Friday, May 22, 2020
“Just the facts ma’am.” Part 2 of a 97 part series
After getting my feet wet with my first unofficial investigation for my friend Dimitri, suddenly, just like magic other lawyers started looking for me to help them with similar cases. Obviously, Dimitri was kind enough to let his friends know how “there’s this gringo who can do anything”. I’ll add that I would do anything “that was legal and ethical, usually, whenever I didn’t forget”. At the time I think I referred to what I was doing as a “lawyer’s advisor”; I suppose that you could say I was a field paralegal, but with informants and sources the likes of no other.
After just a few short months, I had already gotten very cocky about my abilities and I was confident that I do anything anyone asked me to do. So far, my success rate was 100% … I was invincible. I was only 24 years old and sported a “gung ho” attitude. Being a young independent gringo stud in the middle of a tropical paradise, had its advantages and was DEFINITELY the primary reason for my cockiness.
Then one day, I got a call from a lawyer from a large Panamanian law firm. He asked to meet me, but wanted to meet me at MY office. That was a first. “I may actually have to dust or mop or something.”, I thought to myself. “Time to throw these pizza boxes out as well.”
(Intermission: To be clear, I can’t give out all of the names in this segment, but have to talk about this as it’s definitely one of the more significant things that pushed me another step closer towards becoming an internationally established PI.)
What I can say is that I was intimidated to meet with him and that was no easy task. I suppose most 24-year olds would be intimidated by the mere presence of a powerful lawyer, but the experience I had during my previous yet recent 6 years in the Army had me prepared for just about anything. Hell, my main sources were the governor of Baja Verapaz in Guatemala, the chief of police of all of Pichincha in Ecuador, the mayor of Guayaquil in Ecuador, a Colonel in Nicaragua, several officers in Panama’s recently reorganized national police and businessmen from all over. I was prepared for anything, but little did I know, I was NOT prepared for this task.
As I said, he was intimidating, but more so he was elegant. A tall man in his late 30s, he entered the room with poise and confidence. His immaculate suit was flat black and tailor-made in London. And that tie was a deep blood red, modern and tied in a perfect Windsor. Me? I was wearing jeans and an old polo that probably had a little giraffe over my heart.
“Are you Mr Mikkelson?”, he asked?
Seeing as I was the only one there, I wanted to say, “No, I’m Madonna.” Remember, I was still just a cocky kid who thought he was invincible. I was also probably wanting to show a bit of male dominance provoked by his unintentional intimidation.
“Yes sir, I’m Mikkelson.”, I answered; the sweat was already starting to form on my brow.
“Great, I’d like to see if you could help me with something?”, he smiled and stretched out his hand. A good firm handshake; this guy wrote the book on etiquette. As we sat down at my plastic table with my plastic chairs, he spoke up, “I need to ask you a few questions before I review the case with you.”
“Sure, whatever you need!”, I was impressed with his English. It sounded like he was from the states; no Latino accent at all and definitely no sign of a Panamanian accent. I started to wonder if he was actually a lawyer or if he was a spook sent to recruit me.
He asked me whether or not I knew several different people, then he named corporations and wanted to know if I’d be willing to testify if required. At the time I thought his questions were annoying. (Get on with it), I repeated over and over in my head. I know better now that he needed to ascertain whether or not there was a conflict of interest. It’s never a good idea to hand over personal information to a total stranger. And then anxious little me was rewarded when he came out with the juicy details that I’d been waiting for.
“What I need you to do, if you think you can do this…” (yeah, get on with it already), I thought. “…is to follow a man from China during his trip to New York and then on to Toronto. His partners from Peru are concerned that he’s embezzling from their businesses in Hong Kong. We also need you to conduct an Asset search in Canada. If you find any ties to other people related to his properties or businesses, you would need to conduct a full Due Diligence on all of them. We know he’s been going to Europe with a young woman and we would need to identify her as well. Our friends in INTERPOL already gave us a heads up about his behavior and think he may be laundering money and as you know, the US Money Laundering Control Act prohibits individuals from engaging in a financial transaction with proceeds that were generated from certain specific crimes. So, that means he’s putting my client’s businesses at risk, and may be dealing in criminal acts or at a minimum associating with criminals. The focus of the due diligence should be mainly on his finances, criminal backgrounds in China, Canada and the US as well as properties in Canada as we think he’s investing secretly into a golf course there. I’d like to count on you to…..”
