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 22 – Monday, September 28, 2020 Argentina STATS: 711,325 cases of COVID-19, 15,749 deceased, as confirmed by the Health Ministry.

[EXECUTIVE POWER] By Decree, the [LOCAL MEASURES] The Tax Agency of the [DIGITAL ECONOMY] Looking forward to the prohibition against dismissals without fair Province of Buenos Aires extended until event called CiberMonday, organized by the cause, or due to lack of work or mayor force December 31st the term for SMES to adhere to the Argentinian Chamber of E Commerce, the was extended until the end of November. the Plan for the regularization of their debts, Government announced that companies will (Source) for provincial taxes. (Source) receive trainings on Consumers Rights. (Source) [COVID RELATED] In order to ease the [FOOD AND BEVERAGE] Representatives of [HEALTH] The National Health Ministry led economic effects of the pandemic on the most the Chamber of Alimentary Industries virtual meetings of the Federal Health Counsel, vulnerable sectors of the population, the expressed that they are currently on a period in order to share the experiences regarding the National Executive extended until January 31st of conversations with the Ministry of pandemic, of the sanitary authorities from the decree that freezes the rental prices. Productive Development, to increase the different regions of the country. (Source) (Source) prices of the products included in the Plan Precios Máximos . (Source)

[ECONOMY] Amid the tension caused by the [TECHNOLOGY] The Minister of Productive [MANUFACTURING] The Government declared restrictive measures issued by the Central Development Matías Kulfas, officially launched 15 new economic activities as critical and Bank, and in the middle of a period of credit lines for the purchase of electrical included their industries among the conversations with the IMF, for the appliances, to pay in 36 installments, with an beneficiaries of the new edition of the Plan of restructuring of the debt, IMF spokesman interest rate of 15%,. (Source) Assistance to Work and Production. This Gerry Rice, confirmed that the entity plans to edition of the Plan, sets special benefits for visit Argentina in October, to talk about the those companies who achieve employment economic plans of the country. (Source) goals. (Source) COVID-19 PULSE – PUBLIC AFFAIRS LATAM Tuesday, September 22 – Monday, September 28, 2020 STATS: 4.745.464 cases of COVID-19, 142.058 deceased, as confirmed by the Health Ministry

[EXECUTIVE POWER] President ’s speech [LOCAL MEASURES] The governor of Rio de [DIGITAL ECONOMY] The government should at the United Nations General Assembly, on Tuesday, Janeiro state, Wilson Witzel, is accused for a propose a 0.2% tax on financial transactions in addressed fires in the Amazon region, sustainability, crime of liability from the financial deviations the digital environment, according to the combat the COVID-19 pandemic, emergency aid, and during the COVID pandemic. Witzel is already government's leader in Congress. The new increase of foreign investments in Brazil. The discourse removed from office by decision of the Superior coronavirus pandemic increased public spending was not well accepted by critics, journalists, and Court of Justice (STJ) and will be tried by a mixed (Source) congressman, who claim that President Bolsonaro court, formed of deputies of state inflated economic, environmental, and commercial and judges of the Court of Justice of Rio data. (Source) (TJRJ).(Source)

[COVID RELATED] The Average of deaths in Rio de [FOOD AND BEVERAGE] After shipment of [HEALTH] Brazilian Scientists are dedicated to Janeiro State increased after agglomeration on the infected frozen chicken, China detects again discovering National formulas that protect against beaches during the national holiday. The UTI coronavirus in frozen Brazilian fish and suspends Covid-19 infection. After good results in animals, occupancy rate is 78% (Source) import. (Source) some treatments are prepared for tests with humans. (Source)

[ECONOMY] Brazilian Central Bank reviews the GDP [TECHNOLOGY] The information technology [MANUFACTURING] The confidence of the forecast to a 5% drop in 2020. In June, the monetary vacancies increased 63% in the last 12 months, industry increased in 30 sectors, according to the authority projected a record fall in economic activity of according to the National Employment Bank National Confederation of Industry survey. The 6.4%. According to CB, the indicators show the partial (BNE) survey. The Covid-19 pandemic heats the industrial entrepreneur confidence index (ICEI) resumption of economic activity after the most acute IT market in Brazil. (Source) highlights industries of transformation, period of the pandemic. The Inflation projection is construction, mining, extraction, transport, and 2.1% in 2020 driven by the food sector.(Source) others sectors. (Source) COVID-19 PULSE – PUBLIC AFFAIRS LATAM Tuesday, September 22 – Monday, September 28, 2020 Bolivia STATS: 131,453 cases of COVID-19, 7,693 deceased, as confirmed by the Health Ministry.

