PANDEMIC – Community transmission of Brazil variant confirmed

Both the Gorgas Commemorative Institute for Health Studies and the Ministry of Health confirmed this Wednesday, March 31, 2021, that there is community transmission in cases of people infected with Sars Cov-2 P1, known as the Brazilian variant.

Juan Pascale, director of the Gorgas Memorial Institute for Health Studies, revealed that the six cases were detected in the Don Bosco sector, in eastern Panama, San Francisco, Parque Lefevre, and in the district of San Miguelito.

Sucre explained that there are nine other cases that are under study to establish whether they are infected with any of the Brazilian variants (P1 or P2).

Earlier, Israel Cedeño, director of the Metropolitan Health Region of the Minsa, said that patients who test positive for Sars Cov-2 P1 should quarantine in a hospital hotel.

Cedeño said that this strain has the potential to produce a new upturn in cases in the country because its transmissibility is higher.

However, the prevention mechanism is the same, that is, the mandatory use of a mask, physical distancing, and constant hand washing.

On March 27, the Minsa reported that variant P1 was detected in the country in a passenger from Brazil. Later it was known that she was a Venezuelan citizen residing in the country that was in Venezuela and later in Brazil. It also transpired that the woman infected her partner and a daughter. The couple is hospitalized due to the virus.

In a press conference on March 30, the Minsa detailed that there were six other cases of infection with the Brazilian variant.