South American Weekly Report Thursday, August 12th – Wednesday, August 18th, 2021 Argentina – 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, Santiago Cafiero, and the Minister of Health, 2. Carla Vizzotti, 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.