[EXECUTIVE POWER] The low prices of raw LOCAL MEASURES] The Government is [DIGITAL ECONOMY] The Deputy Ministry of material commodities in the international analyzing the possibility of a public-private Foreign Trade and Integration promotes the market, such as oil and minerals, caused a alliance to carry out the HUB project consolidation of Electronic Commerce from decrease in resources. Therefore an imminent (international and commercial distribution the Digitization of MIPYMES in Bolivia, through cut of the national and subnational budget is center) at the Viru Viru airport in the city of the Digitization Plan to Foreign Trade. (Source) envisioned. Source) Santa Cruz. (Source)

[COVID RELATED] Avifavir, the Russian [FOOD AND BEVERAGE] The departmental [HEALTH] Sucre Airport officials were medicine to treat COVID-19, arrived at head of the National Service of Agricultural evaluated medically due to suspicions of Cochabamba and is marketed at $ 14. It is Health and Food Safety (Senasag) reported COVID-19 cases. (Source) going to be share-out with all the departments that slaughterhouses in Cochabamba must of Bolivia. Next Monday, the population will be formalize since only four of them have a able to find it in the country's pharmacies. registry. (Source) (Source) [ECONOMY] The rating firm Moody’s reduced [TECHNOLOGY] The United States Embassy in [MANUFACTURING] Business chambers the rating of Bolivia from B1 to B2 due to the Bolivia, through the Talks On The Issues presented on Monday the Business Cluster reduction in the income of the country, fiscal Program, presented the event Designing the Made in Bolivia, a business productive erosion, etc. On the other hand, it adjusted the future through innovation and new development model that seeks to enhance country's outlook from negative to stable, opportunities. (Source) competitiveness through business mainly due to the country's favorable debt associations, training services, and the structure. (Source) articulation of business networks. (Source) COVID-19 PULSE – PUBLIC AFFAIRS LATAM Tuesday, September 22 – Monday, September 28, 2020 Chile STATS: 457,901 cases of COVID-19, 12,641 deceased, as confirmed by the Health Ministry.

[EXECUTIVE POWER] Sebastián Piñera [LOCAL MEASURES] As of this week, only 3% [DIGITAL ECONOMY] Sales of works of art announced the collaboration agreements that of the Metropolitan Region is in total were reactivated through the online channel, the Chilean government is promoting to quarantine. The remaining 97% is in the after the fall that the sector suffered in the ensure the obtaining of potential vaccines Transition or Preparation phase of the Step by first months of the year due to the pandemic. against COVID-19. These agreements are Step Plan, promoted by the authorities to Paintings, sculptures and antiques are the between universities and prestigious control the COVID-19 pandemic in the country most demanded by consumers (Source). laboratories, including Sinovac, AstraZeneca (Source). and CanSino (Source). [COVID RELATED] From this Monday, people [FOOD AND BEVERAGE] The authorities [HEALTH] According to the Health Ministry, will be able to request a special permit to valued the reopening of restaurants in open from March to date, organs transplants have make interregional trips between cities that spaces, which has allowed thousands of jobs fallen by 66%, and donors by 58% compared are in phase 3, 4 or 5 of the Step by Step plan. to be recovered. Currently, 45% of the to the same period in 2019. Today in total, Trips cannot made during curfew (Source). restaurants located in cities in phase 3 of the 2,351 people in Chile expect an organ donor Step by Step plan remain open to the public (Source). (Source). [ECONOMY] More than 35 thousand people [TECHNOLOGY] The Chilean company [MANUFACTURING] Desafío Levantemos Chile have recovered their jobs after 264 private GenoSUR developed Nona Amp, a technology Foundation and the Nostalgic recycled construction projects were resumed in six that replaces a critical step in the COVID-19 clothing store created a collection called "Yo regions of the country. The initiative includes diagnostic -the extraction of RNA-, Elijo Local", where 100% of the profits will go strict sanitary measures for workers (Source). accelerating this process and doubling the directly to support small merchants so that capacity of each laboratory in the country they can reopen their businesses (Source). (Source). COVID-19 PULSE – PUBLIC AFFAIRS LATAM Tuesday, September 22 – Monday, September 28, 2020 Colombia STATS: 818,203 cases of COVID-19, 25,641 deceased, as confirmed by the Health Ministry.

