Colombian capital to lift tough COVID restrictions after passing second peak, mayor says

Reuters

2 February 2021 at 8:45 am·1-min read

FILE PHOTO: Outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Bogota

BOGOTA (Reuters) - Colombia's capital Bogota will lift tough restrictions and a city-wide red alert against COVID-19 on Wednesday, Mayor Claudia Lopez said on Tuesday, having overcome the peak of a second wave of coronavirus infections.

Surging infections in the new year following celebrations in December saw intensive care unit (ICU) occupancy rates rise above 94%, prompting Lopez to impose curbs on movement, neighborhood quarantines, and nightly curfews.

ICU occupancy rates for patients with coronavirus have since fallen to 81%, according to local government figures.

"We have passed the peak of the second wave of COVID-19. With this favorable trend we will be able to lift the red alert and zonal quarantines from tomorrow and get back to business," Lopez said in a message on Twitter.

"This afternoon we will announce how we will proceed."

Restrictions in Bogota, which has more than 8 million inhabitants, delayed children returning to schools and caused setbacks for economic recovery due to limits on entering shops and other businesses.

Colombia has reported 2.1 million cases of coronavirus, as well as 54,272 deaths from COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the virus. There are 89,582 active cases in the South American country.

(Reporting by Nelson Bocanegra; Writing by Oliver Griffin; Editing by Mark Heinrich)

HuffPost
Reporter Reveals 'Real Anger' From Biden White House Aides After Debate
They were "shocked" and felt "they had not been told the truth," said Axios' Alex Thompson.
Evening Standard
'Misstiano Penaldo': John Terry brands BBC 'a disgrace' for dig at crying Cristiano Ronaldo over penalty miss
BBC coverage of the Euro 2024 did not go down well with the former Chelsea captain
Bloomberg
China’s AI startups head to Singapore in a bid for global growth
When Wu Cunsong and Chen Binghui founded their artificial intelligence startup two years ago in Hangzhou, China, they quickly ran into obstacles, including dearth of venture capital.
The Independent
Seven people - including four kids - shot by neighbor who once told them to ‘go back to where they came from’
Motive still being investigated, but shooting ‘could’ have racial element, police say
INSIDER
Malaysia's $100 billion ghost town is good for at least one thing: filming documentaries and shows like Netflix's 'The Mole'
Embattled Forest City is a backdrop for a handful of reality shows and documentaries.
The Telegraph
Chart showing hilarity of Cristiano Ronaldo’s free-kick arrogance
By now the routine is familiar around the world, from Turin to Riyadh, Lisbon to Manchester. Team of Cristiano Ronaldo wins promising free-kick, Ronaldo steps up to take it, sets ball down carefully, strides back with purpose, adopts power stance, puffs out cheeks and begins his run up. Meanwhile, fans prepare for a forthcoming goal-kick.
The Telegraph
Russian air strike ‘destroys five Ukrainian fighter jets’ at airbase
A Russian missile attack destroyed five warplanes at a Ukrainian airbase primed to receive F-16 fighter jets from Kyiv’s Nato allies.
INSIDER
A millennial couple moved to Bali 2 years ago. Making friends was one of the hardest parts.
There's a common refrain that things in Bali are cheap — and that's not necessarily true, they said.
The Hill
70 percent of voters have decided who they will back in November: Poll
More than 7 in 10 voters have already decided whom they will vote for in the November presidential election, according to a new poll. The Harvard CAPS/Harris poll released Monday showed 72 percent of respondents said they have already made up their minds, while 28 percent said they are still weighing their choices. That’s a…
People
'Very Sweet Young Lady' Is Killed on Her 21st Birthday, Suspect in Custody
Joselyn Toaquiza was reported missing on Wednesday, June 19, the day after she turned 21, before police learned she'd been killed the day before
HuffPost
Harvard Law Professor Delivers Chilling Prediction After Trump Immunity Ruling
Laurence Tribe explained what the Supreme Court decision means in "practical purposes" and it's "devastating."
Futurism
Researchers Make Breakthrough in Study of Mysterious 2000-Year-Old Computer Found in Shipwreck
Researchers say they have used cutting-edge gravitational wave research to shed new light on a nearly 2,000-year-old mystery. In 1901, researchers discovered the Antikythera mechanism in a sunken shipwreck, an ancient artifact that dates back to the second century BC. Well over a century later, researchers at the University of Glasgow say they have used […]
The Independent
Prostitute is fatally strangled then sexually assaulted inside Las Vegas casino by man who said he ‘snapped’
Jason Kendall, 35, is being held without bond in connection to the murder of Larissa Garcia at a Las Vegas casino
South China Morning Post
China urges 'severe punishment' for killers of citizen in Philippines
China has urged the Philippines to find and "severely punish" the killers of a kidnapped Chinese citizen in a case that has led to a diplomatic intervention by Beijing. The Chinese embassy in Manila said it had been informed a few days ago that the person had been kidnapped in the Philippines, and it assisted the family in reporting the case to the Philippine National Police's Anti-Kidnapping Bureau. It also intervened through diplomatic channels to ask for a rescue and that measures be taken to
DollarsAndSense.sg
22 Useful Items You Can Buy From The SAF eMart – That You Can Use In Your Civilian Life
Lifelong buddies, service to Singapore, personal development – the best things in NS life are priceless. For everything else, there’s the eMart. The post 22 Useful Items You Can Buy From The SAF eMart – That You Can Use In Your Civilian Life appeared first on DollarsAndSense.sg.
Simply Wall St.
3 SGX Stocks That May Be Trading Below Their Estimated Intrinsic Value By Up To 47.2%
As the Singapore market shows signs of robust activity, with innovative companies like Currensea successfully raising significant funds through crowdfunding, it highlights a growing investor confidence and interest in diverse sectors. In this context, identifying stocks that are potentially trading below their intrinsic value could offer attractive opportunities for investors looking to capitalize on current market conditions.
The Telegraph
Someone is standing up to Beijing’s ‘Nine Dash Line’ South China Sea land-grab
Scarborough Shoal is a ring of rocks and reefs 29 miles around that lies within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea west of Luzon, the Philippines’ biggest island. Unfortunately for the Philippines, the Shoal also lies within the so-called “Nine Dash Line” under which China attempts to claim that it owns more or less the entire South China Sea – in defiance of international law and international court judgement.
The Independent
Chinese teenager injured in ‘racially motivated’ attack in New Zealand
The 16-year-old schoolboy was travelling by bus to Auckland City when he was attacked by a woman with a metal bar, police say
People
Megan Thee Stallion Shocks in Latex Thong Bodysuit and Boots on Stage at 2024 BET Awards: See Her Daring Look!
The rapper commanded the stage with her voice and sexy style
Evening Standard
'Gordon Banks-esque!' Watch Turkey goalkeeper Mert Gunok's last-gasp wonder save at Euro 2024
Besiktas star breaks Austrian hearts with a sublime late stop to ensure Vincenzo Montella’s side book quarter-final place

Latest stories