I drifted… Actually, I’m surprised I made it that far… You see, I’m not sure at which point it started, but a unique buzzing sound began in the middle of my brain and then a bit of pressure followed by several popping sounds. I’m pretty sure it started at the very moment he said “China”. I was both embarrassed that he had to witness my brain exploding, but I was also concerned that I didn’t have life insurance and may be having a stroke. (So, this is how it ends.), I thought to myself. And then, as if coming from an alternate universe, someone started calling to me,
“Mis..elso… Mr Mi..elson… MR MIKKESON!!!” I woke from the trance.
“Yes, you were saying?”, I instinctively responded.
“Mr Mikkelson, that’s it. Do you think you can help?”, he asked obviously concerned.
“Pfff, of course I can help, when do you need me to start?”, I cockily retorted.
“Mr Mikkelson, I appreciate your eagerness, but we would need an Engagement Letter from you first. How soon do you think you could get that to me?”, he asked. I’m sure a few more cells in my brain popped again. And that word he spoke Eng… something, what the hell did he just say?, I was at a loss. I mustered up some confidence and said,
“Yeah, sure, I can get that to you tomorrow.” Lucky for me it was the end of the day, so I had all night to research the “Engulfment Letter” or whatever it was that he needed. Ah, but then he really threw me for a loop. I could already tell that he didn’t have the same demeanor he had from when he first entered my office. I don’t think that I had made a good impression with him and he was concerned if he had just wasted his time with me.
“Mr Mikkelson”, he paused… “How long have you been a private investigator?”
That’s when it first struck me. “So, THAT’S what I’ve been doing!?”, but this time I didn’t think it, I said it aloud. As a matter of fact, the words came from the very core of my soul.
The intimidating lawyer laughed out loud, “You’re a riot!”, he said. “We’re going to get along great!” He thought I was joking. He left. I had work to do.
I called the only friend I had in the world that I could actually talk to about this. I called Eric. Eric was still in the Army and when I was bored, I’d still visit him at his office where he was also bored. We would BS about all the cool things we thought we did and played solitaire on separate computers while doing so. Eric was quiet, analytical and smarter than your average GI. (Of course, that’s not saying much.) I can’t tell you what Eric did at the time, but between the two of us, he was the only one actually doing cool things.
“Eric, I’m a private investigator!”, I told him as I clutched the payphone.
“You forgot to say ‘PACO’”, he responded. “PACO” was an acronym we used which loosely translated to meaning that “All is Clear and You Can Talk Freely”.
“Oh yeah, you’re right, PAAACOOOO”; we also had to say it with a distinct intonation.
“So, what’s this about being a private investigator?”, he inquired.
“Yeah, apparently, I’ve been doing it for a few months now, but never realized it! A lawyer came to my office, told me he wants me to follow some guy, mentioned about 20 countries in the process and now I have to do a…. …oh shit, I don’t know, I think it’s and Engorgement Letter or something!”
There was a commotion on the other end of the phone, as Eric probably had to sit up in his chair to avoid drowning in his own coffee as he spat it up. After he stopped his fit of coughing and laughing, he said, “Dude, just come over here.”.
I arrived at his office on base in my Black 1990 Dodge Dakota that was probably on the verge of being repossessed if I didn’t start making some money. I still had military ID, so getting on the US military bases wasn’t a problem. I approached the solid concrete structure, built in the 1930s and had housed thousands of troops, airmen and personnel. Eric’s office was around back and having gone there several times in the last few months, I confidently strolled in through the open door only to find Eric there… …and some other guy.
Eric looked at me and said, “PACO”. OK, so the guy was cool. He was the slender running type, with light olive skin and what appeared to be the beginning of a receding hairline.
“Mijo, so Eric here tells me that you think you’re a PI”, he said with a slight puertorriqueño accent.
“Yeah, I might have said something like that.”, I answered smugly.
“Great, have a seat, here’s what you gotta do.”
(Tune in Monday for Just The Facts Ma’am Part 3… …I promise I’ll get to the end of this someday… and it won’t take 97 of these to do it.)
TOP NEWS and TIDBITS
The Panamanian health system is being tested and, although it doesn’t seem like it, it has been strengthened in many of the weaknesses that it presented, which it must maintain to avoid congestion or lack of timely attention. This shows that the governments of the world cannot further underestimate the role that health interventions play in 21st-century societies. That is why the return to what has been called the “new normal” would entail a change in the culture, education and way of coexistence of all of us who inhabit the planet earth, since it is an adjustment to the behavior patterns and paradigms, to which the human being was accustomed for centuries.
The authorities of the Ministry of Health maintain that this reopening process will be gradual, based on scientific indicators, which will definitely impact areas such as education, the maritime sector, the economy, agriculture and even the medical-scientist, but without a doubt, it is everyone’s commitment.
