Medellin Reports

[QUOTE=Elvis2008;2478314]Nah, this strain in Colombia is more infectious but overall less deadly, however there have been a huge number of deaths in Peru because of a lack of oxygen. Sly One said in Lima that private hospitals were charging $10,000 for admission and like a $1000 per tank of oxygen. Anybody in Colombia heard of that kind of price gouging going on?[/QUOTE]Yes, I have heard of that here, from an acquaintance that works in a hospital billing dept here. She said that practically anyone that shows up with a complaint will be admitted for COVID, because of high billing rates. And that hospitals are reimbursed 50 million COP for COVID deaths in the UCI. And that they are asking for large sum payments up-front. I don't know anymore and that's just what I was told by one person.

Personally, as a former licensed healthcare professional, and someone who has been to two different hospitals here for testing and consults and surgery, I have no hesitation about receiving care here in Medellin if I get sick. Someone mentioned getting taking a medevac to the USA. That's silly. American hospitals don't offer any more than metropolitan Colombian hospitals do.

[QUOTE=Luminus;2478364]From the official website of the city of Cali:

"The National Government has declared that, in the second or third week of September 2020, "the Cali airport" would be chosen to begin the operation of international flights in Colombia. The first destinations would be the US, Panama, Peru, and Ecuador. ".

[URL]https://www.cali.gov.co/turismo/publicaciones/155674/cali-la-capital-que-inimonioia-vuelos-internacionales-en-colombia/[/URL]

Just passing some info I just saw, use it as you will.[/QUOTE]Yes but short of details as to what the entry requirements will be. I read it twice, and albeit my Spanish skills are limited, I saw no mention of what testing or whether there would be quarantines, except that those details would be worked out I think this coming week. IF stringent with a two week quarantine, well that will be a non-starter for most.

It almost seemed as though it was an advertisement for Cali boasting about it's geographic location, and how it's handled the Pandemic. These were the primary reasons the article say's it's opening over other Cities in the Country. You would think something like this would of been announced by the President of the Country. SJobs probably has already booked his flights!

[QUOTE=GeneHickman;2478382]Yepp and if so its going to be a painful winter down there and it might be summer before it gets close to safe again. For the brave souls ignoring it, good luck. It sure would suck to end up needing breathing support down there. And in the small chance you end up there, noone is lifeflighting your covid ass back. To me that would pose a far greater threat than any criminal elements I had considered previously.[/QUOTE]Really.

Your post is very apocalyptic, especially for the board members living in Medellin.

Is it really so dangerous, granted you might get better care and access to better treatments in the USA, but it's not as gloom and doom as you make it out to be.

Alert: Humanitarian Flights from Bogotá (Sept 2, Sept 5), Cali (Sept 3), Cartagena (Sept 7), and Medellin (Aug 27, Sept 6) to Fort Lauderdale.

Location: Bogotá, Cali, Cartagena, and Medellin Event: Humanitarian Flights from Bogotá (Sept 2, Sept 5), Cali (Sept 3), Cartagena (Sept 7), and Medellin (Aug 27, Sept 6) to Fort Lauderdale – Operated by Spirit Airlines The USA Embassy is pleased to confirm Spirit Airlines is operating additional humanitarian flights. Two flights will depart from El Dorado International Airport (BOG) in Bogotá, on Sept 2 and Sept 5. One flight will depart from Alfonso Bonilla Aragóand International Airport.

[QUOTE=Blakman;2478497]Alert: Humanitarian Flights from Bogot (Sept 2, Sept 5), Cali (Sept 3), Cartagena (Sept 7), and Medellin (Aug 27, Sept 6) to Fort Lauderdale.

Location: Bogot, Cali, Cartagena, and Medellin Event: Humanitarian Flights from Bogot (Sept 2, Sept 5), Cali (Sept 3), Cartagena (Sept 7), and Medellin (Aug 27, Sept 6) to Fort Lauderdale Operated by Spirit Airlines The USA Embassy is pleased to confirm Spirit Airlines is operating additional humanitarian flights. Two flights will depart from El Dorado International Airport (BOG) in Bogot, on Sept 2 and Sept 5. One flight will depart from Alfonso Bonilla Aragand International Airport.[/QUOTE]These have been going on since the lock down in March. I believe the first flights out were the first week in April. They have continued about every 3 weeks since. Simply put, you have no clue.

You've become a real merchant of doom blakman. The humanitarian flight scheduling means there are no commercial flights scheduled for the days surrounding them. We will know more in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, I thought it had been decided by at least some that it is unacceptably risky to be in Colombia and to have sex with providers.

[QUOTE=Blakman;2478497]Alert: Humanitarian Flights from Bogot (Sept 2, Sept 5), Cali (Sept 3), Cartagena (Sept 7), and Medellin (Aug 27, Sept 6) to Fort Lauderdale.

