Thursday, May 7, 2020
I started my day thinking quarantine life was going to be a lot easier for everyone, or at least for me. I strolled out to the back of the house to my happy place, with coffee cup in hand, filled to the brim with that warm amazingness, a touch of cream and just 2 sugars… …probably more like three sugars, but the day was amazing. The birds where active and my dogs were fixating on a couple of lizards again. That’s when I remembered how I have a list of packages coming in from Amazon.com on Saturday and DoItCentershould be delivering more stuff on the weekend too. What a relief. I really felt like this huge weight had been lifted. Oh and don’t forget how everyone is so relieved that Dry Law is over with starting tomorrow, Friday. The planets were starting to align once again, everything is just great… …then… …wait a minute, what are all of these confusing messages on my phone. The first title read, “The mayor of Santiago rejects the lifting of Dry Law.” Woah woah woah, wait a minute, a mayor is rejecting the lifting of Dry Law and he’s enacting Dry Law for 30 days starting today? My left temple started to squirm and my eye fluttered emphatically. “Can he even DO that!?”, I said out loud. And then I answered myself, “Self, yes he can.” “Sooooo, what you’re telling me is that we are NOT going to be able to get Zacapa 23 replenishments tomorrow?” Dammit, I was talking to myself again. Even the birds stopped to stare at me in bewilderment. Yep, in many parts of the country, May 7th was the day that many people were being “double Dry Lawed”! Once by the President and a second time by their respective Mayor.
For those of you just tuning in, especially those who have never heard of Dry Law, it’s essentially the “US Prohibition” but more extreme. No sale, purchasing, distribution or consumption of alcohol per Panama Law. This was enacted in the month of March along with quarantine to avoid problems by the alcoholics with unbridled rage issues.
This really has turned into a disaster however. The whole idea of the government lifting Dry Law was as a morale boost. Psychologically, this was good as they were establishing a system of punishment-reward. It was quite clever actually. Just recently, Panamanian deputies and Vice-Ministers were caught in an attempt to overinflate the purchase of ventilators, then there was the flat out stealing of the solidarity bonds by Representatives and let’s not forget Meduca who flipflops on education (educate the kids, don’t educate the kids, ok, give them virtual schooling, nope let’s take that away, ok now private schools can do that, wait maybe not…); we were all like, “Could it get any more overwhelming?”.
To recap, here we are on quarantine with Dry Law enacted, all hoping for a break. That in itself was punishment enough. Stripped of basic freedoms with no nightcap. The general population was behaving well enough for Latin America and the “numbers” have kept within the vicinity of what the government was hoping for. So, after nearly 2 months of punishment, it’s time to give us some sort of reward, right? If the government lifted the Dry Law now, even if only partially, you were going to have a lot of very happy people. The government already learned that they could easily calm the masses last week when they gifted a $80 digital food bond to the people. The system was flawed however and not everyone was able to do their shopping with the free money. Because of that, there was talk of more protests. I think that because of that and because the infections remained low, the president and MINSA decided to give us a little break. On Tuesday they came together and dropped a hint that “maaaaaybe” they’ll lift the ban. They reviewed the response and noted that a vast majority would be in favor of this. Then on Wednesday, they actually decided to do it. They decided to lift the ban on alcohol, although in moderation, and the people rejoiced. It wouldn’t be much, just one 6-pack of beer or 1 bottle of your favorite spirits, but it was a start. It was a good way to test the waters and to see if we could actually maintain control of ourselves. Of course, I think the majority of people out there were still weening their last drops of whiskey, wine or beer and this was just a timely way for everyone to restock even if that meant only gaining a bottle per day. Or most probably, a bottle per as many stores as they could run to in less than 2 hours. I could see most guys instructing their favorite gals for the Friday morning booze run: “OK now listen, if you time this right, you leave the house at 0830 hrs and can be in line at the Super 99 by 0839 hrs. Once you enter, just head straight to the Jack Daniels.” “But Snookums, we need bread and milk too.” “TO HELL WITH THE BREAD AND MILK, WOMAN! THIS IS SERIOUS!!!” He continues, “Then, by 0912 hrs you should…” and so they continue with the perfect plan to reach 4 stores in a minimal amount of time through maximum effort.
