COVID-19 PULSE

Start off with a weekly recap of the main Public Affairs developments across LATAM. COVID-19 PULSE – PUBLIC AFFAIRS LATAM Tuesday, September 8 – Monday, September 14, 2020 STATS: 555,537 cases of COVID-19, 11,412 deceased, as confirmed by the Health Ministry.

[EXECUTIVE POWER] The National Executive, [LOCAL MEASURES] The Province of Buenos [DIGITAL ECONOMY] The Government is currently defining the last details of the 2021 Aires extended the term for the process of incorporated to the national legal system a Budget bill, which will be presented at restructuring of the debt issued under foreign Resolution issued by the Mercosur, which sets Congress by Chief of Staff Santiago Cafiero, this legislation, until October 9th . (Source) basic standards for the consumers´ protection week. (Source) for ecommerce. (Source)

[COVID RELATED] The Ministry of Productive [FOOD AND BEVERAGE] of Productive [HEALTH] To strengthen the Health System, Development launched a new edition of the Development is having regular meetings with The National Executive extended the list of Plan of Assistance to Work and Production, for the representatives of the Alimentary Industry, medical supplies an equipment which don´t companies affected by the COVID-19 restrictive to analyze potential price increases, related to pay import duties. (Source) measures. By this Program, the Government variations in the costs of production. (Source) will reimburse the full amount of the credits at subsidized rates given to companies that hire new workers during the upcoming twelve months. (Source) [ECONOMY] The House of Representatives [TECHNOLOGY] The Secretary of Internal [MANUFACTURING] According to a report called a session for this week, to treat the bill Commerce relaunched the programs to pay in published by INDEC, the use of the installed that creates a tax that would reach the installments, called Ahora 12 and Ahora 18. industrial capacity was of 56,8% in July, wealthiest sector of the country, called These programs include domestic appliances, registering a recovery of 2.1%, compared to Solidary Contribution. Its collection, would be and other technological gadgets such as the former month. (Source) destined to sanitary equipment, SMES, and the computers, their repair services, and development of slums, among others. establishes a three-month grace period. (Source) (Source) COVID-19 PULSE – PUBLIC AFFAIRS LATAM Tuesday, September 8 – Monday, September 14, 2020 STATS: 4.349.544 cases of COVID-19, 132.117 deceased, as confirmed by the Health Ministry

[EXECUTIVE POWER] Brazil is still evaluating [LOCAL MEASURES] The state of São Paulo [DIGITAL ECONOMY] Almost 80% of whether it will join the international vaccine may decide next week whether or not to companies increased budget for digital allocation plan against Covid-19, led by the return to school on October 7. (Source) transformation during the pandemic. (Source) World Health Organization (WHO) Covax Facility, said the interim Minister of Health, General Eduardo Pazuello. (Source) [COVID RELATED] This Monday, 14, Brazil [FOOD AND BEVERAGE] A study carried out by [HEALTH] Due to the pandemic, Brazil carried resumed testing the vaccine against covid-19 the Food Research Center points out that out, between April and June this year, less than developed by the University of Oxford in 52.3% of people - of the 3,000 who were half of the organ and tissue transplants at the partnership with the AstraZeneca laboratory. interviewed - do not clean fruits beginning of the year.(Source) (Source) correctly. (Source) [ECONOMY] Economy Minister Paulo Guedes [TECHNOLOGY] The pandemic represented an [MANUFACTURING] Traditional Brazilian stressed that all the spending effort the opportunity for growth for many businesses. industries have modernized their production government has been making for the next 10 The Brazilian Startup Association (Abstartups), with the support of startups during the years is being spent on the new coronavirus informs that 705 were created in Brazil in pandemic. This demand created new pandemic. (Source) 2020. In the Federal District, some managed to opportunities for the technology sector. triple the revenue in the middle of the (Source) pandemic. (Source) COVID-19 PULSE – PUBLIC AFFAIRS LATAM Tuesday, September 8 – Monday, September 14, 2020 STATS: 127,619 cases of COVID-19, 7,394 deceased, as confirmed by the Health Ministry.