Location: Bogot, Cali, Cartagena, and Medellin Event: Humanitarian Flights from Bogot (Sept 2, Sept 5), Cali (Sept 3), Cartagena (Sept 7), and Medellin (Aug 27, Sept 6) to Fort Lauderdale Operated by Spirit Airlines The USA Embassy is pleased to confirm Spirit Airlines is operating additional humanitarian flights. Two flights will depart from El Dorado International Airport (BOG) in Bogot, on Sept 2 and Sept 5. One flight will depart from Alfonso Bonilla Aragand International Airport.[/QUOTE]

Assuming it pans out you would have the option of national flights. You might also have the option of flights between the US and Medellin.

[QUOTE=SJobs;2478394]This is the best news I have heard in a very long time. Thank you so much for posting. It's an 8 hour drive from Cali to Medellin. Looks like I will be returning to heaven in 2-3 weeks.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Knowledge;2478432]Crikey, maybe I've died from coronavirus and I just don't realize it. Pollo, Slapshot, does this mean we died and went to heaven?[/QUOTE]I died months ago (tussi) and rebounded. I'm either invincible or incredibly stupid. Some day, that riddle will be solved, but not yesterday!

[QUOTE=SJobs;2478394]This is the best news I have heard in a very long time. Thank you so much for posting. It's an 8 hour drive from Cali to Medellin. Looks like I will be returning to heaven in 2-3 weeks.[/QUOTE]AVIANCA UPDATE.

Avianca said to a friend today:

Thank you for contacting Avianca.

In general terms, we have been informed that the Government of Colombia has decided to extend the restriction until September 15th of 2020. That means that, probably, from that day on forward, the flight operation will be resumed. But this hasn't been confirmed.

The recommendation is for you to check directly with the migratory and health institutions on charge.

[QUOTE=Blakman;2478497]Alert: Humanitarian Flights from Bogot (Sept 2, Sept 5), Cali (Sept 3), Cartagena (Sept 7), and Medellin (Aug 27, Sept 6) to Fort Lauderdale.

Location: Bogot, Cali, Cartagena, and Medellin Event: Humanitarian Flights from Bogot (Sept 2, Sept 5), Cali (Sept 3), Cartagena (Sept 7), and Medellin (Aug 27, Sept 6) to Fort Lauderdale Operated by Spirit Airlines The USA Embassy is pleased to confirm Spirit Airlines is operating additional humanitarian flights. Two flights will depart from El Dorado International Airport (BOG) in Bogot, on Sept 2 and Sept 5. One flight will depart from Alfonso Bonilla Aragand International Airport.[/QUOTE]Blakrobot, type SOS if you need help!

Coin Slot came over for a quickie, yesterday afternoon, post-Pinky-departure. Pinky was a double-TLN, and I gave her 70k for food, etc. , when she left. Fuck, CS wouldn't even let me put it all the way in, this time. It usually takes her a bit to open up, and I normally get her warmed-up, but she was in a hurry for a virtual Sura appointment. It was nice to just have a quickie. It's been awhile. Pinky pulled a Sex Goddess and professed her love, inviting herself to live with me to cut down on her expenses. She, like SG, wasn't a huge fan of my invisible shell when she was waiting for me to say it back. Of all the girls, Pinky is probably my favorite, overall. She doesn't want a gringo boyfriend as much as SG, she fucks like a champ, she's more mature than ex-Wifey, but at the end of the day, it's all the same shit. Not as clean as I'd like, not super carinosa, doesn't cook, always needs to be drinking, smoking, or taking whatever, and needs money. Coin Slot was trying to get me to pay for her over-due colegio bill (170k). She also made sure to tell me it's her birthday in 25 days (or some exact number). I paid for her inbound Uber (15k) and then gave her 120k for the quickie and outbound Didi. I have never seen surge prices in Medellin, on Uber, but yesterday around 630p the 15k fare had skyrocketed to 35k. I also noticed it doesn't show a surge multiplier, like in the US.

[QUOTE=SlapShot10;2478529]... I have never seen surge prices in Medellin, on Uber, but yesterday around 630p the 15k fare had skyrocketed to 35k. I also noticed it doesn't show a surge multiplier, like in the US.[/QUOTE]Before the pandemic, I noticed that quite a bit with Uber, especially in late afternoon and early evening. Many times, it was cheaper to use Cabify (the yellow cabs).

[QUOTE=Surfer500;2478454]Yes but short of details as to what the entry requirements will be. I read it twice, and albeit my Spanish skills are limited, I saw no mention of what testing or whether there would be quarantines, except that those details would be worked out I think this coming week. IF stringent with a two week quarantine, well that will be a non-starter for most.

It almost seemed as though it was an advertisement for Cali boasting about it's geographic location, and how it's handled the Pandemic. These were the primary reasons the article say's it's opening over other Cities in the Country. You would think something like this would of been announced by the President of the Country. SJobs probably has already booked his flights![/QUOTE]It's not too good to be true. It's aimed at restarting tourism and the focus / activities of the traveler would be for tourism. For this to work, I cannot imagine it being a 14-day quarantine. A few major US airports have been doing testing for outbound Intl departures, they might require a negative test to avoid quarantine and that would be OK. It's one airport but it's a good start and I would expect the rest of the country to follow suit within a few weeks of this. I predicted this previously, Colombia has been closed off for months and whether you want to believe it or not tourism is important as Colombia has always had plans to increase tourism every year. People kept pointing out GDP and tourism being a small drop in the bucket and it wouldn't happen. And now what? Colombialover will be devastated he got this one wrong and that people will be able to travel to Colombia, but most of us will not. If anyone is concerned, stay at home. The rest of us, well. 2020 has a chance to finish on a positive note.

