Panama and the Coronavirus (Covid-19) Pandemic. Omicron and beyond

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COVID-19:  11 deaths, 12,351 new cases

There are 71 in ICU.

Posted 21/01/2022

The Ministry of Health reported 11 covid-19 deaths and 12,351 new infections on Thursday, January 20.

The accumulated death toll is 7,565 with a lethality of 1.2%.

To find the new infections, 36,057 tests were applied for positivity of 34.3%.

Active cases amount to 77,438, of which 76,738 are in home isolation and 700 hospitalized.

Those in isolation are divided into 76,228 at home and 510 in hospital hotels. There are 629 patients on the ward and 71 in the intensive care (ICU).

Vaccination
The report of the Expanded Program on Immunization, reveals that since the start of Operation PanavaC-19 in January 2021 to date, 6,861,327 doses of anticovid vaccines have been applied, of which 3,183,137 have been applied in the first dose; 2,845,191 in the second dose; 823,530 in booster doses; 39,153 pediatric doses (5 to 11 years old) and 9,469 third doses to immunosuppressed patients.

https://www.newsroompanama.com/health/covid-19-11-deaths-12351-new-cases

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42,000 children get covid-19 vax in 15 days

PARENTS and children at a vaccination center

Posted 22/01/2022

Some 42,000 pediatric doses against Covid-19 have been applied to Panama children aged 5 to 11 years in 15 days reports the Health Ministry (Minsa).

Pediatric vaccination in Panama began on January 7 and until  Friday's cutoff, 21,566 administered doses were counted, which gives a daily average of 2, 837.

This week the immunization of this age group is being carried out in nine schools and three shopping centers in circuits 8-6 (San Miguelito) and 8-10 (Panama).

The Health authorities specified that the vaccination in the authorized schools ends  Saturday, but in the Metro mall and Los Andes Mall, San Miguelito and Megamall, Pacora, it continues through Sunday.

Panama has received 180,000 pediatric doses from the Pfizer laboratory and in the next few days, the other circuits where children from 5 to 11 years of age will begin to be immunized will be announced.

As reported by the Ministry of Health, the estimated target population to be vaccinated in this group is 512,000.

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/42000-children-get-covid-19-vax-in-15-days

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COVID-19: 9 Deaths, 11,933 new cases

 

On  Friday, January 21, nine deaths and 11,933 new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in Panama. There are 84,113 active cases, of which83,383 are in home isolation and 730 are hospitalized. (662 in the ward and 68 in ICU.) The lethality of the virus at the national level is at 1.2%.. In the last hours, 32,909 tests were applied for positivity of 36.3%.

https://www.newsroompanama.com/health/covid-19-9-deaths-11933-new-cases

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Covid Hospitals under pressure as cases balloon

Posted 23/01/2022

The Social Security Fund (CSS), is under pressure due to the increase in cases of Covid-19 says the entity's director Enrique Lau Cortés.

Last week they only had 18 patients admitted to the Covid Hospital of the City of Health and to date the figure exceeds 100. In addition, there are about 30 patients scheduled to be transferred to the Hospital.

"Yes, there is pressure," said the director about the increase in infections and hospitalizations in the midst of the fourth wave of the pandemic.

“What is happening with the pandemic is not relaxation. People are getting sick; those who have comorbidities are arriving at hospitals, they are being admitted to special respiratory care units, requiring life support in intensive care, and people are dying,” said Lau Cortés.

According to the epidemiological report issued Saturday by the Ministry of Health, at the national level, there are 794 hospitalized; 715 are in the ward and 79 in the ICU.

The director of the CSS announced that in the face of an increase in patients who require admission to the Covid Hospital, more beds can be enabled. The same can be done at the Metropolitan Hospital Complex and at the Irma Lourdes de Tzanetatos Hospital in the district of 24 de Diciembre.

He added that an additional level would involve the use of campaign hospitals and a broader measure would be to rethink gyms and schools.

“We are strategically prepared: at various points, we have indicators that tell us when one scale should be activated and when the next one should be activated. Right now we are enduring, but we can't do it alone, we need the population to become aware, take care of themselves," said Lau Cortés.

Meanwhile, the Association of Private Hospitals reported that the occupation of private hospitals with cases of Covid-19 is high.