[EXECUTIVE POWER] The Government and the LOCAL MEASURES] The Mayor's Office of [DIGITAL ECONOMY] A virtual fashion show Federation of Municipal Associations (FAM- Sucre signed an agreement for the supply of will be held, for the first time in Bolivia, where Bolivia) agreed to ask the Andean the Russian medicine Avifavir. It will reach at an avatar model will present the five best Development Corporation (CAF) for a loan of least 1,000 patients with COVID-19. (Source) designs of the renowned Bolivian brand Juan Bs 1,400 million for the next municipal de la Paz. (Source) elections. (Source)

[COVID RELATED] Authorities warned that [FOOD AND BEVERAGE] decided to [HEALTH] Health Minister launched the Active provinces, where the levels of control have cancel the ban on exports of agricultural Community Surveillance Strategy in Pando and lowered, have a constant exchange with the products, such as soybeans, chia, and beef, delivered medical equipment. (Source) capital cities, which also puts the health of from Bolivia. (Source) their inhabitants at risk. (Source)

[ECONOMY] Economy Minister Óscar Ortiz [TECHNOLOGY] The state telephone company [MANUFACTURING] Micro and small reported that in the first half of this year, the Entel will install, in the coming months, 500 companies are one of the sectors most fiscal deficit reached the amount expected for WiFi points in urban and rural municipalities so affected in Bolivia by the economic crisis. The the entire year. Also, he anticipated that in the the inhabitants can access the internet service economic crisis derived from the pandemic has second semester the situation would continue. for free. (Source) brought with it the closure of more than 30% (Source) of the micro and small companies. (Source) COVID-19 PULSE – PUBLIC AFFAIRS LATAM Tuesday, September 8 – Monday, September 14, 2020 STATS: 437,983 cases of COVID-19, 12,040 deceased, as confirmed by the Health Ministry.

[EXECUTIVE POWER] Sebastián Piñera [LOCAL MEASURES] To reinforce the [DIGITAL ECONOMY] The first IT Job Fair was announced that the State of Constitutional inspection of the sanitary measures on September 9 and September 10. The online Exception for Catastrophe, issued last March established for the celebration of the National event offered more than a thousand as a result of the pandemic, will be extended Holidays, the Metropolitan Region of Santiago technological jobs. (Source). for 90 more days, at least until December. In will have 100 new inspectors. (Source). any case, the restriction could end before that period depending on the sanitary conditions (Source). [COVID RELATED] Opposition sectors entered [FOOD AND BEVERAGE] According to the [HEALTH] Health Ministry reported that the a constitutional accusation against former Trade Association of Supplier Industries, the nationwide positivity rate for PCR tests for the Health Minister Jaime Mañalich for his food and beverage supplier industry diagnosis of COVID-19 decreased from 17% to handling of the pandemic. They accuse him of experienced a rise in July. The sale of 6% in the last 90 days. Additionally, daily tests affecting the life and physical and mental beverages, beers, and spirits grew 21.4% and increased from 16,000 to more than 31,000 integrity of thousands of Chileans. (Source). food increased by 4.4%. (Source). (Source).

[ECONOMY] Labor and Economy Ministries [TECHNOLOGY] Paying the accounts through [MANUFACTURING] During August, US$160 launched 7,000 free and online quotas to train various digital channels to avoid going to a million in bottled Chilean wine were exported, entrepreneurs and workers of small bank is increasingly common. This modality 9% more than during the same month of companies, to help them reactivate during the increased as a result of the COVID-19 2019, according to the Central Bank. This pandemic. (Source). pandemic, so companies have had to design increase would be related to the reopening of much friendlier apps for these processes. several destination markets that had closed (Source). due to the pandemic (Source). COVID-19 PULSE – PUBLIC AFFAIRS LATAM Tuesday, September 8 – Monday, September 14, 2020 STATS: 721,892 cases of COVID-19, 23,123 deceased, as confirmed by the Health Ministry.