For a certain period, it will not be strange that when we get to a place, we have out temperatures taken, that the masks, with their styles, are part of the standard wardrobe, and that general cleaning when we get home is another common determinant. Humans are largely confined to the world, and just as many security aspects changed, after the September 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States, the world is preparing for a new reality.
Living with the Covid-19, which, with its trail of surprise and death, is undoubtedly leaving us great lessons.
The author is a journalist, teacher and National Director of Communication of the Minsa: Aris Abrego.
MINSA EXPECTS THAT QUARANTINE COULD BE LIFTED AS SOON AS THE END OF JULY, IF THE Rt REMAINS BELOW 1
The Health Minister Rosario Turner, indicated that while the national RT is below 1, the National Government estimates that every 14 days the reopening of one block to another will be made, which means that possibly the sixth and last block of sectors that may be reopening by the end of July. This information was released during the presentation of the report on the situation and behavior of the COVID-19 pandemic in businessmen. To date, this epidemiological report registers a reproductive number of cases (RT) below 1, although in some regions, such as Chiriquí, Panamá Oeste and San Miguelito, it is above 1. During the meeting, the health authorities also indicated the guidelines that must be met to return to the new normality in a gradual, orderly and safe manner. The President of the Republic, LaurentinoCortizo, reiterated that his government will be “facilitator” and “ally” for the reopening of companies, in order to keep the jobs that will guarantee the social and economic stability of the country, but to the instead complying with sanitary measures step by step.
The president assured that all the support of the government sector will be offered to employers so that they can maintain jobs and alleviate the economic situation of Panamanians, while reactivating the contribution of worker-employer contributions to the Insurance Fund. Social.
“We are your best allies in this situation, but we also have to save lives,” Cortizo warned.
Brett’s comments: Finally, the news we’ve all been waiting for. The question of all questions looks like it’s finally being answered. I think every day, three different people and two of the same ask me when it’s going to happen. This report from MINSA is the most promising of them all, but it’s most definitely a “best-case scenario”. As long as everything goes as planned, the gradual lifting of quarantine has its grand finale around the end of July. However!!!, this is if everyone behaves and the magic numbers stay low. I don’t want to sound like Mr Blue Bird of Happiness or anything, but I don’t see that happening. If we reach each “block”, one step at a time, 14 days apart, we would open on the following dates:
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May 13 – Block 1 (already opened, but may businesses still struggling to get up to speed with MINSA’s requirements.
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May 28 – Block 2 (Already proposed by MINSA as the proposed opening date; they actually said “next Thursday”)
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June 11 – Block 3 (14 days after Block 2 – keep in mind that this represents all of the “retail non-essential stores”; in other words, every single mall in the country is supposed to reopen on these dates. To do that, they all have to request the lifting of the suspended contracts, clean everything top to bottom, create their health committees, file a crap-load of documents with several ministries, ALL AT THE SAME TIME. That’s going to be a disaster and the ministries are going to be swamped with this opening.)
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June 25 – Block 4 (no comments yet.)
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July 9 – Block 5 (no comments yet.)
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July 23 – Block 6 (This is when the schools would open. Somebody please show me how MEDUCA will be ready for this? They’re still negotiating with schools and parentsassociations… …STILL!!)
If we open this quickly, it will be a mess. I agree to opening, but we need to spread this out a little more.
BRETT’S ACCOUNT OF TODAY’S RAINS IN PANAMA CITY
I love the rain. I’m always looking up to see when another storm cloud is forming and secretly hope it will head my way. Even if I’m mowing the lawn, I’ll never be bitter with the heavens if it decides to drop a few gallons on me before I’ve finished. I remember back to the days of scouting when we’d set camp, sometimes you had to do it while being thrashed by one of these storms, and I loved it.
A slight drizzle started in the early afternoon and Brandon asked me, coincidentally, “Dad, don’t you think it’s raining too much?”
“Actually, buddy, I think the rain we’ve had hasn’t been enough.”, I told him. Little did I know, we were in for quite the “treat”. The entire country of Panama is known for its refreshing rain storms. Panama City is particularly well known for the previous government’s disastrous zoning and lack of planning which now causes massive floods to those zones just barely above sea level. Those of us who have lived here long enough know that Via Argentina, Parque Urraca, Punta Pacifica near the Super 99, Calle Uruguay, Campo Limbergh, Frangipani and several other locations will fill to the point where cars disappear and fishing licenses are required. And here are a few pics from today in all their splendor:
PANAMA EXPECTS THAT TREND IN NEW CASES WILL DECREASE TO ENTER THE ‘ENDEMIC’ PHASE
The director of the Metropolitan Health Region, Israel Cedeño reiterated this Friday, May 22, that COVID-19 is here to stay, so the population is required to intensify their work and be more disciplined, assimilating measures to prevent its spread. Meanwhile, they hope that the trend of new cases will begin to decrease to enter the endemic phase, which denotes the habitual presence of a disease in a population, a specific geographic area or on fixed dates.
