Vaccinations mount as Panama awaits covid third wave

Since the vaccination day against Covid-19 began in Panama, on January 20, to date, 908,452 doses of vaccines have been applied. The  Ministry of Health (Minsa) reported that of this total, 26,170 doses were applied on Friday, May 21, but health authorities warn that the country is on the verge of a third wave of the virus.

President Laurentino Cortizo reported that on Saturday, May 22 that a batch of 204,000 doses of the Oxford AstraZeneca would arrive in the country.

Data from the Minsa indicate that in the last 15 days, the country experienced an increase in the occupancy of hospital beds in intensive care units (ICU).

Statistics from the Ministry of Health (Minsa) reveal that as of May 18, 2021, the country had an occupation of 54% of hospital beds in the ward and 50% of beds in the ICU.

On May 3, the occupancy percentage in the ward was the same, 54%, and in intensive care, it was 42%, that is, 8% less than now.

The last time there was an ICU occupancy percentage similar to the current one was on March 9, that is, more than two months ago, when the country presented a downward trend in terms of new infections and deaths.

The Pan American Health Organization has already warned in its most recent country situation report: that if outbreaks are not controlled in Panama, in 15 days it could have a negative impact on hospital occupancy indicators, both in the ward and in the, and consequently, in mortality.

On Thursday eight deaths were reported, a figure that had not been recorded since last April 6. Since then, the daily death toll had fallen.

The Minister of Health, Luis Francisco Sucre, stressed Friday that “we are on the verge of a third wave.”

According to Sucre, the increase in Covid-19 cases, especially in the interior of the country, would cause the pandemic to leave the control zone.