Panama registers 1,193 new cases of COVID-19 and accumulates 137,760 infections
Panama registered a total of 1,193 new coronavirus infections in the last 24 hours, with which the accumulated number of cases rises to 137,760 for this Friday, November 6.
The Ministry of Health (Minsa) reported that the total number of deaths increased to 2,770, after accounting for 14 new deaths.
The case fatality rate remains at 2.0%.
To date, 7,409 tests have been applied, for a percentage of positivity of 16.1%.
The epidemiological report details that to date a total of 19,000 cases remain active, of which 18,282 are in isolation; Of this figure, it is detailed that 518 are in hospital hotels and 17,764 remain in isolation at home.
While a total of 590 patients are currently hospitalized in the ward, while 128 remain in intensive care units.
On the other hand, the Minsa indicates that 115,990 people are reported who have recovered from COVID.
NOTE:
Some critics have argued that the Minsa reported case fatality rate (number of COVID linked deaths / number of known cases) in reality could 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, how a "COVID death" is counted is 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.
In lack of better information sources, PanaTimes continues to report the government (Minsa) announced figures. Readers are adviced to use their own judgement.