[EXECUTIVE POWER] President Iván Duque LOCAL MEASURES] El Dorado airport set up a [DIGITAL ECONOMY] Colombia was among announced the appointment of former COVID-19 test site with the approval of the the top 20 markets for shopping applications Montería Mayor Carlos Eduardo Correa Escaf National Institute of Health and will perform during the first half of 2020. In Colombia, as the new Minister of the Environment. four types of tests. . (Source) delivery services were successfully adapted to Correa will replace Ricardo Lozano, who had meet demand during the health emergency expressed to the president his intention to and had a growth of about 284 percent leave the office due to health issues. (Source) compared to 2019. (Source)

[COVID RELATED] Health Ministry defined the [FOOD AND BEVERAGE] The Tolima rice [HEALTH] Russian Direct Investment priority with which it will administer the first growers will start the last harvest of the year Fund (RDIF) indicated in a statement that the batch of vaccines against Covid-19. The Health that will begin in September and will last until first antiviral against COVID-19 registered in minister said that the analysis carried out December, and they hope that this will Russia would be exported to Colombia, among initially seeks to cover a population of 14.3 generate income of more than $ 1.5 other countries. The arrival of Afivavir and its million people at a higher risk of mortality. billion. (Source) distribution would be in October of 2020 (Source) (Source) [ECONOMY] Economic analysts consulted by [TECHNOLOGY] The ICT Minister, Karen [MANUFACTURING] The National the Fedesarrollo Financial Opinion Survey Abudinen and deputy minister of Digital Administrative Department of Statistics (Dane) consider that Colombia's GDP will fall between Transformation, Germán Rueda presented the revealed that 62.9% of Commerce, 10 and 7 percent in 2020. This estimate is virtual empowerment program Por TIC Mujer. Manufacturing, Services, and Construction lower compared to last month, which was The strategy seeks to promote companies had a normal operation in July, 6.7%. It contrasts with those of the National entrepreneurship, equity, and online safety for while 31.3% operated partially, and 5.8% had a Government since the Finance Minister women from various regions of the country. temporary shutdown. (Source) expects a drop of 5.5% this year. (Source) (Source) COVID-19 PULSE – PUBLIC AFFAIRS LATAM Tuesday, September 22 – Monday, September 28, 2020 Ecuador STATS: 134,965 cases of COVID-19, 11,280 deceased, as confirmed by the Health Ministry.

[EXECUTIVE POWER] In the United Nations LOCAL MEASURES] Quito Mayor, Jorge Yunda, [DIGITAL ECONOMY] The Secretary-General of General Assembly, President Lenin Moreno announced measures for tourism reactivation. the Andean Community, Jorge Hernando said that the current health emergency Between the measures are an 80% diminution Pedraza, highlighted that electronic commerce is requires cooperation, dialogue, and solidarity. on leasing of public space and an expansion of a fundamental, necessary and useful tool to Further, he asked for support to middle- the physical space of businesses. (Source) boost the economy of the countries of the income countries because all nations face Andean Community (Ecuador, Bolivia, Colombia, serious economic problems. (Source) and Peru). (Source)