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/covid-hospitals-under-pressure-as-cases-balloon

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Carnival cancellation pushed as covid cases head to 20,000 daily

Posted 23/01/2022

An exponential increase in Covid-19 cases to 20,000 daily is expected, and knowing that the hospital capacity of public and private hospitals is at 40%, Dr. Julio Sandoval has recommended the cancelation of carnivals to Health  Minister Luis Francisco Sucre.

He stated that it is an issue that should have come out of the discussion a long time ago and a firm decision should have been made to cancel them

With hospital capacity at the limit and the wave of infections accelerating in the coming weeks, it is dangerous for public health to allow carnivals and crowds where there will be no capacity, the use of masks properly for multiple hours and consecutive days.

Sandoval, based on the guidelines of the, (CDC), suggests updating quarantine/isolation criteria, proposing that anyone who has had contact with a + case and is fully vaccinated should not quarantine and follow strict use of masks.

In addition, shorten the quarantine to five days, especially in the case of essential personnel for the country, carrying out an antigen test or PCR on the fifth day so that they can return to work with strict use of a mask.

Another recommendation that he has made, like other doctors, is to promote and facilitate the "home tests", which have a sensitivity and specificity >90%.

“The ideal thing would be to be able to streamline bureaucratic procedures together with the Gorgas Institute, so that companies that meet the requirements can include Panama on their import list and count on them as soon as possible and, if possible, before the start of the import process. of the school period”, highlights the document.

Regarding traceability, Sandoval indicates that with 20,000 cases per day it is almost impossible to apply adequate traceability.

 He considers it necessary to redirect efforts towards the population at greatest risk and

emphasize traceability in them: for example unvaccinated or partially vaccinated, chronic degenerative diseases, and older adults.

He continues by saying that reconversion of beds and cancellation of elective surgeries for at least 4 weeks to guarantee hospital capacity and that we have the capacity to care for all patients with moderate-severe disease, for this to concentrate human resources and defer all elective procedures, the Outpatient consultation in polyclinics and health centers could move to teleconsultation during this 4-week omicron peak.

In addition, acquiring Molnupiravir and Paxlovid, both antiviral drugs that interact with other drugs, the first is not recommended in pregnancies or  under18 years. Stop the use of these drugs for moderate-severe hospitalized cases and under a strict multidisciplinary protocol: emergency physicians, internists, geriatricians, infectious disease specialists, pulmonologists, and intensivists.

Stop distributing drugs such as hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin to the population when there is extensive international literature that they have no role in the disease.

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/carnival-cancellation-pushed-as-covid-cases-head-to-20000-daily

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COVID-19: 15 deaths, 831 hospitalized

Posted 24/01/2022

The Ministry of Health (Minsa),  reported on Sunday, January 23, 15 deaths from Covid-19 in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of deaths to 7,598.

After applying 19,745 tests, which showed a positivity of 36.3%, 7,164 new infections were detected, which

The report reveals 83,343 active cases with 831 hospitalized,747 in the ward, and 84 in ICU.

There are 510 in hospital hotels.

https://www.newsroompanama.com/health/covid-19-15-deaths-831-hospitalized

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Hospital files fake news complaint about child-vax audio

Posted 24/01/2022

The administration of the San Fernando Hospital Clinic announced that it will file a complaint with the Public Ministry to initiate the proceedings to find the whereabouts of the person responsible for an audio that circulates with false information about the childhood vaccination process in this medical center.

The hospital center through a press release clarified that “in its facilities, there have been no events that undermine the safety and quality of patient care. The vaccination process that began in August 2021, applying more than 40,000 doses to people over twelve years of age, took place in complete order and without regrettable adverse reactions.”

The clarification of the San Fernando Hospital arises after the spread on WhatsApp and social networks of an audio in which a man assures that two minors died in this hospital due to vaccination. Information that has been denied.

On the other hand, the clinic pointed out that they decided to temporarily suspend vaccination due to the decrease in health personnel due to community infections by Covid-19, and the need to relocate the personnel assigned to vaccination.

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/hospital-files-fake-news-complaint-about-child-vax-audio

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Vaccinated Patients at Figali Center Have Fewer Complications

Posted 24/01/2022

Due to the impact of vaccination against the coronavirus, the scenario in the Figali Covid-19 patient assistance center is different compared to the other three waves said Sharomay Osma, medical director on Monday, January 24.

Patients who have received their vaccines to counteract Covid-19 have fewer complications than those who do not have any doses and the unvaccinated who arrive at the center develop more serious situations in their state of health.