[EXECUTIVE POWER] Defense Minister Carlos LOCAL MEASURES] Mayor of Bogota Claudia [DIGITAL ECONOMY] ICT Ministry publishes Holmes Trujillo apologized on behalf of the Lopez asked forgiveness for police brutality the Modernization Plan of the Postal sector police for the death of Javier Ordoñez, a and called for reconciliation after protests in 2020-2024, which sets the guidelines to lawyer killed by police who pinned him down the city. Claudia Lopez made a call for the generate its transformation in the context of and repeatedly shocked him with a Taser. His police to become a civilian organization rather digitization and e-commerce. (Source) death sparked several nights of protests than a military organization. (Source) against police brutality in Bogota, leaving 13 dead and hundreds injured. (Source) [COVID RELATED] After almost seven months [FOOD AND BEVERAGE] Health Ministry [HEALTH] According to Legal Medicine, without operating, the international air issued resolution 1569 of 2020 that establishes between March 25 and August 18, 868 people operation would restart on September 21st. the biosafety protocols that restaurants and suicided, almost six suicides a day. It was filed The reactivation of international flights will be bars must-have for the consumption of a bill in Congress to strengthen the Health gradual and will begin with routes to the alcoholic beverages. (Source) Ministry through the creation of a specialized and some Latin American office of . (Source) countries. (Source) [ECONOMY] Alberto [TECHNOLOGY] According to the Digital [MANUFACTURING] The National Carrasquilla said that the economic Quality of Life Index 2020, which researches Administrative Department of Statistics reactivation plan has already begun, which the quality of digital wellbeing in 85 countries, (DANE) reported that the real production of envisions public spending of COP 24.9 billion Colombia has one of the worst internet the Colombian manufacturing industry fell and an investment of COP 109.4 billion in the accesses in the world (position 83). It analyzes 8.5% in July 2020 compared to the same medium and long term. (Source) internet affordability, internet quality, month of 2019. (Source) electronic infrastructure, electronic government, and electronic security. (Source) COVID-19 PULSE – PUBLIC AFFAIRS LATAM Tuesday, September 8 – Monday, September 14, 2020 STATS: 118,911 cases of COVID-19, 10,922 deceased, as confirmed by the Health Ministry.

[EXECUTIVE POWER] Ecuador ends the State LOCAL MEASURES] In Quito, the mega- [DIGITAL ECONOMY] Regarding the Tax of Exception. However, face-to-face classes in operations to control citizenship and verify Simplification and Progressivity Law, users of public schools will continue to be suspended, compliance with the restrictions due to the digital platforms will pay VAT from September teleworking for vulnerable people will be health emergency were expanded. (Source) 16 who do not have tax residences in Ecuador. maintained, and borders and ports will (Source) continue to be restricted. (Source) [COVID RELATED] The Government of Ecuador [FOOD AND BEVERAGE] Due to the end of the [HEALTH] In Ecuador, about 20,000 people will said it faces problems for the processing of State of Exception, restaurants will be able to be recruited to test the vaccine against COVID- coronavirus samples due to the lack of deliver a "statement of discharge for groups" 19. The initiative is part of the Solidarity program reagents and the capacity of laboratories. to their customers that allows them to and will test phase 3 vaccines developed by (Source) eliminate the requirement of social distancing. Oxford and AstraZeneca; Pfizer; Modern; and Also, the maximum capacity in restaurants will vaccines developed in and . (Source) be 50%. (Source) [ECONOMY] President Lenín Moreno affirmed [TECHNOLOGY] Ecuador began to issue the [MANUFACTURING] Between January and July that the external resources that arrive as biometric passport, and the digital 2020, 14 of the 27 export sectors had negative international support for the country will be identification card for citizens, this will help returns compared to the same period in 2019. used to: Regularize the payment of salaries; reduce the possibility of identity theft, allow Among the activities were oil, flowers, clothing, pay debts with State providers; guarantee rapid authentication, and provides a universal and manufacturing. Meanwhile, bananas, fruits, social security; increase the coverage of social reading system. (Source) cocoa, and processed products recorded the assistance programs; and injecting new highest positive figures. (Source) resources into the credit fund. (Source) COVID-19 PULSE – PUBLIC AFFAIRS LATAM Tuesday, September 8 – Monday, September 14, 2020 STATS: 668,381 cases of COVID-19, 70,821 deceased, as confirmed by the Health Ministry.

