Ramón Martínez, Minister of Commerce and Industries (Mici), stated that an essential requirement for opening is the formation of the special Health and Hygiene Committee for the prevention and care of Covid-19, which must follow the guidelines established by the Ministry of Health (Minsa) .

This committee must be made up of 2-6 people from the entity or company. In the case of small businesse, which do not have the required number of personnel to form the health committee, the Micro, Small and Medium-sized Company Authority (Ampyme) will collaborate with them, Martínez explained.

The official said that the doctor's offices will also be able to operate from tomorrow, but they must have a health committee and inform the Minsa of their opening.

"These companies, once they open, have to be verified and must have a certificate that has the logo of healthy Panama."

According to Martínez, doctor's offices, private clinics and dental services will be able to start operations from tomorrow as long as they comply with the guidelines established by the Minsa.

In this sense, he said that these should contact the Ministry of Health and inform them on what date they will open and that they have the guidelines of the Minsa including the Covid-19 committee.

As for the plumbers and electricians who carry out work independently and informally, they must formalize their services and request their safe-conduct through the Mici platforms.

Martínez also announced that depending on the evaluations in the next two weeks, the order to open block 2 could be given, which includes construction of public infrastructure, non-metallic mining, industry, places of worship, parks, sports areas and social areas with 25% of capacity and physical distance with two meters distance.

He also said that the services of beauty salons, barber shops, car washes and shopping centers are included in block 3. This block includes retail trade in person, said Martínez.

The reactivation of the economic and business sector will depend on compliance with the sanitary measures established by the Minsa, the official reiterated.

Health Committee's tasks

1. Review compliance with the protocols and guides issued by the authorities related to the control of Covid-19.

2. Monitor compliance with all measures determined by the company to guarantee the health of workers and visitors. (For example, keep a distance of two meters between each workers, or staggered lunch shifts to avoid crowds).

3. It is responsible for establishing a mechanism to detect symptomatic and asymptomatic workers in a timely manner.

4. Implement the methodology and frequency with which the tests approved by the Health Authority will be carried out.

5. Report any suspicion of Covid-19 infection in the company to the health authorities.

6. You must communicate and train workers on prevention measures, control, hygiene habits and implementation and updating of protocols.

7. The team that makes up this committee must develop, disseminate and place materials alluding to hygiene measures, symptoms and contact numbers, among others.

8. Maintain the confidentiality of the information resulting from the cases of workers affected by Covid-19.