The Ministry of Health of Panama (Minsa) reiterated through a statement that by 2021 the traditional carnival festivals will be suspended throughout the country, as part of the measures to prevent the spread and contagion of COVID-19.
"The measure was taken after evaluating technical and epidemiological criteria, so that on Saturday and Sunday February 13 and 14 will be total quarantine, while Monday 15 will be a normal working day," indicates the statement from the
Minsa.
The note establishes that February 16, Shrove Tuesday, will be free and Wednesday 17 of Ashes will be a regular working day.
Health Minister Luis Francisco
Sucre, in September 2020 had already reported on the cancellation in 2021 of the carnival parties throughout the country.
Among the strategies to combat the pandemic are health mitigation, prevention and promotion to cut the chain of contagion to prevent more positive patients and deaths from the
COVID-19 virus.
The statement also points out that Panama has not been the only country that has made the decision to cancel the carnival festivities, as countries such as Brazil, Italy and Colombia, among others, have taken similar measures.