However, now the mayors of Santiago, Boquete, Ancon, Penonome and several others are “rejecting” the concept of lifting Dry Law, stifling the hopes and dreams of many. Social Media was in a flurry, anxiety levels were at their peaks. “I can’t believe this is happening!?!?”, screamed my neighbor lady. (At least I think it had something to do with this. Now that I think about it, I hope she’s ok.)
In all seriousness, and that’s REALLY hard for me, I understand both sides of this game. The Dry Law is really truly set in place to avoid major problems with spousal violence, theft, general rowdiness and people getting really bad ideas at ridiculous hours. But that’s for a small percentage of the population. I’m sure most anyone under the influence would be willing to do just about anything. I’ve seen plenty of that in my time. But given the circumstances, we’re already prohibited from leaving our dwellings unless we have to work and the use of a vehicle is minimal during the day. My guess is that the problem-child group is a rough 10% or maybe 15% of the population at a maximum? It’s a small percentage but they get the most coverage on the news and cause all of the problems for the police. Thousands of slightly intoxicated middle-aged men sitting on their couches eating potato chips and watching “Matchday Inside FC Barcelona” on Netflix, just isn’t newsworthy. Ah, but get hammered, trick your ex-girlfriend into jumping in the car while you light it on fire, well, those are the freaks that screw this up for all of us Netflix binge-watchers who just want to relax at home in our underwear with a glass of red. (See, I just can’t stay serious long enough.)
I know there are a lot more important topics like the food shortages in the USA, continually rising number of Corona Virus infections and death in the world and the fact that the Duke and Duchess of York are being sued for 6.7 million pounds over a Swiss ski chalet, but I’ll talk about all of that tomorrow.
For now, at the time of this END-OF-DAY-REPORT at 2250 hrs, we are still able to purchase a small quantity of alcohol in Panama on Friday. Those in the interior may not be so lucky.
And sorry for getting carried away again, Josh!
TOP NEWS and TIDBITS:
CONVALING PLASMA COLLECTION PROCESS, CASES IN THE TOCUMEN SECTOR AND FEMALE REHABILITATION CENTER INCREASE.
The adoption in Panama of experimental therapy that uses the plasma of convalescent donors to passively transfer antibodies to patients with COVID-19, arose as part of the concern that was taking place in the country and the world, due to the expansion of The pandemic expressed Ricardo Aguilar, vice president of the Panamanian Society of Hematology. At the end of March the approval of the use of convalescent plasma was published by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a therapy that could be given individually as an experimental treatment for patients who request it or as a research protocol. He added that the possibility of implementing the protocol was given through a private hospital in Panama, which allowed the approach to be made with scientists from Johns Hopkins University, who authorized the country to take the protocol, reproduce it and present it scientifically. . The protocol has passed the approval of the Research Bioethics Committee and they are already collecting the plasma to start transfusing it to patients who are affected by COVID-19. Plasma is the liquid part of the blood that does not have red blood cells. If the blood is left without settling, a light yellow part will separate and there are proteins that allow the body’s defenses against infections, known as immunoglobulins. Aguilar assures that the idea of convalescent plasma is not new and the first experiences are more than a century old. The working hypothesis is that a person who is recovering or convalescing with a bacterial or viral disease develops a large number of these proteins to defend himself and control the infection.
“If those proteins are taken and transferred to another patient in a timely manner, it could help the patient receiving the plasma,” he said.
He details that the protocol was used for Spanish fever, Ebola, SARS virus, MERS and there are already small studies in the Wuhan epidemic, however, it is still a treatment that is considered experimental. Everyone who is recovering is potentially a plasma donor, but the same requirements that are needed to be a blood donor must be met. The doctor adds that the person who manages to donate plasma is a normal donor who complies with all Panamanian legislation, who is in a condition, sufficiently recovered to donate and who has also recovered from the symptoms of COVID-19, has After more than 15 days without symptoms, she has two tests with negative results after the positive one. The most impressive thing, according to the doctor, has been the solidarity of the people who have come forward with the interest of helping.