[EXECUTIVE POWER] President Andres Manuel [LOCAL MEASURES] According to Claudia [DIGITAL ECONOMY] The transformation in López Obrador (AMLO) said that unlike Mexico, Sheinbaum, Mexico City’s mayor, there could consumer habits due to the pandemic will countries with larger economies were far less have been 10 times more contangion if testing drive growth in the fintech sector in Latin successful at controlling the pandemic even and contact tracing had not increased. With America, substituting the traditional banking when their health infrastructures were more than 200,000 tests so far, Mexico City did industry. The Fintech industry sees positively supposedly better. (Source) not follow the national authorities’ strategy, governments’ actions laying the foundation for and did widespread testing. (Source) these changes. (Source)

[COVID RELATED] El Buen Fin, a yearly [FOOD AND BEVERAGE] The Chamber of [HEALTH] Jose Luis Alomia, director of weekend with discounts in all stores, will be Commerce, Services and Small Tourism Epidemiology in the Ministry of Health, shared extended for 2 weeks, from November 9 to 20, (Canacope) of Mexico City estimates that the that 17 states in the country show a downward to avoid crowds and reactivate the domestic economic spill for the celebration of the trend of COVID-19 cases, which has consumption, attempting to reach $118 billion Independence Day (September 15) will be contributed to a decline of the pandemic in the MXN like in 2019. (Source) around $276 million MXN, which represents country. (Source) 60% less than previous years. (Source) [ECONOMY] According to the Organization for [TECHNOLOGY] 5G technology will create an [MANUFACTURING] Moody's Investors Service Economic Cooperation and Development economic spillover in Mexico of $730 million estimates that the manufacturing and tourism (OECD), Mexico had a 17.1% drop in its GDP USD between 2021 and 2025. (Source) sectors in Mexico will be the most affected in during the second quarter of the year, making terms of job losses due to the pandemic. it the third country with the worst economic (Source) contraction among the G20 countries. (Source) COVID-19 PULSE – PUBLIC AFFAIRS LATAM Tuesday, September 8– Monday, September 14, 2020 Paraguay STATS: 27, 817 cases of COVID-22, 525 deceased, as confirmed by the Health Ministry.

[EXECUTIVE POWER] This week, the Budget [LOCAL MEASURES] The Executive Power [DIGITAL ECONOMY] [DIGITAL ECONOMY] Commission of the Congress will receive officialized the beginning of the social The President of the Central Bank expressed several authorities of the Executive Power, quarantine phase for the departments of the that the digital economy sector is an which will explain their plans for the execution Caaguazú and Concepción. (Source) important strategic sector to develop, for the of the budget lines assigned to their activities. job creation. (Source) (Source)

[COVID RELATED] The Director of Health [FOOD AND BEVERAGE] According to the [HEALTH] Health Minister Julio Mazzoleni, Surveillance, expressed that the region of Alto Ministry of Industry and Commerce, during the manifested that, as the capacity of the health Paraná is no longer the pandemic epicenter, last two years, Paraguay´s exports –which are system has reached its limits, the Ministry will which is progressively turning towards the mainly constituted by alimentary products- initiate a phase of stricter sanitary measures. Metropolitan Area of the Country. (Source) reached 35 new countries. (Source) (Source)

[ECONOMY] According to a report, issued by [TECHNOLOGY] The Minister of Agriculture [MANUFACTURING] According to the Monthly the Ministry of Finances, the payments Santiago Bertoni, expressed that the National Estimator of Economic Activity, July´s destined to cover interests generated by the Government will continue working an economic activity registered an interannual public debt, registered an interannual increase incentive plan, so that rural producers increase of 0.9%. The activities whose of 13.2% in August. (Source) incorporate technology to their productive performance improvement explain this processes, and improve the quality of their number, are mainly agriculture, industry, and production. He emphasized that agriculture construction. (Source) and livestock, means 60% of the Gross Domestic Product. (Source) COVID-19 PULSE – PUBLIC AFFAIRS LATAM Tuesday, September 8 – Monday, September 14, 2020 Peru

STATS: 733,860 cases of COVID-19, 30,812 deceased, as confirmed by the Health Ministry.

