South American Weekly Report Tuesday, April 27th – Monday, May 03rd, 2021 – COVID Report Tuesday, April 27th – Monday, May 03rd, 2021

3,021,179 64,792 1,130,337 (2,4%) 7,261,176 (16%) Cases of COIVD-19 Deceased Fully Vaccinated Received at least one dose

Political Outlook The president swore to the new minister of transportation, , replacing 1. the deceased Mario Meoni. (Source)

Together with the Governor of Chaco, Jorge Capitanich, the President inaugurated 2. the El Impenetrable aqueduct, where he also announced the call for bids for the construction of the Puerto Las Palmas Cargo Terminal (Source)

Economic Outlook A report revealed that food prices increased by 4.5% in April. (Source) 1.

A report by the Latin American Economic Research Foundation (Fiel) recorded in March 2. a year-on-year growth of 17.8% in its Industrial Production Index (IPI). Meanwhile, the first quarter of 2021 closed 6.3% above the same period of 2020. (Source) COVID-19

The President extended the night-time restrictions on traffic until May 21. (Source) 1.

President Alberto Fernandez will send to Congress a bill that will give him more 2. powers to take measures to contain the pandemic. (Source)

Other News The Minimum, Vital and Mobile Wage Council determined a 35% increase in seven 1. non-cumulative installments from April to February. (Source)

The national government established the General Electoral Command, which will 2. oversee coordinating, executing and monitoring the elections scheduled for this year. (Source) Brazil – COVID Report Tuesday, April 27th – Monday, May 03rd, 2021

14,860,812 411,854 16,723,761(7,9%) 32,881,298 (15,53%) Cases of COIVD-19 Deceased Fully Vaccinated Received at least one dose

Political Outlook

President Jair Bolsonaro edits Provisional Measure that allows further reduction of 1. hours and wages. (Source)

On broadcast, President Jair Bolsonaro ignored the expressive death mark hit by 2. Brazil and fired again at governors and mayors who closed trade. (Source)

Economic Outlook Government used only 19% of budget for Covid-19 in 2021, says adviser to Minister 1. of Economy. (Source)

Fiscal impact of measures to combat Covid-19 was R$ 549.8 billion in 2. 2020. (Source)

COVID-19

The Federal Court in São Paulo determined that the federal government should stop 1. campaigning with references to drugs with no proven effectiveness against Covid- 19. (Source)

Ministry of Health begins distribution of 1 million doses of Pfizer's covid-19 vaccine 2. on May 3. (Source)

Other News In 2020, 21,000 workers became infected with covid-19 exercising tasks in their work 1. environment, according to the Digital Observatory for Safety and Health at Work. (Source)

National research PoderData shows that, for 43% of the interviewees, the President 2. of the Republic, Jair Bolsonaro, is the main responsible for the current situation of the coronavirus crisis in Brazil.(Source) Chile – COVID Report Thursday, April 27th – Wednesday, May 03rd, 2021

1,219.064 26,696 6,811.883 (35,9%) 8,169.056 (43,1%) Cases of COIVD-19 Deceased Fully Vaccinated Received at least one dose

COVID-19 The Health Ministry reported that they are studying implementing a “green card” for 1. people who have completed the two doses of vaccination against COVID-19 (Source).

Sebastián Piñera announced the arrival of new vaccines from the Sinovac laboratory 2. and the extension of the vaccination schedule to speed up the process before the elections on May 15th and May 16th (Source). Political Outlook The Economy Ministry established a new fund of US $ 1,000 million for small and 1. medium-sized companies that have reduced its income due to the pandemic, with the aim of reactivate its businesses (Source).

On Monday, May 3, the process to request the third withdrawal of pension savings 2. began. The measure aims to help people with financial problems due to the pandemic (Source). Economic Outlook The Chilean economy grew 6.4% compared to the same month last year, a number 1. much higher than projected by specialists in the pandemic context. In addition, the indicator is the best registered since April 2018 (Source).

The National Institute of Statistics reported that the unemployment rate for the first 2. quarter reached 10.4% in the country, increasing 2.2 percentage points in 12 months (Source).