The official assured that 90% of the 1,300 patients who received care at Figali, which began operating in 2020, have recovered.

Since the beginning of the year the majority of patients admitted to the center range between the ages of 40 and 55 years.

https://www.newsroompanama.com/health/vaccinated-patients-at-figali-center-have-fewer-complications

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COVID-19: 15 deaths, 831 hospitalized

Posted 24/01/2022

The Ministry of Health (Minsa),  reported on Sunday, January 23, 15 deaths from Covid-19 in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of deaths to 7,598.

After applying 19,745 tests, which showed a positivity of 36.3%, 7,164 new infections were detected, which

The report reveals 83,343 active cases with 831 hospitalized,747 in the ward, and 84 in ICU.

There are 510 in hospital hotels.

https://www.newsroompanama.com/health/covid-19-15-deaths-831-hospitalized

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First Lady tests positive for Covid-19

Posted 25/01/2022

Panama’s first lady, Yazmín Colón de Cortizo, reported on Monday, January 24, that she tested positive for Covid-19.

On her Twitter account, she published: I want to inform the public that after taking a PCR test I have tested positive for Covid19.

The wife of President Laurentino Cortizo said that she proceeded with the corresponding isolation protocol. She assured that she feels well and that she has the complete vaccination schedule against Covid-19.

Last week, President Cortizo underwent a covid test after learning that Vice President José Gabriel Carrizo tested positive for Covid-19. The result was negative.

According to the protocol dictated by the Ministry of Health, Cortizo, being a direct contact, must keep five days of isolation.

https://www.newsroompanama.com/health/first-lady-tests-positive-for-covid-19

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Pandemic causes cancellation of 2022 Carnivals

Posted 27/01/2022

An executive decree published on Thursday, January 27, orders the cancellation of the 2022 Carnivals throughout the country due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Decree carries the signature of the President, Laurentino Cortizo, and the Minister of Health, Luis Francisco Sucre. It establishes that between Friday, February 25 and Sunday, March 6, 2022, mass activities are prohibited.

The activities that are banned are dancing, in open or closed spaces, in gardens, canteens, discos, awnings, and the like.

Cantaderas, concerts, presentations of artists on stage, and animation in mobile structures of nightclubs cannot be held either.

The culecos or mojaderas with or without a tank were also canceled, in addition to parades.

Other activities that are not authorized are cockfights,  bullfights, and lasso competitions, as well as mass gatherings in residences, buildings, streets, or neighborhoods

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/pandemic-causes-cancellation-of-2022-carnivals

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OMICRON: Myths and Fallacies

Posted 27/01/2022

La Prensa published on Thursday, January 27 a list of doubts and myths about the Omicron variant.

Omicron infection is milder
Scientific evidence indicates that Omicron has been less severe compared to Delta, but should not be considered mild.

The WHO and Panamanian scientists, such as the National Secretary of Science, Technology and Innovation Eduardo Ortega Barría; the clinical researcher Xavier Sáez-Llorens, and the epidemiologist and director of the Cevaxin Research Center, Rodrigo De Antonio, agree that the Ómicron variant generates hospitalizations and death of patients, so it should not be thought of as a simple cold.

Contagion by Omicron is not like a common cold and there is a possibility that the person will require hospitalization depending on their comorbidities, age, among other factors. People infected with Omicron are being hospitalized and have died as a result of it. People who get the variant and recover are also at risk of developing persistent Covid.

Ómicron generates fewer hospitalizations
Omicron poses a high risk to the health system, as it spreads faster than Delta. And although it causes milder cases of Covid-19, and a lower percentage of patients end up in the hospital, given the high number of infections, that lower percentage means a large number of hospitalizations.

On January 21, the San Fernando Hospital Clinic announced the suspension of vaccination due to the increase in hospitalized patients with Covid-19, and the Children's Hospital, suspended since last January 17 January outpatient surgeries, radiology appointments, due to the increase in cases.

Vaccines do not work A recent study conducted by, South Africa's largest private insurer, found that two doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine provide 33% protection against infection and 70% protection against hospitalization.

The booster dose is not effective
The scientific community suggests that the effectiveness of the Covid-19 vaccines, like that of many other vaccines, such as the flu, decreases over time, so it is important to get the booster dose.

