South American Weekly Report Thursday, August 12th – Wednesday, August 18th, 2021 – COVID Report Thursday, Aug 12th – Wednesday, Aug 18th, 2021

5,096,443 109,405 10,257,176 (22,8 %) 26,684,756 (59,4%) Cases of COIVD-19 Deceased Fully Vaccinated Received at least one dose

Political Outlook

President Alberto Fernández will lead the inaugural meeting of the Census 1. Committee for the National Population, Household and Housing Census to be carried out in 2022. (Source)

2. The president traveled to Entre Rios to announce a support program for rural workers. (Source)

Economic Outlook

1. The price of the basic food basket increased during the first two weeks of August by 1.4%. (Source)

Sales of mass consumer products increased by 1.7% in July compared to the same 2. month of the previous year, thus breaking a streak of fourteen consecutive months of decline in the year-on-year comparison. (Source) COVID-19

The coronavirus vaccine being developed jointly by the Conicet and the University of 1. San Martín (Unsam) will be used as a "booster", a reinforcement of others, and trials with Phase 1 volunteers could begin in early 2022. (Source)

The head of the Cabinet of Ministers, , and the Minister of Health, 2. , formally received the first Sputnik V vaccines manufactured by Richmond Laboratory. (Source) Other News

The National Government decided to relaunch the "Previaje" program to reactivate 1. tourism in the country. (Source)

The Government created the Zero Rate Credit Program 2021 with the purpose of 2. assisting workers adhered to the Simplified Regime for Small Taxpayers (RS), in order to accompany the productive recovery process. (Source) Brazil – COVID Report Thursday, August 12th – Wednesday, August 18th, 2021

20,457,897 571,662 51,577,678 (25,44%) 169,278,999 (60,58%) Cases of COIVD-19 Deceased Fully Vaccinated Received at least one dose

Political Outlook

The Senate approved the bill that creates the possibility for the federal Executive to institute a 1. temporary breach of patents on vaccines and medicines to deal with emergencies. The Lower House has already approved the project, and it now awaits presidential sanction. (Source)

The breach of patents on vaccines against Covid faces resistance from Jair Bolsonaro's 2. government and the pharmaceutical industry. In the assessment of government officials and businessmen, the measure would not solve the problem in the short term. (Source)

Economic Outlook The president of the Central Bank, Roberto Campos Neto, once again stated that the financial institution will do whatever it takes to keep inflation within the established targets. "We are going 1. to use every existing instrument, as necessary so that inflation is anchored in the medium and long term." (Source)

The Ministry of Health announced the release of R$ 1.2 billion, referring to 24,971 beds 2. in the covid-19 Intensive Care Unit for adults and 433 pediatric beds, for the care of children and adolescents. (Source) COVID-19 The Federal Court in Guarulhos - São Paulo, determined that Anvisa inform the airlines 1. operating at the São Paulo International Airport, in Guarulhos, which passengers coming from abroad must undergo a mandatory 14-day quarantine when disembarking in the country before making domestic flights. (Source)

The mayor of Rio de Janeiro, Eduardo Paes, stated that the city is now the epicenter of Covid-19 2. cases in the country and demanded agility from the Ministry of Health in the distribution of immunizations to the city. “The number of cases is increasing. Thanks to vaccines, deaths are not increasing. (Source) Other News The directors of Anvisa highlighted the importance of vaccination against covid-19. The warnings were made during an extraordinary public meeting of the Collegiate Board, 1. which unanimously approved the emergency use of the drug Regkirona for the treatment of the disease. (Source)

The study that will evaluate the application of a third dose of the Covid-19 vaccine in 2. Brazil should start early next week. The research aims to verify the potential of a third dose of any of the immunizing agents in use in the country. (Source) Chile – COVID Report Thursday, August 12th – Wednesday, August 18th, 2021

1,630,330 36,438 12,628,436 (83.1%) 13,508,995 (88.9%) Cases of COIVD-19 Deceased Fully Vaccinated Received at least one dose

Political Outlook

The Government wants to stop fourth withdraw of retirement pension funds and 1. declines to give 100% of IFE (Emergency Family Income) in September. (Source)

President Sebastián Piñera presented two proposed bills to modernize the 2. State administration. (Source)

Economic Outlook

Dollar is still climbing in Chile and BCI Estudios (financial institution) forecasts a 1. pessimistic scenario, estimating the price near $820 Chilean pesos by the end of the year. (Source)

Chilean economy grew 18.1% on second semester: IFE, vouchers and withdraws of 2. retirement pension funds (AFP) gave a boost to it. (Source)