Other News The Health Ministry ruled out enabling a special permit for people to make visits next 1. weekend, on the occasion of the celebration of Mother's Day (Source).

Starting this Thursday, five cities in Chile will regress to the Quarantine stage and 2. another three will advance to the Transition stage of the Step by Step Plan. In this way, more than 20 municipalities in the country will leavy the confinement. (Source) Colombia – COVID Report Tuesday, April 27th – Monday, May 03rd, 2021

2,919,805 75,627 1,766,080 (3.6%) 3,454,250 (7%) Cases of COIVD-19 Deceased Fully Vaccinated Received at least one dose

Political Outlook

The National Strike keeps going, and the protesters march around the country. The 1. violent acts of the protesters and the police officers have increased. According to the Ombudsman's Office, 19 persons have died; 13 died by gunshots. (Source)

The United Nations human rights office (OHCHR) on Tuesday voiced alarm over the 2. violence in the city of Cali in Colombia overnight, as some people were reportedly killed and wounded when police opened fire on demonstrators. (Source) Economic Outlook President Iván Duque asked for the removal of the tax reform in Congress. As a 1. result, the director of the National Planning Department, the minister, and vice- ministers of Finance resigned. (Source)

The removal of the tax reform generates an environment of uncertainty in the country. 2. As a result, the dollar price has increased, and the credit rating companies keep evaluating the country's situation in Colombia. (Source) COVID-19

The minister of Health, Fernando Ruíz, announced that people between 50 and 59 1. years old will be included in stage 3 of the COVID-19 vaccination plan. (Source)

Colombia is in the third wave of the pandemic, and there is a general concern on how 2. the national marches will affect the number of COVID-19 contagious cases, which could increase a lot in the next weeks. (Source)

Other News

Blockades and marches generate scarcity of food and fuels in Colombia. (Source) 1.

It started the registry of Venezuelan migrants in the implementation of the Temporary 2. Protection Statute. This is a measure that seeks to regularize Venezuelan migrants with irregular status. (Source) Ecuador – COVID Report Tuesday, April 27th – Monday, May 03rd, 2021

391,242 18,863 245,512 (1.4%) 821,960 (5%) Cases of COIVD-19 Deceased Fully Vaccinated Received at least one dose

Political Outlook

1. National Assembly rushed up the approval of laws and the political judgment of the former minister of Health, Juan Carlos Zevallos, because on May 11 there will be the last session.. (Source)

Table Commission did not admit the third request of removal against the Mayor of 2. Quito, Jorge Yunda. There are still in force two requests. (Source)

Economic Outlook

1. Guillermo Lasso will govern Ecuador with huge economic challenges: high indebtedness and a limited budget. (Source)

2. According to the Inter-American Development Bank, 69% of jobs in Ecuador can be replaced by robots. Of the 12 analyzed countries, Guatemala and El Salvador have the highest percentage of jobs likely to be replaced by robots (75%). (Source) COVID-19

In Quito, 72 persons per day have died in April 2021. In the same period of 2020 1. the average was 40 persons. (Source)

En Quito, los dos puntos de vacunación presentaron denuncias y aglomeraciones de 2. adultos mayores jubilados del Instituto Ecuatoriano de Seguridad Social (IESS). (Source)

Other News The Mayor of Guayaquil, Cynthia Viteri, said that will suspend some awarded 1. contracts by the Mayoralty due to the investigation against her. (Source)

2. National Assembly approved the reform to the Transit law, which changes the points system in the driver license of people. (Source) Paraguay – COVID Report Tuesday, April 27th – Monday, May 03rd, 2021

284,453 6,653 11,068 (0,15%) 92,926 (1,3%) Cases of COIVD-19 Deceased Fully Vaccinated Received at least one dose

Political Outlook President, Mario Abdo Benitez, inaugurated improvements to the Agro-mechanical 1. Technical School of Itacurubí del Rosario. (Source)

The President inaugurated 3 new Family Health Units in the city of Limpio. The new 2. services are part of the "Health for All" Project. (Source)

