June 1 move to normality with caveats as infections surge

On Monday, June 1  Panama’s quarantine rules the toughest on the continent will be lifted and the country will take its first steps towards the “new normal” while with the continuing expansion of COVID infections some medical leaders fear it is too early and hospitals which have remained ahead of the curve could be overwhelmed.

On Saturday the Ministry of Health  reported  357 new cases, bringing the total since the outbreak to over 13,000 with 330 deaths

 Sunday, May 31 will see the last day of total lockdown but a 10-hour curfew will remain from 7 pm to 5 am and sanitary fences will remain in five parts of the country.

On March 24, President  Laurentino Cortizo announced a total quarantine in the country, with new mobility rules based on the personal identity card or passport number in the case of foreigners.

Days later, the measures were more severe. Men and women go out on alternate days.

Now the mobility restrictions by sex and ID number are eliminated, and couples

Minister of Health Rosario Turner said that two fundamental objectives have been met.

” On the one hand, ensuring that the health system does not collapse, but also being able to maintain a lower case fatality rate than what has been seen in other latitudes. More than 6,000 people have been saved, ” she said.

The Director of the Social Security Fund, Enrique Lau recommended that the population not go out if they have nothing important to. ” Better stay home and if you must go out follow the recommendations of the health authority,” he stressed.

The prohibition of visits  to beaches, rivers, recreational pools, as well as other social and festive activities in public places remains because the virus is still on the street and among us. The opening of the second block is carried out with the aim of gradually stimulating the economy so that Panamanians can return and have their jobs back.

The exit of the quarantine implies compliance with the use of masks, physical distancing  of two meters, avoiding crowds, frequently  washing hands with soap and water f and avoiding leaving the house unless very necessary

Transportation
The Transport Authority (ATTT), has defined the number of passengers that buses and the subway can carry

Taxis can circulate on alternate  days depending  on the  last number of the license plate.

Doctors from the Santo Tomás Hospital  have warned of the collapse of the public health system and call for the opening of the Modular Hospital.