Cozumel News July 15th, 2014

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Cozumel news July 15^th, 2014:  Beef and Pork prices have increased by 15%, More Lifeguards on duty for Summer Vacation 2014, The Miami-Cozumel Route to Remain, and Part Two of Seguro Popular.

Correction to Article on Children’s Fishing Tournament

It was brought to my attention by The Cozumel Sun reader Heather Black De Barba, that Sarai Núñez Cupul won first place in the “bottom fishing” segment of the contest and that the winner of the  “trolling” segment of the contest was Jose Luis Arguelles Miranda. Our congratulations to both children!

Cozumel Beef and Pork Prices Increased

Union leader Luis Alberto Gómez Cab announced last weekend that effective Monday, July 14^th, there would be a 15 percent increase in the price of beef and pork. He stated that the increase was inevitable for the guild despite trying not to affect the economy of the island.  The reason given was the steady increase in fuel prices that has affected every aspect of the business, including transportation of goods to the island. The price increases to date have been absorbed by the butchers.

A kilogram of pure pork that was offered at 95 pesos per kilo will now cost 110 pesos per kilo and beef steaks, which were offered on Sunday at 115 pesos per kilo, were sold at 130 pesos per kilo on Monday. Poultry product prices will stay at 55 pesos per kilo.

Cozumel Adds lifeguards

Today, Tuesday July 15 is the officially start of “Summer Vacation 2014.”. In Caletitas, Casitas, Las Rocas, Chen Rio and San Martin beaches, lifeguard elements of the Navy-Marine Navy Mexico and ten lifeguards belonging to Civil Protection, will be patrolling to safeguard the safety of swimmers.

Lifeguards will be giving instructions to visitors on the permitted areas for swimming, the areas where the waves represent danger, the strong currents of the sea, the importance of not ignoring the recommendations and especially not swimming under the influence of alcoholic beverages.

La Rumba Cozumel

Miami-Cozumel Route to  Remain

Though it was previously reported that the occupancy rates of American Airlines flights are low and the direct flight from Miami to Cozumel is in danger of being cancelled, the Secretary of Tourism of Quintana Roo (Sedetur), Laura Lynn Fernández Piña said they will promote the flight outside of the United States to improve the amount of occupied seats. Laura Fernandez Piña was in Cozumel for a couple of hours for the laying of the foundation stone of the Westin hotel on July 10th.

On November 21, 2013,  representatives of American Airlines, State and Municipal authorities inaugurated the flight from Miami to Cozumel with five weekly route operations with capacity for two thousand 400 passengers

The Cozumel Hotel Association announced at the end of June 2014 that the flight had little demand and was more expensive than the direct flight to Cancun. Beatriz Tinajero Tarriba, President of the Hotel Association spoke of the possibility of losing the direct connection due to low occupation and high ticket prices.

In response to a direct question about what is being done to avoid losing the American flight since the ticket  is still more expensive for  Miami-Cozumel than a ticket  for Miami-Cancun, Laura Lynn Fernández Piña stated that the rates are determined by the airlines and they do so as a strategy to avoid affecting other air routes.

She felt that the 60% occupancy reported by the flight presently, is enough to make sure it will continue to run. As far as the promotion strategy in Latin America and Europe to increase occupancy of the seats,  she said that Miami is a major focal point for those destinations,  but gave no details.

PALMA AZUL RESTAURANT

Savia Spa at Playa Azul Resort Hotel

Seguro Popular Part II

We were assigned to a clinic at 40 Avenue between Calles 29 & 31, in Colonia San Miguel II. The building looks new, it is spotless and clean. The staff is friendly and professional. There is a long hallway that leads to a waiting area and a receptionist. There are two rooms for medical consultation, one for vaccination, and a dental office with equipment that looks new and modern. On the far left there is a pharmacy.

We arrived at 20 minutes to eight since they had told us the place opened at 8. The clinic opens at 7 a.m. and since we were in fact “late” the next available appointment was at 10:15 a.m. We went home for a couple of hours. Once again, we arrived 20 minutes early at five minutes to ten and were immediately attended. They took Sharon’s blood pressure, weighted her, and led us to one of the two medical consultation rooms.

To my delight, the attending physician spoke English. I was unable to read his full name off our prescription, first name Umberto, next initials are E. P.

A Cozumel Sun reader Karen Vissage wrote: “I’ve had Seguro Popular for a several years. I enjoy the fact that I don’t pay a premium and services are free. Free mammograms, Pap smears, HIV testing, contraceptives, vaccinations. For men, even PSA testing and even free “no scalpel vasectomy”. I like the staff at the Centro de Salud. They are very kind and caring.

When you get your policy, you are assigned a clinic in your area. For non-emergencies, you go to your clinic at 7 a.m.  and get in  line for your ficha. The ficha is a little slip of paper with your appointment time for later that day. You see the General Practitioner and whatever is needed, they write the orders for tests and medication prescriptions. If they don’t have the ability or equipment to do the tests in the system, you may have to see a private doctor. That is an out-of-pocket cost to you. I believe they will reimburse the cost, but I don’t know the process. Sometimes getting an appointment with a specialist who comes to the island can be a wait of weeks.

There is a learning curve with the system and sometimes a long wait. I learned about the referral to specialists on the mainland a couple of years ago. I had a questionable mammogram and they referred me to the breast clinic in Cancun. It’s a state of the art facility. If the service you need is not available in Playa or Cancun, they will refer you to Mérida.”

I will place this information as a permanent part of the Cozumel Sun in the “Living in Cozumel Guide” under Health Insurance.   Many thanks to Karen Vissage for her comments!

FOR SALE PENTHOUSE CONDOMINIUMS

Blue Angel Restaurant

Aura Holguin-Resch