Economic Outlook According to the results obtained by the technicians of the Central Bank of Paraguay, 1. inflation projections stand at 3.8% for 2021. (Source)

According to the report published by the Ministry of Finance, the country's public 2. debt rose to US$ 13,046 million at the end of the first quarter of 2021, reaching 34.2% of Paraguay's gross domestic product (GDP). (Source)

COVID-19 The Executive Branch presented to the Congress a proposal to reform the Health Emergency Law due to the pandemic, where it establishes sanctions to responsible officials who traffic with 1. vaccines. (Source)

The Government acquired medicines for an amount of 2.5 billion guaraníes and 2. oxygen, with an investment of US$250,000 to strengthen the health system in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic situation. (Source)

Other News The President, Mario Abdo Benítez, will send to Congress the draft law on public 1. supplies and contracting to improve procurement processes. (Source)

The pandemic strengthened exports with an increase in new markets. During the month 2. of March 2021, some four new markets were obtained for exports of products originating in Paraguay, with an initial export value of USD 426,223 dollars. (Source) Peru – COVID Report Tuesday, April 27th – Monday, May 03rd, 2021

1,818,689 62,674 626,672 (1.9%) 1,108,055 (3.5%) Cases of COIVD-19 Deceased Fully Vaccinated Received at least one dose

Political Outlook

The presidential candidates Pedro Castillo and Keiko Fujimori held the first second- 1. round electoral debate in Chota, where they presented their proposals in health, education, economy, security and fight against corruption. (Source)

The National Elections Jury reported that the representatives of the candidates 2. Castillo and Fujimori have not reached an agreement to participate in the electoral debates organized by this institution. (Source)

Economic Outlook The Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) maintains its GDP growth projection at 1. 10% for this year, which would be the highest rate recorded since 1994. (Source)

Agrobanco reported that in the first quarter of 2021 it disbursed 157.18 million 2. soles, which benefited 15,172 small agricultural producers and 886 farmer associations. (Source) COVID-19

The President of the Republic, Francisco Sagasti, said that people with congenital or 1. degenerative problems will be vaccinated with priority against COVID-29, along with older adults. (Source)

President Francisco Sagasti announced that approximately 3 million vaccines will 2. arrive from the Pfizer laboratory in May. (Source)

Other News The Minister of Economy and Finance will file a lawsuit before the Constitutional Court 1. (TC) against the congressional ruling that authorizes the withdrawal of up to 17,600 soles from all AFP affiliates. (Source)

This week the Judiciary will evaluate the request of the defense of the presidential 2. candidate Keiko Fujimori to annul the closure of the investigation for alleged illegal contributions received by her party. (Source) Uruguay – COVID Report Tuesday, April 27th – Monday, May 03rd, 2021

202,492 2,724 677,629 (19,33%) 1,179,606 (33,65%) Cases of COIVD-19 Deceased Fully Vaccinated Received at least one dose

Political Outlook The Government greeted the workers on its day and presented two bills to reactivate 1. employment. (Source)

Dissatisfied with the results of the pandemic in April, ruling party leaders call to 2. replicate the measures adopted in April, also in May. (Source)

Economic Outlook Among the measures announced by the government for the sectors most affected 1. by the pandemic, it is expected that micro and small companies can access loans of up to $ 25.000 at a 0% rate. (Source)

Between February 2020 and January 2021, the BPS registered 65,568 company 2. closures, which were not compensated by the 63,177 that were registered, according to a report from this body they maintain that the recovery will require more time than initially thought. (Source) COVID-19 This Monday begins the return to presence classroom with the reopening of 729 rural 1. schools with a single teacher. On May 10, schools for initial education will be open. (Source)

A new analysis report from the Honorary Scientific Advisory Group warns that a new 2. stage of increased infections could be beginning if the restriction measures are loosened. (Source)

Other News The Government received a delegation of Israeli doctors from the Sheba Medical 1. Center specialized in Covid-19 treatment to exchange about the course of the pandemic in both countries. (Source)

A new report from the Central Bank of Uruguay (BCU) identifies three relevant risks 2. for the base growth scenario of 3.5% for this year. (Source)