Two studies published last week show that a third jab offers greater protection against Omicron. The first publication in the Journal Science showed that with just two doses, the sera had reduced neutralizing antibodies against Omicron by more than 22-fold. One month after the third dose of the vaccine, Omicron's neutralizing antibodies increased by more than 23-fold compared to the two doses, and were similar to the neutralizing antibodies of the original variant from Wuhan, after the second dose.

The second study in The Lancet reiterated that a booster dose of the Covid-19 vaccine raises the levels of antibodies that neutralize the Omicron variant, according to laboratory results.

Unvaccinated people will not get seriously ill
Health authorities and scientists point out that the vast majority of those hospitalized are unvaccinated people.

The Covid-19 Vaccine Composition Technical Advisory Group notes that while the first generation of vaccines developed does not stop all infections and transmissions, it is very effective in reducing hospitalizations and deaths.

If I have already had Covid-19, I have immunity
If you have had Covid-19 before, you should still be vaccinated, as reinfection by omicron is still possible, with the risk of becoming seriously ill, transmitting the virus to other people, or developing persistent Covid.

Omicron transmits faster
In December 2021, the WHO reported that Omicron spread significantly faster than the Delta variant and noted that people who have been vaccinated or have recovered from Covid-19 are more likely to be infected or reinfected with the variant. Sáez-Llorens estimated that the Ómicron variant is at least three times more contagious than the Delta, which brings the transmission closer to that known for the measles virus.

Masks are useless against Omicron
Panamanian scientists, authorities, and organizations like the United States Centers for Disease Control agree that all preventive measures that work against the Delta variant continue to be effective against Omicron, and this includes the use of masks.

https://www.newsroompanama.com/health/omicron-myths-and-fallacies

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COVID-19 : Ten deaths 8,268 new cases

28/01/2022

The number of new coronavirus infections on Thursday, January 27, was 8,268 after the application of 26,743 tests for positivity of 30.9%.  according to reports the Ministry of Health (Minsa)

The Ministry highlighted that 10 deaths have been reported for a cumulative total of 7,656 and lethality of 1.1%.

Active cases amount to 83,933, of which 83,081 are in home isolation and 852 hospitalized.

(769 in the ward and 83 in intensive care units.

https://www.newsroompanama.com/health/covid-19-ten-deaths-8268-new-cases

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Investigation of Health Official spreading misinformation

Posted 28/01/2022

An investigation is underway against a health official, who has allegedly been spreading false information about the pandemic,  confirmed the Minister of Health, Luis Francisco Sucre, in the province of Chiriquí.

"I think we have shown that we listen to everyone, that we respect opinions a lot, even when they are

different from ours, but one thing is to have a different opinion and another thing is to spread misinformation"

He added that they would not allow "terror" to be introduced with these assertions and the respective

investigations will be carried out.

Investigation of Health Official spreading misinformation

An investigation is underway against a health official, who has allegedly been spreading false information about the pandemic,  confirmed the Minister of Health, Luis Francisco Sucre, in the province of Chiriquí.

"I think we have shown that we listen to everyone, that we respect opinions a lot, even when they are

different from ours, but one thing is to have a different opinion and another thing is to spread misinformation"

He added that they would not allow "terror" to be introduced with these assertions and the respective

investigations will be carried out.

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/investigation-of-health-official-spreading-misinformation

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20 covid-19 deaths, 18 without complete vaccination

Posted 29/01/2022

EIGHTEEN  of 20 deaths due to covid-19 reported by the Ministry of Health (Minsa) on Friday, January 18 did not have the complete vaccination schedule 12 did not receive any dose, and six had a single dose.

The Health authorities also highlighted that 90% of the deaths that have occurred, since the immunization process began, in January 2021, were people who did not have the complete vaccination cycle.

Panama has accumulated 7,680 deaths from coronavirus since the pandemic arrived in the country in March 2020, for a fatality rate of 1.1%.

Minsa reported  7,502 new cases after the application of 24,691 tests for positivity of 30.4%.

Active cases reached 79,445, of which 78,618 are in home isolation and 827 hospitalized (749 in the ward and 78 in intensive care).

https://www.newsroompanama.com/health/20-covid-19-deaths-18-without-complete-vaccination

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278 people with covid-19 try to enter Fair

Posted 30/01/2022

During the first four days of the La Chorrera Fair, of 278 people with Covid-19 have tried to enter the event reports Carlos García, president of the Board of Trustees of the Fair.

He said that the day they tried to enter the most was the day of its inauguration when 124 people were detected.

