Panama is the latest country to go into total quarantine for an indefinite period to stem the advance of the coronavirus.  The announcement came from President Laurentino Cortizo in a broadcast to the nation on Tuesday evening, March 23.

Cortizo, who explained that the measure is based on evidence previously evaluated by the health team dealing with the pandemic, based, in turn, on the behavior of the virus in different regions.

The round the clock quarantine exempts  18 groups or industries, among them, the Public Force; emergency officials; personnel from the Ministry of Health, the Social Security Fund, the Fire Department, Sinaproc, Acodeco, Idaan, the Cleaning Authority, Sume-911, the ACP and the media.

The executive decree allows two hours of daily mobility of people, based on the last digit of their identity card or passport.

The mobility is restricted to purchasing food or medicine. In a medical emergency, the person can leave at any time.

Senior citzens and people with disabilities must complete their errands between 11:00 am and 1:00 pm

To guarantee public order, the security forces will deploy 18,000 agents.

SOLIDARITY PLAN
The president said  that in during the  total quarantine the government will continue to pay subsidies (in the order of $1.6 billion) and will launch the Panama Solidarity plan, which includes the distribution of vouchers, food bags, medicines and tanks of gas to at least a million people, including informal workers, lottery sellers., residents of vulnerable areas and those affected by the economic impact of the pandemic.

The amount of the electricity bill will be reduced 50% to those whose consumption does not exceed 300 kilowatts. Service will not be cut nor that of water or internet to those who cannot pay their bills in the next three months.

Banks will not execute the mortgages of those affected by the pandemic

Cortizo called for solidarity and rsaid  that in the next few days an account will be opened at the National Bank to receive donations.