Israel Cedeño: "If things get worse, we could evaluate closing the second block"
Given the increase in cases of Covid-19 in recent weeks, the Ministry of Health (Minsa) does not have a defined date for the opening of the third block of economic activities, and would even consider the closure of block 2, which started on June 1 last.
Israel Cedeño, director of the Metropolitan Health Region, said this Thursday, June 18, that this decision will be made, depending on the behavior of the virus and citizens.
"We have mentioned it previously and also the Minister [Rosario Turner]: depending on the behavior of both the disease and the population, the decision will be made to open the third block or postpone it even further," said Cedeño, during a tour of the district of Calidonia, one of the most affected in the capital city.
"Even not allowing the opening [of block 3], and if things continue to be aggravated by social indiscipline, we could evaluate closing the second block," he emphasized.
The government decreed a state of national emergency last March 13 and, on March 20, the closure of all shops, businesses and industries, with exceptions, such as supermarkets, pharmacies, banks and food manufacturers. The revival of the economic sectors was organized into six blocks. The first block (e-commerce retail, hardware stores, mechanical workshops, fishing and aquaculture) was reactivated on May 13 and the second (construction of public infrastructure, non-metallic mining and industries), on June 1.
For that date, the absolute quarantine was also ended, but a week later, the Minsa ordered the restoration of the curfew in the provinces of Panama and Panama West, where it can only be circulated according to the gender and last number of the ID.
Health authorities have indicated that the opening of the blocks is evaluated every 14 days, but after 18 days after the opening of block 2, there is still no tentative date for the opening of the third block of activities.
According to Minsa figures, until June 17, Panama accumulates 22,597 confirmed cases of Covid-19; of that total 13,774 are recovered and 470 have died. The rest are in isolation or hospitalized in wards or ICU.
"We have mentioned it previously and also the Minister [Rosario Turner]: depending on the behavior of both the disease and the population, the decision will be made to open the third block or postpone it even further," said Cedeño, during a tour of the district of Calidonia, one of the most affected in the capital city.
"Even not allowing the opening [of block 3], and if things continue to be aggravated by social indiscipline, we could evaluate closing the second block," he emphasized.
The government decreed a state of national emergency last March 13 and, on March 20, the closure of all shops, businesses and industries, with exceptions, such as supermarkets, pharmacies, banks and food manufacturers. The revival of the economic sectors was organized into six blocks. The first block (e-commerce retail, hardware stores, mechanical workshops, fishing and aquaculture) was reactivated on May 13 and the second (construction of public infrastructure, non-metallic mining and industries), on June 1.
For that date, the absolute quarantine was also ended, but a week later, the Minsa ordered the restoration of the curfew in the provinces of Panama and Panama West, where it can only be circulated according to the gender and last number of the ID.
Health authorities have indicated that the opening of the blocks is evaluated every 14 days, but after 18 days after the opening of block 2, there is still no tentative date for the opening of the third block of activities.
According to Minsa figures, until June 17, Panama accumulates 22,597 confirmed cases of Covid-19; of that total 13,774 are recovered and 470 have died. The rest are in isolation or hospitalized in wards or ICU.
