Source: Panama’s Minitry of Health
Since the Ministry of Health authorised the use of Hydroxychloroquine and / or Azithromycin as drugs to treat COVID-19 positive patients, a decrease has been noted significant in cases of this disease, said the minister, Luis Francisco Sucre.
Hydroxychloroquine was suspended in Panama on June 27, due to an observation scientist who made the British magazine The Lancet.
On July 13, at the instruction of Minister Sucre, the General Directorate of Public Health issued Circular No.140 by which the public and private health agencies, resume the use of these drugs as an option therapy against COVID-19.
For the week of July 25 to 31, Panama registered 171 deaths, while in the days after this week, 73 have been registered in August. This evidence led the Minister of Health, Luis Francisco Sucre, to maintain the use of Hydroxychloroquine as therapeutic use in hospital wards for patients by the COVID-19.
MINSA bets on the effective use of Hydroxychloroquine as a functional treatment, each population group may experience a diversified reaction to the application of a certain drug, which is influenced by genetic factors or other characteristics of individuals. The availability of beds increase, given the latest actions undertaken as part of the strategy led by Minister Sucre; the installed capacity of hospitals or availability of beds remains as one of the favorable indicators amid the pandemic.
Currently it is one of the factors that the National Government has established to maintain the reopening of economic activities. The Minister Counselor for Health Affairs, Eyra Ruíz presented a report on the availability of beds in public hospitals in the country. He specified that the wards at the national level currently have 2,123 empty beds, that is, with 41% availability. He explained that July 1, 2019, 561 beds were received and by August of this year they added 461 beds, giving a total of 5,142.
For today, Thursday, August 27, in Panama there are 63,996 recovered patients, 900 new positive cases, for a cumulative total of 89,982. To date, 4,326 tests were applied, for a percentage of positivity of 20.8% and they have 16 new deaths registered, totaling 1,748 accumulated and a fatality of 2.2%. Active cases total 24,038. In home isolation, 22,526 people are reported, of of which 22,105 are at home and 421 in hotels. Hospitalized total 1,512 and 1,355 of them are in the ward and 157 are in the ICU. All official information regarding the pandemic in Panama and the actions of the Government National are communicated through the official MINSA accounts in the main networks social networks and on its website (www.minsa.gob.pa www.yomeinformopma.org) are also available at call center 169 and WhatsApp number 69972539.
Related: Hydroxychloroquine Is Widely Used Around the Globe
Infectologists propose to resume use of hydroxychloroquine in Panama
US Congressman Andy Biggs interviews Dr James Todaro on COVID-19, hydroxy and reopening schools