“Everything indicates that this is going to be just another one of those viruses that affect us year after year and we are going to have to include it in regular health surveillance,” he said.
While social discipline is needed to control the epidemic, even though daily cases begin to decrease. Cedeño said that the intensified surveillance plans have already been launched in the regions since day one, but they insist that it is a shared responsibility with society.
“We need the population to continue doing its work and intensify it.”
For the doctor, what is missing is to finish raising awareness among the population and hope that there will be a vaccine soon to finish improving that immune response of society and have protection that is in line with reality. According to Cedeño, the modification of people’s behavior will be vital for the fight against COVID-19, a reality to which citizens must adapt. He believes that the positive of this pandemic is that a more disciplined society, accustomed to its self-care and concerned with its health, will emerge, which will help to decrease COVID-19 and other diseases. He called for everyone to collaborate so that the gradual opening is healthy.
https://www.tvn-2.com/nacionales/Coronavirus-en-Panama-tendencia-Covid_0_5584691480.html
ECUADORIANS LEAVE IN HUMANITARIAN FLIGHT FROM TOCUMEN
The transfer of foreigners who failed to leave the country before the closure of the airspace due to the coronavirus respiratory pandemic (Covid-19) continued this Thursday at the Tocumen International Airport. In an operation authorized by Mexico, Ecuador and Panama, 10 Ecuadorian citizens left today at 2:00 p.m. to Quito. The humanitarian operation involved several steps. Today, a Copa Airlines plane left Tocumen for Mexico City to pick up Ecuadorian citizens who were in that country. After this phase, the aircraft returned to the Tocumen airport and picked up 10 Ecuadorians who were unable to leave the country before March 22, when the Panamanian government decreed the closure of the air terminal. Such is the case of Domenica Montenegro, who came to the country in February to pass the carnivals, and was unable to return to her country after the closure of the borders decreed in both nations. She says that once the crisis caused by Covid-19 is normalized, she will return to continue to know the country. Juliana Vásquez, who went more than 60 days without returning to Ecuador after spending a period with relatives in Panama, also moves on the flight.
Since the closure of the airspace Tocumen has handled more than 35 humanitarian flights that have allowed the transfer of more than three thousand people between Argentines, Mexicans, Americans, Germans, French, Hondurans and Spaniards, among others. Last week, the Civil Aviation Authority extended the closure of Tocumen for an additional 30 days until June 22. After the expansion, Copa Airlines reported that it now expects to resume operations on June 26 with 10% of its fleet. Thermal equipment The Hikvision company donated a thermal camera that next week will begin operating in the Tocumen shipping area. Raffoul Arab commented that 13 pieces of equipment have been installed at the air terminal to measure people’s temperatures. Company spokespeople comment that Tocumen will be the first air terminal in the region that will have a DS-2TD2617B-67PA model that allows the temperature of 30 people to be captured in a single table. Rafael Shen, country manager for Hikvision, commented that the team issues an alert in two seconds when detecting a person with a temperature higher than the sanitary protocols established by the airport. The donated equipment has the characteristic that it focuses only on the heat emitted by people and not on other sources that can trigger false alarms.
https://www.prensa.com/economia/ecuatorianos-salen-en-vuelo-humanitario-desde-tocumen/
A TOTAL OF 500 POLICE OFFICERS HAVE RECEIVED THE NEW CORONAVIRUS
Since the pandemic began, more than a thousand units have been impacted by COVID-19, among those infected and those who have been placed in preventive quarantine to rule out or confirm the contagion. According to the director of the entity, Jorge Miranda, a total of 500 agents have been positive for COVID-19, of which 405 have recovered and until this Thursday, May 21, there were 92 who remained infected. That, according to the head of the security establishment, generates psychological pressure on the rest of the agents, because they remain uncertain as to whether they were infected or not. On the other hand, he said that, in the midst of the pandemic, the National Police has continued to carry out actions to guarantee that people comply with sanitary measures to counter the spread of the virus in the country. At the same time, it highlights that they have carried out specific operations against groups that insist on committing criminal acts. He assured that the rebound that has occurred in recent weeks in the homicide figures, has to do with people linked to criminal activities and organized crime. He stressed that it is necessary to observe the way in which some murders have been committed, which have not occurred in the streets or in confrontations, but rather that the criminal locates the victims, which suggests that they are known, they know where they live and there is certain degree of confidence. The crimes have to do with the control of the territory for the sale of drugs, such as the case that occurred in the sector of El Chumical, province of Panamá Oeste, a homicide linked to the seizure of a drug shipment of 201 kilos, two of which were found days after the incident. In the month of May there have been 34 homicides. The police authorities have identified what is known as a destabilizing triangle of public security, which is made up of the provinces of Panama, Colón and Panama Oeste, since “it is in these areas that drug transfer occurs mainly.” The crime-fighting strategy is divided into three areas, Miranda explains, one has to do with intelligence aspects, the investigation, and the last is linked to the authorities that have the power to decide who is released or not. Punta Coco: The PN director reiterated that the Punta Coco Prison maintains all the appropriate conditions to have those deprived of liberty, as well as for them to receive visits.
