full approval to offer virtual classes to their students.
These schools, Garcés explained, will have the support of the regional Meduca directorates to guarantee that they meet the established criteria that are pedagogical interaction, curricular elements, technological resources, special education and satisfaction with the process. To date, she detailed, 169 schools have filled out the form to give virtual classes, but of this total, 10 made the decision to wait for Meduca to announce the restart of classes in the official sector. Starting next Friday, the schools that made the commitment to continue offering virtual classes must submit a satisfaction report to the regional offices, she said. Regarding the monthly payment that parents must pay, Garcés said that they are holding meetings with directors, representatives of parents, regional directors to reach an understanding.
XAVIER SÁEZ-LLORENS: AFTER THE WEEK FROM 4 TO 11 MAY, IT COULD BE DECIDED TO SUSPEND THE QUARANTINE BY COVID-19
In the week from May 4 to 11, 2020, the decrease in the COVID-19 case registration chart could be registered, and with this, the decision could be made to lift the quarantine gradually, he said. the infectologist Xavier Sáez Llorens. The specialist, who also acts within the advisory group facing the pandemic of the new coronavirus in Panama, points out that the quarantine has had a favorable impact because it flattened the epidemiological curve, from the week of April 5-11 and turned the peak on a long flat plateau, shifted to the right. It indicates that data such as hospital beds that have not been filled, the contagion of patients to healthy people that is low, and the number of recoveries exceeds active cases, suggest that the descent of that mountain of cases will soon come.
He stated that Panama’s health system failed to exceed 60% of its capacity, although danger was visualized if the rt of 1.7-1.8 had remained stable. He added that this is the cushion that must be monitored when the quarantine is lifted, remembering that the influenza season is also coming. He stressed that it is necessary to make the self-criticism that there was no rigorous compliance with the quarantine of the entire society, especially in some regions, there was a lack of belligerence and efficiency in quickly cutting the conglomerates and isolating their contacts.
GOOGLE OPENS ITS VIDEO CONFERENCE SERVICE TO EVERYONE
Google announced Wednesday the availability to the general public of its professional video conferencing application, at a time when millions of confined people go to the internet to communicate during the pandemic. Google Meet was previously reserved for professional customers, some 6 million companies and organizations using G-Suite, Google’s range of business tools. Meet will be available “to all users in the world, so that all kinds of people can communicate, collaborate and stay in contact more effectively during the pandemic,” G-Suite Vice President Javier Soltaro told AFP. The use of video calling applications has exploded since March due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the subsequent confinement of billions of people. Many have turned to Zoom, which has had security issues such as data theft and harassment by individuals who intrude on meetings without being invited, a phenomenon dubbed “Zoombombing.” Google Meet gathers 3 million new daily users every day since the beginning of April and its daily use has multiplied by 30 since January, according to figures published by the “cloud” division (remote data storage) of the internet giant.
The video calling platform will be progressively expanded to the general public in the coming weeks, provided that people have a Google account (Gmail) or a “Google identity”, which can be created with any personal or professional email address. Google Meet, which was already proposing options such as screen splitting or real-time captions for deaf people, is going to add new display formats like tiling of participants, Soltaro said. The “mosaic” mode has been popularized in recent weeks by Zoom, an American software designed for business that quickly spread to the general public, and which has been widely adopted for distance conversations, but also yoga courses, religious ceremonies or school courses. Microsoft’s Teams reacted by adding similar options. Facebook launched a new application on Friday, Messenger Rooms, which will allow finding friends in virtual “rooms”
https://www.prensa.com/tecnologia/google-abre-su-servicio-de-videoconferencia-a-todo-publico/
THERE WILL BE QUARANTINE FROM FRIDAY
Brett’s Comment: Before you get in to the article, please note that this hasn’t been confirmed anywhere else so far. The story came out yesterday from a sensationalist type of newspaper called “La Critica”. My wife was the one who sent it to me today and after researching, I didn’t see anything elsewhere that substantiated this information. MINSA’s leader, Rosario Turner, said something like, “wouldn’t it be great if we…” and the news decided to run with that. Then again, it doesn’t mean that it WON’T happen, just that it’s not official. It wouldn’t be the first time she told us too late that Saturday was going to be a full quarantine day. Guys, do your shopping tomorrow Thursday without fail! Where the heck are my antacid tablets?