[EXECUTIVE POWER] The Congress approved a LOCAL [MEASURES] In Cusco were created [DIGITAL ECONOMY] Essalud approved the motion to start impeachment proceedings the Amazon and Andean Covid-19 Commands, directive "Operation and Control of the Virtual against President Martin Vizcarra over leaked which will allow containing the advance of the Integrated Window of the Insured-VIVA" to audiotapes and alleged ties to the singer virus in the most remote native and peasant improve access and the opportunity to attend Richard Cisneros involved in a fraud case. communities of the region. (Source) insurance procedures. (Source) (Source)

[COVID RELATED] On Wednesday, September [FOOD AND BEVERAGE] Agriculture Ministry [HEALTH] The Government empowered the 9, the clinical trials of phase 3 of the candidate approved the Regulation of the Law for the Health Ministry to sign contracts or vaccine of the Sinopharm laboratory began. Promotion of the Development of Agricultural agreements with the private sector for (Source) Producers' Markets, through which the financing, co-financing, or providing a formalization of organizations and their collaboration of any kind to help with the inclusion in formal financial services would be contracting of the vaccine against COVID-19. promoted. (Source) (Source) [ECONOMY] The State has a margin to [TECHNOLOGY] Education Ministry is [MANUFACTURING] Indecopi and the World guarantee more than 10,000 million soles in developing the strategy "Todos y Todas Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) credits for micro and small companies (mypes) conectados". It aims to bring connectivity launched the Inventors Support Program (PAI) throughout the country. These resources could through a system of web servers that allow the in Peru, which will allow low-income Peruvian benefit more than 400,000 mypes. (Source) transmission of the program “Aprendo en inventors and local micro-businesses to access Casa" to 18,000 educational institutions. free private patent legal services. (Source) (Source) COVID-19 PULSE – PUBLIC AFFAIRS LATAM Tuesday, September 8 – Monday, September 14, 2020 STATS: 1.808 cases of COVID-19, 45 deceased, as confirmed by the Health Ministry.

[EXECUTIVE POWER] The Ministry of Economy [LOCAL MEASURES] The Ministry of Tourism [DIGITAL ECONOMY] Digital business models and Finance hopes to recover some 50,000 asked the Ministry of to start are emerging, and more gig economy are jobs after the destruction of jobs as a result of studying the possibility of enabling special legacies of covid-19. (Source) the pandemic. (Source) protocols to receive tourists from Argentina and Brazil. (Source)

[COVID RELATED] Since the health emergency [FOOD AND BEVERAGE] The Government [HEALTH] The WHO highlighted the Uruguayan was declared on March 13, 1,808 confirmed introduced modifications and further success in fighting the pandemic and assured positive cases of COVID-19 coronavirus have extended the labeling of food decree, whose that Uruguay has one of the most robust and been registered in Uruguay, 1,513 have inspection will begin in February 2021. resilient health systems in Latin America, with already recovered and 250 are developing the (Source) a sustainable investment based on the political disease. (Source) consensus on the importance of investing in health. (Source)

[ECONOMY]. The Ministry of Economy and [TECHNOLOGY] Uruguayan researchers [MANUFACTURING] Manufacturing industry Finance estimated that the fall in the economy designed a coronavirus test with LAMP activity suffered a major blow with the arrival in the second quarter was around 10%, technology, which has the advantage of of Covid-19. (Source) although they underlined that positive allowing rapid diagnosis in areas devoid of indicators can already be seen today. (Source) equipment. (Source)