https://www.tvn-2.com/nacionales/total-policias-infectado-COVID-19-recuperarse_0_5584691481.html
CONTRACT SUSPENSION EXTENSIONS MAY BE MADE UP TO 4 MONTHS
The Labor Code, in the last paragraph of article 203, establishes that suspensions of the effects of employment contracts may be carried out for up to 4 months. Based on this legal concept, the Ministry of Labor and Labor Development (Mitradel), through Executive Decree 95 of April 21, 2020, regulated the extensions of contract suspension, determining that companies that remain closed by orders of the Ministry of Health, in the midst of the National Emergency, due to the impact of COVID-19, will receive an automatic extension of all the suspended contracts that have been registered. For companies that despite exceptions and that can operate, but that have decided to suspend their workers for some sustainable reason, will have to carry out the extension process every 30 days, as established by Executive Decree 95 of April 21, 2020 The procedure will be carried out by email at the MitradelRegional Offices, according to the location of the company in the national territory.
The companies that are gradually opening operations with the authorization of the Health Authority, may reactivate their workers according to the operational need that is allowed, this process, according to Executive Decree 96 of May 15, 2020, will have to do so. using the digital form available on the page www.mitradel.gob.pa
HEALTH PROFESSIONALS ASK MINSA FOR NUMBERS OF PROFESSIONALS AFFECTED BY COVID-19
At the initiative of the National Association of Nurses of Panama, through its president Ana Reyes de Serrano, together with health groups, they held a brief conversation with the media, to show their concern about the health condition of professionals with COVID- 19 which includes doctors, nurses, technicians and even administrative and cleaning personnel from the different hospitals. The conversation through the zoom platform, sought that the media could know the letter that was sent to the Ministry of Health (Minsa) recently, where they request the number of infected staff, a breakdown of cases by medical facility and the classification criteria of the type of contagion; adding that the requested information would respect the confidentiality of those affected. The unions hope that the health authorities can provide the information as soon as possible so that the outbreaks, health sites can be identified and, in this way, support the training of personnel so that they can redouble their protection in hospitals. The letter sent to the Ministry of Health is expected to be taken into account, since other measures of not receiving a prompt response are not ruled out.
In the virtual meeting this Thursday, the following participated as guests: Dr. Carlos Gálvez of the Panamanian Society of Public Health; Virginia León Coordinator of Conagreprotsa, Juan Samaniego of the Association of Independent Officials of the CSS; the representative of the National Association of Social Workers, Kenya Batista; the president of the National College of Clinical Laboratory Workers of Panama Conalac, Julio Nieto and the representative of the National Association of Manual Workers of the CSS, Rodrigo Soto.
https://www.tvn-2.com/nacionales/Gremios-Minsa-profesionales-afectados-COVID-19_0_5584691530.html
OXFORD EXPANDS TO CHILDREN AND ELDERLY CLINICAL TRIALS OF THEIR CORONAVIRUS VACCINE
The University of Oxford announced this Friday that it will include children and the elderly among the more than 10,000 volunteers it began to recruit for the second phase of human clinical trials of its coronavirus vaccine. The age range of the people to whom the test vaccine will be administered is thus broadened with respect to the first phase, to include groups of 56-69 years, people over 70 and between 5 and 12 years of age, announced the center.
“The researchers will evaluate the immune response to the vaccine in people of different ages, to find out if there is a variation in the response of the immune system in older people or children,” he said in a statement.
The renowned university, located in the center of England, started the first phase of clinical trials in April, with healthy volunteers between 18 and 55 years old, in which more than 1,000 vaccines were administered and whose monitoring is ongoing.