[COVID RELATED] On September 22, the cities [FOOD AND BEVERAGE] In Quito, bars and [HEALTH] President Lenin Moreno rejected the Quito, Guayaquil, Cuenca, Loja, Santo nighttime entertainment centers will remain Organic Health Code (OHC) approved by Domingo, Ambato and Portoviejo represented closed and gyms will begin a pilot plan for Congress. There were some controversial issues 52% of COVID-19 infected in Ecuador. (Source) reactivation. In contrast, restaurants can about it: (1) care for women with ongoing operate with 50% of their capacity. (Source) abortions; (2) assisted human reproduction; (3) access to contraception methods for adolescents; and (4) regulations on the medicinal use of cannabis. (Source) [ECONOMY] According to the analyst, Héctor [TECHNOLOGY] According to the Foreign [MANUFACTURING] Reinventa Ecuador is an Delgado, and the Quito Commerce Chamber Trade Committee (COMEX), it was settled the initiative that seeks to promote and reactivate president, Patricio Alarcón, the frequent tax elimination of tariffs for technological prioritized sectors of the economy such as the changes, the lack of incentives, and an products in 2019. Due to this and the manufacturing sector. The program will support outdated Labor Code are the reasons why the pandemic, the demand for these assets initiatives that generate USD5 billion and present country is not attractive for foreign increased in 2020. (Source) solutions for entrepreneurship and innovation. investment. (Source) (Source) COVID-19 PULSE – PUBLIC AFFAIRS LATAM Tuesday, September 22 – Monday, September 28, 2020 Mexico STATS: 730,317 cases of COVID-19, 76,430 deceased, as confirmed by the Health Ministry.

[EXECUTIVE POWER] President Andres Manuel [LOCAL MEASURES] Mexico City received the [DIGITAL ECONOMY] Since the López Obrador (AMLO) reported that from the “Tourist Security Stamp 2020" and the "Safe implementation of the Fintech Law in one million jobs lost since the beginning of the Travels" seal from the World Travel and September of 2018, there has been a historical pandemic, 200,000 of these have been Tourism Council, which aims to help tourists investment of almost $1.3 billion USD and a recovered. (Source) feel safe and regain trust of the services in the growing presence of neobanks, 100% digital city. (Source) financial entities, a trend that has strengthen by the pandemic (Source)

[COVID RELATED] New measures that will [FOOD AND BEVERAGE] The World Health [HEALTH] Marcelo Ebrard, Minister of Foreign allow users of the financial system affected by Organization (WHO) awarded the Ministry of Affairs, said that Phase 3 testing for a COVID- the pandemic to restructure their loans, Health for the implementation of the new 19 solution in Mexico will begin on October according to what the Ministry of Treasury, and labeling norm for processed foods and with different vaccines. (Source) the National Banking and Security Commission beverages as a progress to fight Non- presented. (Source) Communicable Diseases (NDCs). (Source)

[ECONOMY] It is forecasted that 2020 will be [TECHNOLOGY] According to EmpleosTI, the [MANUFACTURING] Alejandro Magallon, vice the year with the greatest flow of remittances number of US vacancies for technology president of the Confederation of Industrial into the country from the US in history; with positions directed for people residing in Chambers of Mexico (Concamin) said that if a $40 billion USD, over 12% more that in 2019. Mexico has grown 13% this year in comparison second wave of COVID-19 forces an activity (Source) to 2019. (Source) shutdown, the economy would not be able to recover from it, so they would advice a different approach. (Source) COVID-19 PULSE – PUBLIC AFFAIRS LATAM Tuesday, September 22– Monday, September 28, 2020 Paraguay STATS: 39, 432 cases of COVID-22, 818 deceased, as confirmed by the Health Ministry.

[EXECUTIVE POWER] President Mario Abdo [LOCAL MEASURES] The National Executive [DIGITAL ECONOMY] According to the Benítez highlighted the signs of economic extended until October 4th the restrictive Paraguayan Chamber of Payment Methods, recovery which were registered in the Monthly measures displayed for the departments of digital transactions through e wallets Economic Estimator, and expressed that the Caaguazú and Concepción, due to a increased 109% interannually, and 75%, when National Executive will continue supporting recommendation of the Health Ministry. compared to the time before the quarantine. the productive sector. (Source) (Source) (Source)

[COVID RELATED] President Mario Abdo [FOOD AND BEVERAGE] According to official [HEALTH] The Health Ministry released a Benítez manifested that the date for the figures reported by the Ministry of Agriculture, report which indicates that the speed of the reopening of the borders with Brazil, will be the agricultural production –that supply the virus spread is slowing down, registering a announced this week. (Source) alimentary productive chain- has registered an period for the duplication of cases of 25 days. interannual increase of 17.5% in August, However, it urged the population to continue accumulating a positive variation of 18,8% in complying with the sanitary measures. the second semester of 2020. (Source) (Source)