The fair, which was inaugurated on January 26, designed a control system that includes the verification of the QR and the vaccination card with the help of the staff and equipment of the Government Innovation Authority.

In addition, people must use masks during their tour of the fair event, García said while recalling that they expect to receive more than 200,000 visitors until February 6.

García said that on Saturday, January 29, 90 people with Covid-19 tried to enter the fair, for which they were referred to the justice of the peace and must also comply with their quarantine.

He added that offenders are exposed to a prison sentence for attempting to violate the quarantine for the coronavirus.

All the people were detected before entering but emphasized that random checks are also carried out inside the fair to verify that no one is infected.

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/278-people-with-covid-19-try-to-enter-fair

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Fourth  Panama covid wave has peaked - scientists

Posted 30/01/2022

The Panamanian scientific community sees a "sign" that the fourth wave of the pandemic has reached its peak and in the next few days the infections could begin to descend

After maintaining sustained growth in Covid-19 cases for a month, reaching a daily average of 9,991 cases and 10 deaths (from January 16 to 22), the epidemiological week that ended Saturday registered a daily average of 7,873 cases and 16 deaths.

In general terms, there is a decrease of 21.1% in cases, although there is an increase in the average number of daily deaths.

The National Secretary of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Eduardo Ortega, points out that, both on Thursday and Friday of this week, a 30% positivity rate was reported in the tests, which is lower than what had been previously ( when they ranged between 36% and 37%). On Saturday it was 28.9%.

“The good thing about is that the percentage of positive tests is going down for two days in a row, and that may be a sign that we have reached the maximum peak of the fourth wave. We have to see how this weekend ends, but it is a good sign, after having been at 37% positivity of the tests.

The advisor to the Covid-19 Vaccine Research Consortium recalled that the waves of cases conditioned by Omicron in other countries, such as South Africa or the United States, have shown that as fast as they go up, they go down.

However, he specified that hospitalizations and deaths will continue to increase for two more weeks, assuming that there is a 15-day gap between cases with hospitalizations and deaths.

Booster shots
He reiterated that the population must attend to receive the booster dose against Covid-19 to avoid the severe form of the disease,

“We cannot underestimate an organism that has a high rate of transmissibility, like Omicron. Although it is less severe, it is going to have a very important impact on public health,” Ortega pointed out.

For specialist doctor, Paulino Vigil-De Gracias, the peak of new infections has already been reached and now the decline will begin. His conclusion is direct: “Three days ago I said that I did not want to be optimistic, today I say that we are not only reaching the peak of the fourth wave, now we are going down [in cases],” he said.

The Metropolitan Health Region handles 13,340 active cases. The districts with the most active cases are San Francisco, with 1,740; Parque Lefevre (1,463), Juan Díaz (1,285), Bella Vista (1,266) and Tocumen (1,161).

The Ministry of Health  reported that 90% of the deaths that have occurred since the National Vaccination Plan was launched are people who did not have the complete vaccination schedule

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/fourth-panama-covid-wave-has-peaked-scientists

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COVID -19: 18 deaths, 7,698 new infections

Posted 30/01/2022

The Ministry of Health (Minsa), reported  Saturday  18 deaths from Covid-19, raising the accumulated total to 7,698. After applying 24,221 tests, with positivity of 28.9%, 7,004 new infections were detected. Active cases total 75,079, of which 74,254 are in home isolation and 825 hospitalized  ( 747 patients in the ward and 79 in ICU.

https://www.newsroompanama.com/health/covid-19-18-deaths-7698-new-infections

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Omicron is not the common flu warn doctors as deaths mount

Posted 31/01/2022

Although the omicron variant of COVID-19 is less serious than the delta, it is not the common flu say doctors and scientists and it continues to leave a high number of deaths.

In the last week alone around 115 new deaths were registered out of more than 270 that have been registered so far in the month of January reports TVN.

This translates to a large increase as in December 2021, 65 deaths were recorded.

According to data from the Ministry of Health, 90% of deaths are to unvaccinated people or people with an incomplete vaccination schedule.

https://www.newsroompanama.com/health/omicron-is-not-the-common-flu-warn-doctors-as-deaths-mount

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74,000 pediatric doses of covid vaccine administered

Posted 01/02/2022

At least 74,000 pediatric doses have been applied against Covid-19 in Panama reports the Expanded Program on Immunization (PAI).

