While Panama’s Chinese community celebrated Chinese New Year on Saturday, January 25  as cases of coronavirus continue to appear around the world, the Ministry of Health (Minsa) has urged people to follow preventive measures for any type of respiratory disease.

Wash your hands with soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

Cover your nose and mouth when you cough and sneeze with tissues or with your forearm.

 Avoid close contact with anyone with the flu or cold symptoms.

Cook the meat and eggs well.

Use protection when having contact with live, wild or farm animals.

In China,  the coronavirus has so far caused 41 deaths and some  1500 people have been hospitalized while the government is building a massive new emergency center to deal with anticipated cases.

There have been reports of people affected by the virus. in Australia. France the United States. Hong Kong, Korea and Singapore