Those interested can contact 6751-4638 or 513-1138. In addition, they can write to emails: donasangrecss@hotmail.com; aguilarcroston@yahoo.es ofdiaz@pacificasalud.com
TOCUMEN EXCEEDS 400 CORONAVIRUS CASES
The township of Tocumen, in the capital, exceeded 400 cases of coronavirus and ranks as the region with the most infections in the country. In the last report of the Ministry of Health (Minsa), on the afternoon of Wednesday, May 6, this township registered 414 cases. The second district with the most cases in the country continues to be Arraiján, in Panamá Oeste, with 344; and third, on December 24, in Panama, with 265. The Minister of Health, Rosario Turner, reported that they implemented a pilot plan to give more follow-up to those infected in Tocumen.
https://www.prensa.com/sociedad/corregimiento-de-tocumen-sobrepasa-los-400-casos-de-coronavirus/
SALE OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES WOULD BE LIMITED TO ONE SIX PACK OR ONE LIQUOR BOTTLE PER CUSTOMER
The Minister of Economy and Finance (Mici), Ramón Martínez, announced this Thursday that he would only be allowed to buy a six pack of beer or a bottle of liquor per customer, once the Dry Law is lifted this Friday.
“It will be limited to a specific amount of liquor. It is defined, let’s wait for the resolution today so that there is an official communication, it can be around a six pack or a maximum bottle. It is a measure to control the consumption and sale of liquor” Martínez noted in an interview with TelemetroReporta.
The owner of the Mici explained, in addition, that only the businesses that are operating may sell this product, permits will not be given to other types of establishments such as bars or canteens.
“The commercial establishments that are operating today are the ones that are going to be able to sell. It is not that they are going to give permission to bars or liquor stores,” he added.
The head of the Mici portfolio highlighted the positive of this measure because this sector has a great impact on the country’s economy.
“This industry represents 1.6% of gross domestic product, generates 6 thousand jobs, 125 million dollars in tax. We see it positively and the measure is a demonstration that things are being done well and gradually,” he added.
In this line, the Deputy Minister of the Mici, Omar Montilla, said that the sale of liquor through delivery platforms or home service will also be allowed. On the other hand, the high official confirmed that they continue to work on health protocols for the different business sectors of the country.
VIRUS SPREADS TO MORE THAN 13 OF EACH 100 DETAINED FROM CEFERE
The United Nations Human Rights Office and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights had warned him: if the pandemic penetrated the prisons, its spread would be difficult to stop. And that is precisely what has happened at the Cecilia Orillac Women’s Rehabilitation Center in Chiari (Cefere). 87 of those deprived of liberty have tested positive for Covid-19. 34 of them were transferred to a hospital hotel to keep them under observation, confirmed the head of legal counsel for the Ombudsman, Mitchell Jarquin. If the prison population as of March 2020 in the Cefere (653) is taken into account, the impact of the disease in this center would be 13.3%. This without considering the last penalty reductions. In other words, the percentage could be even higher. To get an idea of the magnitude, throughout the country there have been a little more than 7,700 positive cases, which does not represent 0.2% of the total population of 4.1 million. Jarquin reported that the Ombudsman makes daily visits to Cefere to ensure that inmates receive medical attention and that they are given cleaning supplies that allow them to minimize the possibility of contagion. As for the Nueva Esperanza prison in Colón, it was reported that some inmates resist receiving their food to demand that they be granted precautionary measures for their release. In Nueva Esperanza, about 15 inmates have tested positive for Covid-19, so they were transferred to a pavilion at the Basilio Lakas Juvenile Compliance Center. Another 200 are under observation. The official said that it has been recommended that those deprived of liberty who qualify for a house deposit measure can benefit from it. He also explained that in La Joya, La Joyita and Nueva Joya, Tinajitas penitentiaries and in the interior of the country there are no reports of Covid-19 contagion.