“Clinical studies are progressing very well,” said Andrew Pollard, head of the Oxford vaccine group, cited in a statement. “We are now initiating studies to assess how well the vaccine induces immune responses in older people, and to test whether it can provide protection for the general population,” he added.
However, Pollard told BBC radio that
“it is not possible to predict” when the potential vaccine could be ready. It is very difficult to know exactly when we will have proof that it works,” he said.
The university and the British pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca signed an agreement that, if confirmed the efficacy of the vaccine, could allow to manufacture between 30 million and 100 million doses in the United Kingdom by September. Given the urgency of finding a vaccine against COVID-19, Oxford chose to accelerate a process that normally takes at least a year and a half, starting each phase of trials without waiting for the end of the previous one. The third phase, the start date of which is unknown, will look at how the vaccine works “in a large number of people over the age of 18.”
This project is one of eight worldwide that started clinical trials, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), which has a total of 118 projects.
ITALY WARNS AGAINST USE OF CHLOROQUINE IN COVID
The head of the Italian pharmacological agency says there is little evidence of the efficacy of the malaria drug promoted by US President Donald Trump to treat COVID-19. Dr. Nicola Magrini gave an informative conference on the different tests approved by the Italian Pharmacological Agency during the coronavirus crisis, including one with hydroxychloroquine. Magrini said the agency only recommends the use of that drug for some patients, alone or associated with others in the framework of clinical trials.
THE JUDICIAL BODY PREPARES ITS NEW RULES
The authorities of the Judicial Branch refine details to reactivate their work in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. Following an agreement of the plenary of the Supreme Court of Justice, they created the special committee Covid-19, which will see the matter of lifting the suspension of the judicial terms, scheduled for June 7. The committee, made up of six people from different departments, will be in charge of the biosecurity measures and sanitary procedures that will be applied. The group will ensure, among other things, the registration of each person who enters a judicial office, as well as the cleaning of the areas and the disclosure of everything related to the pandemic. The president of the Court, Luis Ramón Fábrega, said that the virtual hearings will continue, so they are acquiring computer equipment.
https://www.prensa.com/impresa/panorama/el-rgano-judicial-prepara-su-nueva-normalidad/
NEAR 250 PANAMANIAN ASHES IN THE US EXPECT TO BE ABLE TO RETURN TO THE COUNTRY
Approximately 250 Panamanians remain stranded in different cities in the US and hope to return to Panama in the coming days, with the announcement of humanitarian flights that will be announced by the authorities on Monday, May 25. About 250 Panamanians are stranded in the United States. Hugo Famanía
“We are more than 250 Panamanians who are in the United States, among students, the elderly, residents and we are seeing how the Government can help us return to Panama,” said Yoel Herrera.
He added that they have maintained communication with the Panamanian consulates and have been informed that they are coordinating, and the Panamanian embassy in Washington informed them that they are awaiting the guidelines of the Panamanian Ministry of Health (Minsa).
“We are seeing when the Foreign Ministry confirms the flights, supposedly on the 25th of this month they are going to put a new list of flights and we hope that the people who are stranded here in the US can return to Panama,” he said.
https://www.telemetro.com/nacionales/2020/05/22/cerca-250-panamenos-varados-eeuu/2882509.html
ASEP EXTENDS SUSPENSION OF TERMS UNTIL JUNE 8
The National Authority of Public Services (ASEP) announced this Friday, May 22, an extension until June 8, of the suspension of the terms in all the administrative processes that are processed in the institution, without implying the closure of the offices. Through Resolution AN No. 1081-ADM of May 15, 2020,
“it is communicated that the extension of the extension applies to all administrative processes that were pending within the institution as of March 11,” says a note from press.
The resolution states that users, licensees and their agents must use the computer and technological means to exchange information on their respective processes or procedures with the different departments of the authority. The resolution considers extending the term due to the public health situation that the country is going through with the cases of COVID-19, which is why it is necessary to establish a series of temporary measures, which will help mitigate the spread of the disease, reducing its risk. contagion. The entity had previously established the suspension until May 18.
https://www.tvn-2.com/nacionales/ASEP-extiende-suspension-terminos-junio_0_5584691499.html
A GROUP OF MIGRANTS WHO ARE IN DARIÉN TRIED TO GET MOBILIZED
The director of the National Border Service, Oriel Ortega, (Senafront) explained that on Thursday, May 22, a group of migrants of the more than a thousand who are in the province of Darien, tried to mobilize from the place, before which the entity’s units had to mediate to contain them.
“A small group of these 1,900 people tried to move yesterday, our units did the same to contain them … they said they were going to move as they were, that they were going to continue walking,” said Ortega.