[ECONOMY] According to the Central Bank of [TECHNOLOGY] The National Counsel of [MANUFACTURING] According to the Central Paraguay, the Economy dropped 0.9% in the Science and Technology announced the Bank of Paraguay, the exportation of first semester of 2020., registering an investment of more than a million dollars, in agricultural manufactures registered an interannual loss of 6.5%, during the second investigation projects, to seek for effective increase of the 1.8% in August, reaching the trimester. (Source) technological solutions against the pandemic. 1.706,8 million dollars. (Source) (Source) COVID-19 PULSE – PUBLIC AFFAIRS LATAM Tuesday, September 22 – Monday, September 28, 2020 Peru

STATS: 804,302 cases of COVID-19, 32,262 deceased, as confirmed by the Health Ministry.

[EXECUTIVE POWER] The National LOCAL [MEASURES] Abancay, Huamanga and [DIGITAL ECONOMY] The National Government extended the state of health Huánuco maintain the focused quarantine and Superintendency of Customs and Tax emergency until October 31. (Source) therefore, the circulation will be limited to Administration (Sunat) will receive virtual justified causes and specifically, for people applications to postpone or divide debts with who provide essential services. (Source) the public treasury or Essalud until the end of the year. (Source)

[COVID RELATED] The Government authorized [FOOD AND BEVERAGE] In phase 4 of the [HEALTH] The Health Minister, Pilar Mazzetti, the transfer of 381 million 326,960 soles for economic reactivation, which begins in announced that this week an agreement will the payment of the Universal Bond of 760 October, restaurants will expand their capacity be reached on the health protocols for the soles in favor of vulnerable families affected in to 50%. (Source) restart of international travel. (Source) their economy. (Source)

[ECONOMY] President Martín Vizcarra [TECHNOLOGY] The Government launched the [MANUFACTURING] The Ministry of Foreign announced that phase 4 of the economic Digital Police Complaint platform, which will Trade and Tourism (Mincetur) announced the reactivation will begin on October 1 partially, allow citizens to carry out this procedure creation of a new non-refundable competitive without the activities that concentrate people virtually, easily and free of charge.(Source) fund for "Turismo Emprende" for 18 million and are high risk. (Source) soles, but this time aimed exclusively at artisans and official tourist guides. (Source) COVID-19 PULSE – PUBLIC AFFAIRS LATAM Tuesday, September 22 – Monday, September 28, 2020 Uruguay STATS: 2.008 cases of COVID-19, 47 deceased, as confirmed by the Health Ministry.

[EXECUTIVE POWER] Authorities of the [LOCAL MEASURES] Presidency does not [DIGITAL ECONOMY] Covid-19, which has Executive made a strong call to the population rule out taking measures against future already caused more than 20,000,000 in general, but particularly those of Rivera massive mobilizations after the annoyance infections and almost a million deaths, is also Department, to maximize controls and care to generated by the behavior of citizens in the changing the way we handle our money. stop the infections of Covid-19 that have been march for Diversity where the protection (Source) increasing in the last week. (Source) measures against Covid-19 were violated. (Source) [COVID RELATED] Since the health emergency [FOOD AND BEVERAGE] The Government [HEALTH] The Executive Power ordered that was declared on March 13, 2,008 confirmed publishes weekly the food prices of a basic those who enter the country, whether positive cases of COVID-19 coronavirus have basket prepared by the Consumer Price Uruguayans or foreigners, for the election on been registered in Uruguay, 1728 have already Information System (SIPC) and the Sunday 27 must take a second test to detect recovered and 233 are developing the disease. Agricultural Market (MAM), with minimums, the SARS-CoV-2 virus in case of staying for (Source) maximums and averages. (Source) more than 4 days in the country. (Source)

[ECONOMY] President Lacalle Pou spoke to [TECHNOLOGY] Researchers and teachers [MANUFACTURING] The pandemic only the UN and warned that the international from the departments of Clinical aggravated the situation in the job market and community faces one of the most distressing Biochemistry, Biosciences and the Institute applications for unemployment insurance episodes of the time and that the scenario is Technological of Pando city of the Faculty of soared, reaching more than 300 thousand until full of uncertainties and threats. (Source) Chemistry, developed a new type of test for June. An encouraging figure: as of May the the detection of SARS-CoV-2. .(Source) labor market halted its fall. (Source)