Panama’s Ministry of Health (Minsa) announced on  Thursday, January 22, that it activated the health protocols of the Center for Emergency Health Operations following an international alert for the spread of the coronavirus, while specifying that no cases have been reported in Panama.

According to the Health authorities, the inter-agency will permanently monitor the development of the virus, which originated in the Chinese city Wuhan and has killed 18 people and led to the quarantine of three major cities, cancellation of Chinese New Year events in Beijing,  worldwide disruption of airline schedules  nd another hit on the tourism, industry

The Minsa said that epidemiological surveillance isoperating at airports, ports and Panama borders. Panamanian territory.

Health Minister Rosario Turner said they remain in constant communication with the National Migration Service and Tocumen Airport, the entity said in a statement.

Minsa calls on the population to continue with sanitary measures such as frequent hand washing.

“Avoid contact, without protection, with farm or wild animals. If you already have a respiratory infection, you should cover your mouth when you cough, and when you sneeze, use disposable tissues, ”recommends the Health entity.

Health facilities maintain biosecurity measures to protect patients and health personnel.

According to international agencies, the number of countries with cases of coronavirus continues to increase, especially in Asia.

On Thursday, cases were confirmed in Vietnam, Singapore and Saudi Arabia.. They were previously reported in Japan, Hong Kong, Macao, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and the United States.

The first case in China occurred on December 31.