The immunization of children from 5 to 11 years of age began on January 7 and in 25 days a total of 74,034 doses have been administered, which gives a daily average of 2,961.

The Ministry of Health will inform in the next few hours the circuits where posts will be set up to vaccinate minors in this age group this week.

The target population to be vaccinated is 3.9 million people, 81.3% have the first dose and 72.1% are with the second dose.

https://www.newsroompanama.com/health/74000-pediatric-doses-of-covid-vaccine-administered

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One in four in the Americas have not had a single dose of covid vaccine

Posted 02/02/2022

AFP - One in four people has not yet received a single dose of vaccination in the Americas, where infections and deaths from Covid-19 continue to increase, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) warned on Wednesday, February 2.

63% of the inhabitants of Latin America and the Caribbean have been vaccinated against Covid-19, but it remains the most unequal region in the world in terms of access to vaccines, said PAHO Director Carissa Etienne during a  virtual press conference.

Although 14 countries and territories have fully immunized 70% of their population, many others have yet to protect 40%, it adds.

In low- and middle-income countries "more than 54% of people have not yet received a single vaccine against covid-19", says Etienne.

Meanwhile, infections and deaths from Covid-19 continue to rise.

Last week saw more than 7 million new cases and over 34,000 deaths related to the virus.

Deaths increased for the fourth consecutive week in all subregions, with an increase of almost 33% compared to the previous seven days.

In the Caribbean, deaths have more than doubled in Cuba, the Bahamas, and Antigua and Barbuda.

On other islands, such as Martinique and Guadeloupe, the virus is spreading rapidly among the young and unvaccinated, and in South America, Chile and Brazil have recorded record numbers of daily cases.

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/one-in-four-in-the-americas-have-not-had-a-single-dose-of-covid-vaccine-1

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New covid-19 infections plummeting

Posted 03/02/2022

The positivity of Covid-19 cases is showing a downward trend in the fourth wave of the pandemic.

For five consecutive days, the epidemiological report from the Ministry of Health Panama has registered a percentage of new cases below 30%.

In that period, the highest percentage occurred on Saturday, January 29 with positivity of 28.9%, and the lowest on Tuesday, February 1, 21.6%.

According to the researcher and medical specialist Paulino Vigil-De Gracia, in two weeks the decrease in cases is being noticed in the infections reported in the districts.

He highlighted that at the peak of the fourth wave, 20 districts had more than 175 cases per day, three exceeded 300, and 1 exceeded 400 cases per day. However, 14 days later none reaches 140 cases per day.

Infectologist Javier Nieto highlighted two days ago that the peak of infections was exceeded and that, as in other countries, infections are plummeting.

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/new-covid-19-infections-plummeting

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La Chorrera Fair re-opens after closure for regulations breach

Posted 05/02/2022

Two hours after announcing the closure of the La Chorrera Fair, the Ministry of Health (Minsa) reported that the fair was re-opened to the public but with,  some restrictions,  including the banning of sale of liquor sales.

The Minsa reported earlier that it closed the facilities of the La Chorrera Fair for not complying with the biosafety standards established to hold this event.

In a statement, Minsa explained that all the activities of the fair were closed definitively because Decree 903 of December 2021, which establishes the measures to carry out the fair events, was not being complied with.

The  Minsa reported on Saturday afternoon that after a negotiation between the directors of the fair and the health authorities, it was agreed not to allow the development of dance activities, discos, and cantaderas.

It was specified that the amusement park, craft stalls, and exhibitions will be open to the public from the afternoon of Saturday, February 5.

The La Chorrera Fair will conclude Sunday, February 6.

The Minsa had already reported that it had initiated an investigation into reports that the established capacity was allegedly being breached during an artistic presentation at the fair.

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/la-chorrera-fair-re-opens-after-closure-for-regulations-breach

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81.7% of covid deaths without complete vaccination

Posted 05/02/2022

Data from the Ministry of Health (Minsa), shows that 81.7% of the deaths by Covid-19 from February 28, 2021 to January 28, 2022, were people who did not have the complete immunization schedule.

On February 28, 2021, the health authorities reported a total of 5,845 deaths and in the report of January 28 of this year, the figure was 7,680 so, in 11 months, of the 1,835 deaths 1,500 did not have the full cycle of vaccination. Until January 28, it was considered to have the complete vaccination schedule when receiving two doses against Covid-19. From that date onwards it came into effect that the complete cycle includes having all three doses.

