Miami, USA
In Panama, the population will have to spend the weekend of Christmas and New Year confined in total quarantine, in the face of the increase in cases of covid-19, according to a CNN publication in Spanish.
Health Minister Luis Francisco Sucre announced last Tuesday night at a press conference that the population will not be able to leave from Friday 25 December at 7 PM, until Monday 28 at 05:00
The same will happen during the New Year’s weekend, for the total quarantine from Friday 1 January at 7 PM until Monday 4 at 05:00
But prior to that, according to Minister Sucre, from Friday 18 December there will be curfew and “dry law” every day from 7 PM to 5 AM, until Monday 4 January.
sanitary hoops
Additionally, the closure of swimming pools, beaches, rivers, spas and social areas is ordered. And from December 23 to January 4 there will be health hoops in 5 points across the country.
It was explained on the national channel that the decisions are based, among other things, on the fact that in Panama there is a community transmission of coronavirus, in an accelerated phase, and that all the indicators established for decision-making are close to reaching the its maximum level, such as lethality, and the availability of in-room beds and intensive care.
In its epidemiological report, the Ministry of Health reported 196,987 positive cases on Tuesday, of which 2,368 are new cases. There have been 29 fatalities in the last 24 hours, out of a total of 3,411 deaths.
Of 27,205 people in isolation, 26,489 are at home and 716 in hotels. There are 1,516 hospitalized, of which 1,319 are in the ward and 197 in intensive care.
COVAX initiative
Meanwhile, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) said Wednesday that it has closed deals with two vaccine manufacturers against Covid-19 and is negotiating two more for more than 30 countries in the Americas to begin immunizing. the population in the coming months.
“It was a great success,” said Jarbas Barbosa, PAHO’s deputy director. “The expectation we have is that by March we will have the vaccine arriving in the countries,” he explained, but immediately stressed that immunization will not be a magic solution but will have to be complemented with non-pharmaceutical measures to control the virus.
The agreements and negotiations are part of the COVAX initiative, in which 190 countries around the world are participating to seek equitable access to the vaccine. Barbosa did not disclose which labs they signed with, but said they are in negotiations with pharmaceutical companies Pfizer and its rival Moderna.
RECOMMENDATION
mask
The World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday recommended the use of masks during Christmas and New Year’s family reunions in Europe and has warned that there is a “high risk” that the pandemic will worsen. in early 2021. there is a high risk of a (pandemic) resurgence in the first weeks and months of 2021, ”the WHO office in Europe said in a statement recommending“ wearing a mask and keep your distance “.