https://www.prensa.com/impresa/panorama/virus-contagia-a-mas-de-13-de-cada-100-detenidas-del-cefere/
AS MANY AS 300 THOUSAND PEOPLE COULD RECEIVE BENEFITS FROM PANAMA SOLIDARIO
Although thousands of Panamanians receive the help of the Panama Solidario program through the Digital Ticket, many families still have to wait for the vouchers or the bags of food to reach their doorstep. This situation occurs because in the midst of the crisis caused by COVID-19, the contracts of many workers have been suspended, which lengthens the list of vulnerable people, economically, in the midst of the pandemic. The Governor of Panama, Judy Meana, who has joined this program carried out by the Government, said that, to this day, 827,396 bags and 617,187 bonds had been physically delivered to the beneficiaries, that is, going from home to home. According to Meana, new beneficiaries are added every day, through various information channels, including representatives of the townships. She added that this list could be expanded to 300,000 beneficiaries, according to the projections of the Presidency of the Republic. She called on the families, because when they have gone to deliver the aid they go out on the streets without any protection. She stressed that from May 13 the physical bond will be redistributed, which totals 80 dollars. Regarding the end of the Dry Law, she asked the Panamanians for prudence since the purchases will be controlled. In this sense, she recalled that the bonds are not to be used for the purchase of alcohol, only food.
COMPANIES MUST CREATE A HEALTH COMMITTEE TO MONITOR MEASURES TO MITIGATE COVID-19
Dr. Liliane Valdés, Technical Advisor to the Ministry of Health (Minsa), detailed the biosafety protocols that companies must apply in their reopening, such as the creation of a Health and Safety Committee, and the measures that must be followed at home , to coexist with COVID-19 and reach a “new normal”. First, he indicated that the gradual removal of the quarantine is based on epidemiological information and the country’s sanitary capacity.
Biosafety protocols:
- All companies must establish Health and Safety Committees with personnel to monitor the measures to be applied, physical distancing in work rooms and waiting rooms, those infected by the company and others.
- Protection mechanisms must be established for employees over 60 years of age, such as temporarily maintaining teleworking if their working reality allows it.
- Reinforce hand hygiene by guaranteeing the supply of water, soap and alcohol gel.
- Monitor the use of a mask for personnel, and guarantee the daily cleaning and disinfection of the facilities.
He indicated that the regional health directorates will carry out the corresponding evaluations in the different companies, and will verify that they have the basic sanitary measures and “thus avoid returning to new quarantines.”
Measurements at home
- Cleaning and disinfection of the members who must leave and enter daily must be maintained in the home.
- As part of the new normal, each time a family member leaves the house they must: Wear face masks Leave shoes on the outside of the home.
- Clothing can become contaminated, so remove it immediately and place it in a basket to wash regularly with soap and water.
- Purses, lunch boxes, keys, and glasses must be cleaned daily.
- When shopping, you should remove the item and throw away the box or bag it came in, before entering the house and then cleaning the items with soap and water.
“This must be individual and collective care. It is the way we have to live from now on. Normally, it is doing what we did before, but following these measures and we have to work hard on our mental health and stay encouraged” Dr. Valdés said. He concluded by saying that the ultimate goal of these protocols is to achieve good health for the entire population.
ANIMAL ABANDONMENT CONTINUES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PANDEMIC
In the midst of the quarantine decreed in the country by the pandemic of the new coronavirus COVID-19 in Panama, cases of abandonment and animal abuse continue to be reported. The Association of Animal Defenders demands that the authorities comply with the law.
