Panama imposes full-day curfew, Guatemala extends state of emergency

25 Mar 2020 • 9:04 AM MYT
Malay Mail
Malay Mail

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Panama's health minister said the Central American country registered 443 cases of the virus, up from 345 the day before, and there were a total of eight deaths. — Reuters pic

PANAMA CITY, March 25 ― Panama's government said yesterday it would widen a curfew to slow the spread of the coronavirus and require people to be in quarantine at all hours beginning today, as the number of cases again jumped and two more people died.

Panama's health minister said the Central American country registered 443 cases of the virus, up from 345 the day before, and there were a total of eight deaths.

President Laurentino Cortizo did not specify how long the curfew would be in place, but added there would be “logical exceptions,” including for health workers and certain businesses such as banks and supermarkets.

In Guatemala, lawmakers voted yesterday to extend the state of emergency due to the coronavirus for another 30 days. The country now has 21 confirmed cases of the infection, the government said. ― Reuters