On December 28, the Ministry of Health published a decree in the Official Gazette formalizing new measures to curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. These include extending the curfew nationwide with a total lockdown throughout the country on January 9 and 10. Activities exempted from these measures include banks, the pharmaceutical industry, and the food industry. The regulations are already in force.

Below, are the details of the measures detailed in the decree:

• Total lockdown is established in the provinces of Panama and West Panama from 5 a.m. on Monday, January 4 until 5 a.m. on Thursday, January 14. During this period, restrictions by gender will be in place for purchasing food, medicines and gasoline.

• Total lockdown is established nationwide on Saturday, January 9 and Sunday, January 10.

• The entire country will continue to observe the curfew from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m., originally implemented through Decree 1683, until Thursday, January 14, with the exception of the days of total quarantine.

• During these periods of restrictions on circulation, total lockdown, and curfew, the pharmaceutical, agro-foods, and banking industries may continue to operate, as long as the biosafety protocols issued by the Ministry of Health (MINSA, in Spanish) are followed.

• Delivery services for food and medicines may operate until 10 p.m.