COVID-19

COVID-19 cases fall for 10 weeks consecutively, and positive tests are 1.78%. In the 1. last 7 days, daily average of new cases was 11.3% less than past week. (Source)

Chile received 120,000 new doses of Pfizer vaccine against COVID-19. With this 2. shipment, the Health Ministry reported over than 30,440,000 vaccines in the country. (Source)

Other News

The Government is adjusting the last details for “Safe 18” plan to celebrate next 1. Chilean Holidays in September (Independence day). (Source)

About 95% of higher education institutions of Chile will gradually return to on site 2. classes during this second semester. (Source) Colombia – COVID Report Thursday, August 12th – Wednesday, August 18th, 2021

4,698,770 123,688 13,880,688 (27,3%) 18,312,186 (40%) Cases of COIVD-19 Deceased Fully Vaccinated Received at least one dose

Political Outlook

Former President and former Senator Álvaro Uribe spoke about the idea of a general 1. amnesty during a meeting with the Truth Commission on Monday. The idea generated debate from multiple political sectors. (Source)

Bill to regulate cannabis use by adults, advances in its first debate in the House of 2. Representatives. The bill seeks to allow the possession and consumption of cannabis by adults, as a new strategy to fight drug trafficking.(Source) Economic Outlook

According to the National Administrative Department of Statistics (DANE), Colombia's 1. economy grew 17.6% in the second quarter of 2021, while for the January-June period it increased 8.8% (Source)

The Ministry of Energy revealed that as of July 2021, the collection of royalties 2. from the mining and energy sector reached COP $4.1 billion, exceeding the energy portfolio's goal for the period. (Source) COVID-19 The Ministry of Health published 'for comments' from the public the resolution that 1. modifies the procedure to pay the value for the application of vaccines to the Health Provider Institutions (IPS) after multiple complaints for delays in payments. (Source)

After the opening of vaccination of people between 20 and 24, the Minister of 2. Health, Fernando Ruiz, confirmed that population of these ages will be able to access the vaccine without previous appointment. (Source)

Other News Despite criticism for the implications on an eventual peace negotiation with the 1. guerrilla group ELN, President Iván Duque confirmed the extradition of two of its members to the United States on Thursday morning. (Source)

The government rejected the creation of a command against migrant crime proposed 2. by the mayor of Bogota, Claudia López, which would have the help of Colombian migration Agency. (Source) Ecuador – COVID Report Thursday, August 12th – Wednesday, August 18th, 2021

495,475 32,007 5,819,072 (32%) 9,972,289 (57%) Cases of COIVD-19 Deceased Fully Vaccinated Received at least one dose

Political Outlook

The price of extra and eco gasoline in Ecuador already exceeds that of some 1. countries in the region, including Colombia, which has no subsidy. Meanwhile, the price of diesel in Ecuador is still well below the international price. (Source)

Guillermo Lasso, signed an Executive Decree which declares Montecristi and San 2. Isidro hills a reserved military defense area. The Government intends to "increase the operational capacity of surveillance and control of the national air space". (Source) Economic Outlook

The Minister of Energy held a working meeting with 35 representatives of private oil 1. companies and EP Petroecuador operating in Ecuador, to know the action plans that the companies will implement to increase the country's oil production. (Source)

The Government launched the Exportando program, aimed at facilitating exports by 2. small and medium-sized companies and artisans, by means of shipments through couriers, with emphasis on the diversification of products and markets. (Source) COVID-19

The government of Ecuador has already vaccinated 5.1 million people with full 1. immunization scheme. This is equivalent to having met 60% of the proposed target of 9 million vaccinated by September 5. (Source)

Children and adolescents, between 12 and 16 years old, without aggravating 2. diseases will receive a single dose of vaccine against coronavirus from Pfizer. This process will take place in the first days of September. (Source)

Other News The Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) rejected the request for a red alert 1. against the former president of Ecuador, Rafael Correa, made by a judge of the Court of Justice of Ecuador last May. (Source)

Ecuadorian Navy conducted overflight outside the Exclusive Economic Zone of 2. Galapagos to verify the actions of foreign vessels. At 138 nautical miles, the presence of an international fleet of 10 vessels was detected. (Source) Paraguay – COVID Report Thursday, August 12th – Wednesday, Aug 18th, 2021

457,023 15,473 286,989 (4%) 1,837,008 (25,8%) Cases of COIVD-19 Deceased Fully Vaccinated Received at least one dose

Political Outlook

The Government adds 203 kilometers of asphalt paving of the Bioceanic Road 1. Corridor and formalizes the contract for the construction of the Milk Route. (Source)

