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Source: http://thecitypaperbogota.com/news/...ge-in-medellin-with-start-of-third-wave/27044
Coronavirus cases surge in Medell?n with start of Colombia?s third wave
By Richard Emblin -
March 27, 2021
Despite a population one quarter in size to Bogot??s burgeoning eight million, Colombia?s second-largest city, Medell?n, has become the new epicenter of coronavirus infection, registering per-daily case averages above 1,000.
For months, since the beginning of the pandemic, the departmental capital of Antioquia was heralded as a ?medical marvel? (to coin a phrase from The Economist), for preparing its two million residents months ahead of the outbreak in March last year.
Within weeks of taking office, Medell?n?s new Mayor Daniel Quintero set aside resources to expand the city?s ICUs, upgrade the public hospital network and enact measures that kept passengers socially distanced in the transportation system. The socially-inclusive vision of the politician with the Medell?n Me Cuida (Medell?n takes Care of Me) programs managed to hedge this city from the initial surges that impacted Cali, Cartagena and Barranquilla, where orange and red levels of ICU occupation were declared.
Even though Bogot? remained at the center of the epidemic since the first case was confirmed on March 6, 2020, Minister of Health Fernando Ru?z warned Colombians that different cities and territories would witness contagion ?peaks? at different times, but that the nationwide trend for the year would inevitably lead to more infection and deaths. By August, Colombia ranked ninth place among the 10 nations in the world with most coronavirus cases. As of Saturday, the country ranks 13, surpassed only in South America by Brazil.
Accounting for up to 35% of all per day cases of COVID-19 during the first and second waves of infection, the virus appears to have leveled-off in Bogot? compared to the dramatic surges in recent weeks taking place in coastal cities Barranquilla and Santa Marta, as well as Medell?n.
So, what went wrong for paisas?...
Coronavirus cases surge in Medell?n with start of Colombia?s third wave
By Richard Emblin -
March 27, 2021
Despite a population one quarter in size to Bogot??s burgeoning eight million, Colombia?s second-largest city, Medell?n, has become the new epicenter of coronavirus infection, registering per-daily case averages above 1,000.
For months, since the beginning of the pandemic, the departmental capital of Antioquia was heralded as a ?medical marvel? (to coin a phrase from The Economist), for preparing its two million residents months ahead of the outbreak in March last year.
Within weeks of taking office, Medell?n?s new Mayor Daniel Quintero set aside resources to expand the city?s ICUs, upgrade the public hospital network and enact measures that kept passengers socially distanced in the transportation system. The socially-inclusive vision of the politician with the Medell?n Me Cuida (Medell?n takes Care of Me) programs managed to hedge this city from the initial surges that impacted Cali, Cartagena and Barranquilla, where orange and red levels of ICU occupation were declared.
Even though Bogot? remained at the center of the epidemic since the first case was confirmed on March 6, 2020, Minister of Health Fernando Ru?z warned Colombians that different cities and territories would witness contagion ?peaks? at different times, but that the nationwide trend for the year would inevitably lead to more infection and deaths. By August, Colombia ranked ninth place among the 10 nations in the world with most coronavirus cases. As of Saturday, the country ranks 13, surpassed only in South America by Brazil.
Accounting for up to 35% of all per day cases of COVID-19 during the first and second waves of infection, the virus appears to have leveled-off in Bogot? compared to the dramatic surges in recent weeks taking place in coastal cities Barranquilla and Santa Marta, as well as Medell?n.
So, what went wrong for paisas?...