The swab centers to detect Covid-19 cases will be enabled on January 1, the Ministry of Health reported.

"We will be performing swabs today, December 31 and tomorrow, January 1, to anyone with suspicious symptoms of the virus from 7:00 am to 1:00 pm," reported Esmeralda Martínez, national coordinating physician for swab samples.

She explained that they will serve the public according to the capacity of samples that can be sent to the Gorgas Memorial Institute.

She also said that tests are not being carried out to detect Covid-19 for travelers, since "the priority is the asymptomatic, close contact and any person who feels bad or has symptoms related to the virus."

"We have made up to 500 samples in this fast car of Emilio Royo, for this reason, we need Panamanians to take a defensive attitude, to take care of the family, use the mask and screens and avoid crowds," added Martínez.

He added that swabs are taken at the Rod Carew Stadium, at the Emilio Royo de Juan Díaz, in the health centers of the Ministry of Health and "they are free."