He added that after about two hours order was restored and the migrants returned to their camp, however, the issue of language has made it difficult to explain the worldwide border closure situation as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We have just had a meeting with the International Committee of the Red Cross and also with Unicef to see if we can manage to bring interpreters who can explain what is happening in the world regarding this situation, at this moment everything is calm, that was a yesterday situation that did not last more than two hours, “he said.
https://www.telemetro.com/nacionales/2020/05/22/grupo-migrantes-darien-trato/2884168.html
QUICK COVID-19 TESTING WILL BE APPLIED TO HIGHER RISK PATIENTS
The Ministry of Health (Minsa) announced that it received 5,000 rapid tests for COVID-19, which will be applied to people with the highest risk of infection. To this, it is added that the National Government granted a game of 2 million dollars to the Gorgas Commemorative Institute of Health Studies (ICGES), for the acquisition, as a priority, of more rapid tests. What is sought is to increase screening, which will allow the timely detection of more positive COVID-19 and thus give them medical attention. Only yesterday, after the 74th day since the first case was announced, Panama reached and exceeded 10,000 COVID-19 cases.
New commission
On the other hand, it was reported that a commission was established yesterday that will evaluate the acquisition procedures for COVID-19, through a special procedure, during the months of March, April and May. It is a multidisciplinary team made up of technicians from the Ministry of Health and specialists who will have the mission of verifying compliance with the legal and technical criteria of these efforts, in order to comply with government regulations. Meanwhile, the Minsa reiterates the call to parents to come to vaccinate infants from 6 months to two years, to complete the vaccination chart. So far, 784,474 doses of influenza vaccines have been placed between the Minsa and the Social Security Fund (CSS). The Minsareiterates to the population to continue implementing measures such as physical distancing, constant handwashing and the correct use of masks, which are efficient weapons to eradicate COVID-19.
MINSA WILL PUBLISH REPORTS ON PURCHASES IN JANUARY, FEBRUARY AND SOME OF MARCH IN NEXT DAYS
The Ministry of Health (Minsa) is complying with the provisions of the law on transparency, in relation to purchases made during the state of emergency, as confirmed by the head of that portfolio, Rosario Turner. Minister Turner points out that Minsa is complying with the transparency law. Rolando Delgado
“In terms of transparency, it is regrettable that the information is distorted because the information is not at the time that some group prefers to have it, but it does not go according to what the law establishes. Law 22 clearly establishes that reports after a health emergency must be five days after the closing of the public health event, therefore, we are complying with the law,” Turner said.
However, he added that Minsa will be publishing reports on purchases made in the first months of the year over the next few days.
“We are committing ourselves to the fact that in the next few days all the purchases that the Ministry of Health has made in relation to this issue, both in January and February and some of March are in the system because they meet the parameters,” he said.
On the other hand, he clarified that, if the Ministry of Health were to correspond to be the evaluator of the purchase process of any institution and it does not meet the parameters, does not meet the technical sheet, does not have a bidder or the price is not fair, the acquisition process will not continue.
https://www.telemetro.com/nacionales/2020/05/22/minsa-publicara-proximos-dias-informes/2884050.html
MINISTER OF PUBLIC WORKS SHOULD RESPOND TO MODULAR HOSPITAL AND CHINA PROPOSAL
The Administration Prosecutor’s Office accepted a complaint, filed by the lawyer Ernesto Cedeño, against the Minister of Public Works, Rafael Sabonge, and asks for answers about his management and the Hospital Panamá Solidario. In a note addressed to Sabonge’s office, dated May 21, the Office of the Attorney General asks you to respond if there was a proposal from a Chinese company to adapt the Amador Convention Center in a temporary modular hospital. It is also requested to present a copy of the query sent to the Ministry of Health (Minsa) on the Chinese proposal, a copy of the response from Minsa, and a copy of the Chinese company. In addition, it is questioned whether there is a report on the Panama Solidarity Integrated Hospital carried out by the Panamanian Society of Engineers and Architects (SPIA), and what are the conclusions drawn by the Ministry of Public Works from this report. Lastly, they request that you send a copy of a report with the reasons why it was decided to use hotels to house mild COVID-19 patients.
“There was no clear accountability from the ministry,” said Cedeño.
He adds that, if the Administration’s attorney finds that a crime was committed, he can refer the case to the Public Ministry.