Panama already registers 179 deaths due to coronavirus and the number of infections rose to 6,200; according to the Ministry of Health (Minsa), whose head Rosario Turner anticipated that from Friday May 1, there will be another total quarantine of 3 days.
Rosario Turner said that “we have been talking as a team that it would not hurt to complete from the first (May 1) and have all these days of quarantine so that we can have better news for next week.”
The authorities explained that of the total number of infected patients: 2,698 are in home isolation (1,108 in hotels), and another 358 are hospitalized (270 in the ward and 88 in intensive care).
The head of epidemiology of the Minsa, Lourdes Moreno said that to date 484 people have been recovered by laboratory and 2,484 have clinical recovery.
To date, 28,795 COVID-19 tests have been performed, of which 21,934 have been negative. Yesterday 961 tests were performed and 179 (18.6%) were positive. The case fatality rate is 2.88%.
Epidemiologist Rodrigo DeAntonio explained that out of 5 infected people, 4 of them infect one and the remaining person infects two.
Regarding the behavior of the epidemic curve, he said that there is a slowdown in the growth of the number of cases that for each day are below 200 new cases.
“For approximately two weeks, the number of cases in Intensive Care have been below 100 and even below 90; while the hospital wards, the number of cases has remained below 300, which was one of the first goals with the implementation of the quarantine, ” he explained.
The expert indicated that when analyzing the accumulated cases, almost 85% are in isolation and the course and prognosis is quite favorable. “After 14 days these patients are asymptomatic,” and that almost 90% of infections occur two days before the onset of symptoms.
It also revealed that in Panama the average time a person reports symptoms and dies is 10 days, and can vary between 2 days and 25 days.
The suppression level of .95 had been reached last week, however an increase has occurred that has left the virus’s propagation rate at 1.15. “The goal of quarantine continues to be to leave this number at 1 or below. The ideal is to bring the rate of spread of the virus to 0.50,” he said.
DeAntonio highlighted the behavior by regions: Colón and Veraguas had a behavior that keeps them away from 1, they must abide by the measures … while Chiriquí and Panamá Norte, when taking mitigation measures, have decreased the cases.
The minister, Rosario Turner, warned that the reproductive number of cases (Rt) is 1.15 for the country and pondered the effort of the majority of the population that has responsibly complied with the quarantine. However, she noted that in Colón, Coclé and Veraguas even the Rt is greater than 1, while in Chiriquí the behavior has improved. She called on all citizens to comply with the quarantine.
https://www.critica.com.pa/nacional/habra-cuarentena-desde-el-viernes-577830
STATUS UPDATE
178 CORONAVIRUS DEATHS ACCOUNTED IN PANAMA, 6,378 ACCUMULATED CASES
- 6,378 positive cases
- 178 new cases
- 178 deaths
- 2,822 home isolation (1,187 hospital hotels)
- 367 are hospitalized (275 in ward / 92 intensive care)
- 527 recovered by laboratory
- 2,484 clinically recovered
He added that to date a total of 29,837 tests have been carried out to detect COVID-19, of which 7,070 have been positive and 22,767 have been negative.
ENDNOTES
It was a bit of a stressful day. I have two “happy places” in my quarantine. One of those is right here where I’m typing and editing. The other “happy place” is my backyard. Anytime the pressure gets to be too much, I stop what I’m doing and take a walk out back. A few days ago, I reported on a nest of birds and thought they were “looking” at me; I quickly noted that their eyes hadn’t opened. Well, their eyes are open now and even though they may be as ugly as sin, it was a beautiful sight that whooshed my stress away:
Stay safe… Stay healthy… And by all means STAY HOME!!…
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