According to reports, the Ministry of Health has reported an upsurge in the figure of cases since late 2023, and in the third epidemiological week of 2024, 480 cases have been registered, including 80 cases admitted in hospitals, 76 of which were admitted in wards and four in Intensive Care Units (ICU).

The circulation of the JN.1 variant, family and social activities at the end and beginning of the year, and ignoring the recommended hygiene measures have contributed to the upturn of cases, according to a press release from the Ministry of Health

Unfortunately, the increase in cases is partly due to the fact that the population has neglected the recommended basic hygiene measures.

In addition, we have noticed a lack of vaccination, which further contributes significantly to this increase, Deputy Minister of Health Mario Urcuyo noted.

Although it is an expected trend, the increase in contagions is rapid, so the Ministry of Health is attentive to variations that pose a risk for the country and reminds the population to maintain the recommended hygiene measures.

The Ministry highlighted that last week, the Panamanian Government donated 22,000 doses of Pfizer bivalent vaccines for children and adults.

Those bivalent vaccines are in force according to the scheme approved by the National Commission of Vaccination and Epidemiology (CNVE), those doses continue to generate immunological protection against Covid-19, and are therefore recommended as an effective preventive strategy.

jg/omr/mem/alb