Flu deaths climb
THE NUMBER of deaths from the flu virus A (H1N1) rose to 23 0n Friday June 17, and 30 patients remain in intensive care.
To date 824 people have been hospitalized of whom 375 have been released.
While the education ministry has asked schools to have more confidence in health authorities who are following WHO guidelines which indicate there is no need to close education centers, another institution, José Antonio Remón Cantera College in Paitilla decided to close follow the example of over a dozen in Chorrerea and Arraijan and close its doors.
Teachers met on the evening shift on Thursday June 16 to determine if conditions on campus were suitable to continue teaching classes.
They took into account factors such as the state of the health infrastructure and the number of students who are vaccinated,
Fernando Abrego, a member of the Association of Professors of the Republic of Panama (ASOPROF), said they decided not to receive students until next Friday.
The evaluation found that in the whole school only two toilets were working.
The student population attending Remon Cantera is 389 premedia level (seventh, eighth and ninth grade) and 600 middle level (sophomores, juniors and seniors).
According to the student census, conducted by teachers, there are only 67 students vaccinated: 20 in premedia and 47 others.
The decision of educators was communicated to the principal, Luis Mosquera, and Professor Petra Serracín, director of the educational center region of Panama.
The school located in via Israel was founded in 1971.
New supplies of vaccine were due in Panama on Friday night, and health clinics across the country will be open through the weekend with 500 staff on standby to administer free shots.
