The number of new cases is a record since the arrival of Covid-19 in Panama on March 9.

The number of accumulated cases rises to 185,424, and the total number of deaths to 3,287.

The Minsa announced that to date 13,299 tests have been applied, for a percentage of positivity of 18.4%.

157,888 recovered patients and 24,249 active cases were counted.

While in home isolation there are 22,949 people, of which 22,274 are at home and 675 in hospital hotels.

There are 1,300 hospitalized patients and of these 1,127 are in the ward and 173 are in the intensive care unit.

American donation

On the other hand, it was reported that the Minsa, on behalf of the National Government, received this Thursday from the United States a field hospital, valued at 400,000 dollars, in addition to personal protective equipment worth 120,000 thousand.

The donation was received by the Deputy Minister of Health, Ivette Berrío from the hands of Admiral Craig S. Faller, chief of the United States Southern Command and the Charge d'Affaires of the US Embassy in Panama, Stewart Tuttle.

Vice Minister Berrío said that "experience has taught us that the fight against the coronavirus must be done as a team to make it more effective, to the extent that we do it together we are stronger and the fight can be carried out better."

For his part, Faller stressed the importance of nations coming together in difficult situations for the benefit of citizens in general.

During the event, Berrío delivered the supplies received to the medical directors of the Children's Hospital, Paul Gallardo; Elías García Mayorga, from the Santo Tomás Hospital; Aurora Vernaza, from Hospital Panamá Solidario, and Yamilka Abad, from Hospital Nicolás Solano.

NOTE:

Some observers have argued that the Minsa reported case fatality rate (number of COVID linked deaths / number of known cases) in reality should be much lower, as the number of reported cases does not necessarily reflect the truth, as the testing does not cover the whole population, and many cases go undetected. At the same time, the government can't report what they don't know, but readers should note that the numbers may tell a different story from the reality.

Also, the method used in Panama to define how a "COVID death" is counted is also unclear, as many of the deaths correspond to underlying previous conditions, such as cancer, blood diseases, other age related diseases etc., and are reported as COVID deaths since the patient also had the coronavirus. On the other hand, many viruses are known to lower the patient's immunity and expose them to other diseases. As an example most HIV/AIDS patients don't die from the virus itself, but from other derived diseases such as pneumonia or regular flu.

There have also been reports on the inaccuracy of the PCR test, which would highly compromise any figures mentioned above.

In lack of better information sources, PanaTimes continues to report the government (Minsa) announced figures. Readers are adviced to use their own judgement.