President Mario Abdo Benítez celebrated his three years in office with his cabinet and 2. close collaborators at the Lopez Palace. He also greeted the capital of the country, Asunción, for its 484 years of foundation. (Source) Economic Outlook

The Ministry of Finance will inject a total of approximately $107.2 billion guaraníes 1. into the economy through payments to government suppliers. (Source)

In June, sales grew by 11.2%, according to the Central Bank. According to preliminary data, the 2. Estimator of Business Figures (ECN) has registered a year-on-year variation of 11.2%, which brings the accumulated variation to 13.0% as of the sixth month of the year. (Source)

COVID-19

President Mario Benitez inaugurated the first Contingency Pavilion of the Paraguayan 1. Chaco in the grounds of the Hospital of Mariscal Estigarribia. This work adds 8 beds to the local health system and is the first of its kind in this region of the country. (Source)

The national chancellor, Euclides Acevedo, thanked the government of Qatar, the ambassador 2. Ángel Barchini and the "management" of the president of the Republic, Mario Abdo Benítez, for the arrival of 96,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine donated by that country. (Source)

Other News

Ministry of the Interior announces implementation of Pilot Plan for electronic 1. bracelets in domestic violence cases. (Source)

In view of the drought in different cities of the Paraguayan Chaco, the Ministry of 2. Public Works and Communications (MOPC) distributed close to 50,000 liters of water to residents of the department of Presidente Hayes in the last few days. (Source) Peru – COVID Report Thursday, August 12th – Wednesday, August 18th, 2021

2,137,295 197,659 7,148,721 (22.34%) 9,342,953 (29.19%) Cases of COIVD-19 Deceased Fully Vaccinated Received at least one dose

Political Outlook

Foreign Minister Héctor Béjar indicated that his resignation "was requested" by the 1. president of the Council of Ministers, due to his questioned statements about the alleged relationship of the Navy with the origin of terrorism. (Source)

The Prosecutor's Office opened an investigation against Manuel Merino for abuse of 2. authority and intentional homicide for the murders of Inti Sotelo and Bryan Pintado, which occurred during his questioned government. (Source) Economic Outlook The financial group Credicorp maintains a projection of Peruvian GDP growth at 9% 1. for 2021. (Source)

The president of the Council of Ministers announced the approval of an emergency 2. decree for the delivery of a bonus of $700 soles in favor of families affected by COVID-19. (Source) COVID-19

This weekend the fifth mass vaccination against COVID-19 will take place in Lima, 1. Callao and other 15 regions. It is estimated to apply 600,000 doses, of which 300,000 will be in the interior of the country. (Source)

The former Minister of Health, Óscar Ugarte, attributed the delay in the arrival of 2. vaccines to a stoppage in the Foreign Ministry and recommended to his successor, Cevallos, to recognize his administration’s mistakes. (Source)

Other News The Ministry of Education reported that it is developing a comprehensive strategy to 1. implement free, focused and gradual access for students of basic education who seek to transition to higher education. (Source)

The Cerro Verde mining company paid $1,040 million soles of debt that had been 2. contested years ago, reported the National Superintendency of Customs and Tax Administration. (Source) Uruguay – COVID Report Wednesday August 11 - Wednesday August 18th, 2021 383,505 6,007 2,425,534 (68,46 %) 2,635,560 (74,39%) Cases of COVID-19 Deceased Fully Vaccinated Received at least one dose

COVID-19 There are no more patients admitted to CTI for coronavirus in ASSE hospitals after 1. the last patient was discharged after 55 days of suffering from the disease. (Source)

At least three private schools in Montevideo registered confirmed cases of Covid-19, 2. which led to the return of classes to the virtual mode for an undetermined period of time. (Source) Political Outlook The Delta variant forced the government to continue vaccination against Covid-19. 1. This week the application of third doses began for those inoculated in the first instance with Sinovac. (Source)

Minister Salinas assured that if there is conclusive evidence on vaccination in 2. children under 12 years of age and the agencies approve it, this line of work will be followed. (Source) Economic Outlook

Uruguay maintained its debt rating at Baa2, thus maintaining the investment grade 1. rating for the country's sovereign debt. (Source)

The progressive reopening of borders announced by the Government a few days 2. ago has given hope to tourism operators that a slow recovery of the sector can begin. (Source)

Other News In view of the Night of August 24 and with the new protocol enabled by the MSP, 1. the departmental Emergency Coordination Centers (CECOED) begin to define the extension of opening hours in bars and restaurants. (Source)

The second quarter of 2021 recorded a 1.3% drop in sales in the Trade and Services 2. sector, compared to the same quarter of 2020, which was the ninth consecutive quarter in negative records. (Source)