It's been 12 days since my last post and the numbers have significantly increased. In addition, the quarantine measures have been tightened. Last week, for the first time, Panama was completely shut down on Saturday and Sunday. No one could go out for groceries, or pharmacy meds, or family excursions, etc. If people were caught violating the quarantine, they were detained, fined, and their car confiscated. Nevertheless, over 12,000 people were processed for violating the mobility restrictions. Because of all these violations, the Health Ministry has declared both Saturday and Sunday of the coming weekend as absolute lockdown as well. Alcohol sales in Panama remain prohibited as well. According to graphs displaying Panama's numbers in comparison with other countries in Latin America, we've kept the curve relatively flat and the numbers low. Nevertheless, the numbers have really jumped from where they were 12 days ago.
As of today, April 16th, Panama's total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases is
4,016. There have been
109 deaths and 98 hospital recoveries. A total of 17, 850 tests have been done. Total hospitalized COVID patients is currently 326, and 3483 patients are in community isolation, either at home or in hotels. Within the community isolated group, symptomatic recovery is reported for 1809 individuals monitored in the clinics, and laboratory confirmed recoveries in this group is 23. The daily numbers for new cases has not yet dropped off, but these increased numbers could be due in part to additional testing.
Today's total number of new cases is 265.
Below is a chart of the numbers for Chiriqui Province, which has less than 3% of the total national cases of coronavirus. Four patients from Chiriqui have died.