COMPLETE VIDEO: https://www.telemetro.com/nacionales/2020/05/07/sigue-el-abandono-de-animales-en-medio-de-la-pandemia-exigen-cumplimiento-de-la-ley/2837478.html
STATUS UPDATE:
PANAMA HAS 7,868 ACCUMULATED CASES AND 225 DEATHS DUE TO COVID-19
- 7,868 positive cases
- 137 new cases
- 225 deaths
- 2,804 home isolation (937 hospital hotels)
- 335 are hospitalized (250 in ward / 85 intensive care)
- 886 recovered by laboratory
- 3,618 clinically recovered
So far 39,093 tests have been performed, of which 30,035 (77%) have been negative and 886 have been positive (23%).
Coronavirus statistics from Day 1:
- Mon, March 9: 1 case
- Tues 10: 8 cases (+7)
- Wed 11: 14 cases (+6)
- Thu 12: 27 cases (+13)
- Fri 13: 36 cases (+9)
- Sat 14:43 cases (+7)
- Sun 15: 55 cases (+12)
- Mon 16: 69 cases (+14)
- Tues 17: 86 cases (+17)
- Wed 18: 109 cases (+23)
- Thu 19: 137 cases (+28)
- Fri 20: 200 cases (+63)
- Sat 21: 245 cases (+45)
- Sun 22: 313 cases (+68)
- Mon 23: 345 cases (+32)
- Tues 24: 443 cases (+98)
- Wed 25: 558 cases (+115)
- Thu 26: 674 cases (+116)
- Fri 27: 786 cases (+112)
- Sat 28: 901 cases (+115)
- Sun 29: 989 cases (+88)
- Mon 30: 1075 cases (+86)
- Tues 31: 1181 cases (+106)
- Wed April 1:1317 cases (+136)
- Thu 2: 1475 cases (+158)
- Fri 3: 1673 cases (+198)
- Sat 4: 1801 cases (+128)
- Sun 5: 1988 cases (+187)
- Mon 6: 2100 cases (+112)
- Tues 7: 2249 cases (+149)
- Wed 8: 2528 cases (+279)
- Thu 9: 2752 cases (+224)
- Fri 10: 2974 cases (+222)
- Sat 11: 3234 cases (+260)
- Sun 12: 3400 cases (+166)
- Mon 13: 3472 cases (+72)
- Tues 14: 3574 cases (+102)
- Wed 15: 3751 cases (+177)
- Thu 16: 4016 cases (+265)
- Fri 17: 4210 cases (+194)
- Sat 18: 4273 cases (+63)
- Sun 19: 4467 cases (+194)
- Mon 20: 4658 cases (+191)
- Tues 21: 4820 cases (+162)
- Wed 22: 4992 cases (+171)
- Thu 23: 5166 cases (+174)
- Fri 24: 5338 cases (+172)
- Sat 25: 5538 cases (+200)
- Sun 26: 5779 cases (+241)
- Mon 27: 6021 cases (+242)
- Tues 28: 6200 cases (+179)
- Wed 29: 6378 cases (+178)
- Thu, 30: 6532 cases (+154)
- Fri, May 1: 6720 cases (+188)
- Sat, May 2: 7090 cases (+370)
- Sun, May 3: 7197 cases (+107)
- Mon, May 4: 7387 cases (+190)
- Tues, May 5: 7523 cases (+136)
- Weds, May 6: 7731 cases (+208)
- Thurs, May 7: 7868 cases (+137)
ENDNOTES
When you raise kids, if you do it right, you become overwhelmed by them in so many marvelous ways. Yes, it can be stressful, but the end reward is what it’s all about. My daughter Kimberly exemplifies the qualities of greatness and leadership, constantly advancing through the ranks of work and life. As an achieving businesswoman, she somehow finds the time to perfectly balance life as a beautiful mother, loving wife and astonishing daughter. This breathtaking woman at a mere 27 years has won the hearts of many and continues to show the world that there are no limits to her worth. Presently working for one of the world’s most prestigious international corporations, she employed her spirit and wit to convey her concepts for corporate betterment. Along with 3 other similarly motivated colleagues, Kim has shown her company what leadership and “go-gettem” attitudes are all about.
Stay safe… Stay healthy… And by all means STAY HOME!!…