Regarding information on cases of coronavirus until Friday, Minsa says that 90% of patients in ICU (82) and 60% of those in the ward (643) are without a complete vaccination.

https://www.newsroompanama.com/health/817-of-covid-deaths-without-complete-vaccination

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The Pandemic Endgame

Panamanians wait in line for covid tests.

Posted 06/02/2022

By Dr Nestor Sosa

During a game of chess, when there are few pieces left on the board, priorities and strategies change tremendously. This key stage is appropriately known as the endgame, and is usually played differently from the other stages, such as the opening and middlegame. Likewise, this pandemic, at a given moment, is going to enter a final stage. And during this final stage, as in chess, it will be necessary to change strategies and adapt them to the particularities and changes that the new clinical and epidemiological conditions demand.

At this time, we have several effective tools to reduce the severity of the disease caused by SARSCoV-2. We have multiple vaccines that are safe and have been shown to significantly decrease the percentage of hospitalizations and admissions to intensive care. We have several effective oral treatments and injectable drugs have also been developed that substantially reduce the progression of the infection or the mortality associated with it.

An increasing percentage of the population has immunity against the virus, acquired through vaccination or having had a previous infection. And although we have learned that this immunity does not confer 100% protection against reinfection or infection in vaccinated individuals, it is clear that the risk of severe infection decreases substantially if you have immunity.

Acquired knowledge
On the other hand, after more than two years of the pandemic, we have accumulated an enormous amount of knowledge about the transmission, epidemiology, genetics, and behavior of the virus and its various variants. We have several types of diagnostic tests available and we know the effectiveness of non-pharmacological measures, such as masks and respirators, the importance of good ventilation and low transmission in open spaces.

The important thing now is to determine when the strategy can be changed. When can it be assumed that the greatest danger has passed? How to know that a new outbreak of the virus will not bring the health system to its knees and will not cause pain and loss like the first pandemic waves?

To begin with, it is necessary to have an adequate supply of vaccines for people of all ages, including very young children. The company Pfizer has already requested emergency authorization from the Food and Drug Administration to administer its vaccine to children between 6 months and 5 years of age.

Of course it is not enough to have the vaccines available in the freezers. It is necessary to have a high percentage of people vaccinated, say above 80% or 90%, with at least the three required doses. Including, of course, those who have had the infection. The solidarity and cooperation of everyone is needed, especially those who have not yet been vaccinated or those who have not wanted or been able to complete their boosters.

Although more than 10 billion vaccines against Covid-19 have already been administered worldwide, there are countries, especially in Africa, that have less than 10% of their population properly vaccinated.

On the other hand, there must be an adequate supply of effective medications and a structure to administer them quickly and to those who really need it. No corruption, no trickery. These medications have shown efficacy only if they are administered within the first 5 to 7 days of symptom onset. For this reason, it is necessary to have the capacity to carry out rapid diagnostic tests, including home tests that allow people to access treatments expeditiously.

Case surveillance should focus on severe Covid-19 hospitalizations, intensive care unit admissions, and deaths. The statistics should include rates of these indicators in previously infected and vaccinated with 1, 2, and 3 doses. This will make it possible to adjust strategies in the event of detecting an unexpected increase in the most serious cases and to assess the need for reinforcements or modification of the vaccines to make them closer to the circulating variants.

At the global level, it is necessary to continue with genomic surveillance, that is, the detection of variants and the rapid evaluation of their capacity for immune evasion and their pathogenicity.

The isolation of patients can be shortened with the rational and timely use of antigenic tests that fairly well predict who is contagious and who is not. Those who have recently recovered can wear an N95 mask or respirator for several days to protect those around them once their symptoms have improved and especially if their tests are negative. People exposed to a positive case who have both their vaccine doses and a booster, or two vaccines and a previous infection, may be able to skip quarantines if they remain asymptomatic.

Many experts believe that SARSCoV-2 is not going away. This is more or less evident after more than two years. The key is to make sure it doesn't kill or seriously ill so many people. Convert it with vaccination and medications into yet another respiratory infection, one that does not affect the functioning of society.

 We all have tiredness or pandemic fatigue. But humanity has faced much greater challenges. Wars that have lasted for decades, pandemics with much higher mortality and great famines. We have to go ahead and, like at the end of a game of chess, adjust our strategies and win. We have no other.

The author is a specialist in infectious diseases

https://www.newsroompanama.com/health/the-pandemic-endgame*