“It must be investigated. There must be accountability,” the lawyer concluded.
https://www.tvn-2.com/nacionales/Ministro-Obras-Publicas-responder-propuesta_0_5584691534.html
STATUS UPDATE:
PANAMA ACCUMULATES A TOTAL OF 10,267 DETECTED CASES OF INFECTION AND 295 DEATHS BY COVID-19
- 10,267 positive cases
- 151 new cases
- 295 deaths
- 3,358 home isolation (621 hospital hotels)
- 339 are hospitalized (271 in the ward / 68 intensive care)
- 6,275 clinically recovered
- 55,018 tests have been highlighted, of which 1,090 are new tests and 42,806 are negative
The Ministry of Health (Minsa) of Panama confirmed 4 deaths and 151 new cases of COVID-19 in the last 24 hours.
With these figures, there are 295 deaths in the country and 10,267 cases accumulated by this virus.
According to the MINSA epidemiological report, of the total number of patients there are 3,358 in home isolation, including 621 in hotels and 339 are hospitalized, of whom 271 are in the ward and 68 are in intensive care.
There are 6,275 patients who are now clinically recovered.
55,018 tests have been carried out to diagnose COVID-19, of which 42,806 have been negative.
Regarding the distribution of cases by provinces, it is broken down as follows: Panama (6,516), Panama West (1,931), Colón (399), Veraguas (400), Chiriquí (296), Guna Yala(227), Darién (204), Coclé (88), Bocas del Toro (94), Comarca Ngäbe Buglé (79), Herrera (16) and Los Santos (17).
The Minsa asked citizens to continue implementing measures such as physical distance, constant hand washing and the correct use of masks.
Brett’s Comments: I would like to point out that MINSA’s numbers don’t seem to be adding up. Since over a week now, the total number of tests vs the number of negative results and positive results do not add up. 55,018 (total tests) – 42,806 (negative cases) = 12,212. The total number of positive cases should be 12,212, but the official number reported today is 10267. That’s a difference of 1,945 cases. Yesterday, they reported 53,928 total tests of which 41932 were negative. That’s a difference of 11,996, but the total positive tests were reported at 10,116. That’s a difference of 1,880. The difference between today and yesterday is 1,945 – 1,880 = 65; my guess is that these tests are “inconclusive” test cases, but I don’t know for sure. I’ll have to look into that someday…
Coronavirus statistics from Day 1:
- Mon, March 9: 1 case – Panama’s first detected 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)
- Tue, May 5: 7523 cases (+136)
- Wed, May 6: 7731 cases (+208)
- Thu, May 7: 7868 cases (+137)
- Fri, May 8: 8070 cases (+202)
- Sat, May 9: 8282 cases (+212)
- Sun, May 10: 8448 cases (+166)
- Mon, May 11: 8616 cases (+168)
- Tue, May 12: 8783 cases (+167)
- Wed, May 13: 8944 cases (+161)
- Thu, May 14: 9118 cases (+174)
- Fri, May 15: 9268 cases (+150)
- Sat, May 16: 9449 cases (+181)
- Sun, May 17: 9606 cases (+157)
- Mon, May 18: 9726 cases (+120)
- Tue, May 19: 9867 cases (+141)
- Wed, May 20: 9977 cases (+110)
- Thu, May 21: 10,116 cases (+139)
- Fri, May 22: 10,267 cases (+151)
ENDNOTES
Time for a cheesy end–of–the–week joke. This was sent to me by my friend Stephen who I plan on having a coffee with once this is all over:
The American Medical Association debated whether the country should be re-opened. Here are the results by medical specialty.
The Allergists were in favor of scratching it, but
the Dermatologists advised not to make any rash moves.
The Gastroenterologists had sort of a gut feeling about it, but
the Neurologists thought the Administration had a lot of nerve.
Meanwhile, Obstetricians felt certain everyone was laboring under a misconception, while
the Ophthalmologists considered the idea shortsighted.
Many Pathologists yelled, “Over my dead body!”
While the Pediatricians said, “Oh, grow up!”
Psychiatrists thought the whole idea was madness, while the
Radiologists could see right through it.
Surgeons decided to wash their hands of the whole thing and the
Internists claimed it would indeed be a bitter pill to swallow.
The Plastic Surgeons opined that this proposal would “put a whole new face on the matter.”
The Podiatrists thought it was a step forward, but
the Urologists were pissed off at the whole idea.
Anesthesiologists thought the whole idea was a gas, and those lofty
Cardiologists didn’t have the heart to say no.
In the end, the Proctologists won out, leaving the entire decision up to the assholes in Washington.
Stay safe… Stay healthy… And by all means STAY HOME!!…
Good morning,
I am interested in your news letter.
Thank you Allen – I’ll make sure you’re on the mailing list (if you’re not already there).
Jack McClain sent me…good stuff
Thank you Ray – I appreciate the comment. I’ll make sure you’re on the mailing list.