If theres the presence of humanitarian flights it means no other international flights. Until humanatarian flights become non existent then there will be no other international flights. Its you who don't have a clue.

[QUOTE=LoveItHere69;2478502]These have been going on since the lock down in March. I believe the first flights out were the first week in April. They have continued about every 3 weeks since. Simply put, you have no clue.[/QUOTE].

[QUOTE=Blakman;2478566]If theres the presence of humanitarian flights it means no other international flights. Until humanatarian flights become non existent then there will be no other international flights. Its you who don't have a clue.

.[/QUOTE]Blakmanometry...

Humanitarian Flights cannot be cancelled once they are scheduled. Only Commercial Flights are allowed to be cancelled.

Sorry to SJobs, et al!

All this news might get me to extend my rent beyond a month. I also think I will hold off on Pereira, or another location, and see how things shape up the next few weeks. I'd rather do Pereira in November when things are open, rather than experience a shell of it, now. I also might get some dental work done in the next month, and don't want to be traveling with some uncertainties surrounding that process.

I forgot to mention, the Hooters GM said they're opening Monday! Patrick's was thinking a much longer timeline before their re-opening. I was told the Hooters building was a former Escobar house. Maybe the owners have some connections that a gringo would not, or maybe Hooters just has the ability to throw more money at a solution. Regardless, I can almost guarantee I'll be sipping a cold Aguila and oogling the talent, in the very near future!

[QUOTE=Lugnut;2478451]Yes, I have heard of that here, from an acquaintance that works in a hospital billing dept here. She said that practically anyone that shows up with a complaint will be admitted for COVID, because of high billing rates. And that hospitals are reimbursed 50 million COP for COVID deaths in the UCI. And that they are asking for large sum payments up-front. I don't know anymore and that's just what I was told by one person.

Personally, as a former licensed healthcare professional, and someone who has been to two different hospitals here for testing and consults and surgery, I have no hesitation about receiving care here in Medellin if I get sick. American hospitals don't offer any more than metropolitan Colombian hospitals do.[/QUOTE]Do you know if they will take insurance in light of that upfront payment? Do you know how much they are asking for upfront? That may be a reason for me not to go.

In a weird way, Colombian hospitals bilking the government and insurance companies with Covid just like they are in the USA is refreshing to me in a weird way because they have been devoid of so many revenues from elective procedures. The treatment for Covid is heparin (cheap), steroids, (cheap), and oxygen (should be cheap). I think that people miss the point with Covid. Everyone is talking about death, but death rates are down. The thing is that people do get sick very quickly with Covid, and they need high dose oxygen right away.

When Sly one said that oxygen is in short supply in Peru, that clinched it for me, no fucking way am I going there if that is the case. Not having oxygen may be why the death rates are so high in Peru. He also indicated that they are not taking insurance only cash for oxygen.

Anyone interested in Colombia should probably do what is mandated in Brazil and buy health insurance when going to Colombia once it opens. It was dirt cheap for Brazil. For a two week trip, $20 got you $50,000 in coverage.

The question now is: will the hospitals just take the insurance or do they want thousands up front like the hospitals in Peru do? Does anyone here know?

[QUOTE=Surfer500;2478459]Really.

Your post is very apocalyptic, especially for the board members living in Medellin.

Is it really so dangerous, granted you might get better care and access to better treatments in the USA, but it's not as gloom and doom as you make it out to be.[/QUOTE]Yes really, if you've been anything close to these areas where its surged like crazy, it gets to feel exactly apocalyptic. Ask those in Lombardy, or NY or the Rio Grande valley etc and then see how they describe. Hey I don't want for this to happen there or anywhere and maybe it won't but they in Medellin haven't gone through anything like the hard hit areas. It certainly should factor into people's thinking. After that each monger makes their own call. But saying its minimal risk or totally rationalizing it away is ridiculous.

[QUOTE=Lugnut;2478451]Yes, I have heard of that here, from an acquaintance that works in a hospital billing dept here. She said that practically anyone that shows up with a complaint will be admitted for COVID, because of high billing rates. And that hospitals are reimbursed 50 million COP for COVID deaths in the UCI. And that they are asking for large sum payments up-front. I don't know anymore and that's just what I was told by one person.

Personally, as a former licensed healthcare professional, and someone who has been to two different hospitals here for testing and consults and surgery, I have no hesitation about receiving care here in Medellin if I get sick. Someone mentioned getting taking a medevac to the USA. That's silly. American hospitals don't offer any more than metropolitan Colombian hospitals do.[/QUOTE]Damn dude, I don't know what kind of licensed medical professional you were, but if you were to get sick, I mean like ICU level sick, costs aside, there is no better place to be than in the US. Heck most 3rd world hospitals haven't even heard of far less have ecmo treatment for example, but like I said, to each their own, rationalization is a powerful thing, especially when youthful warm pussy is calling. 😂.