The construction industry will remain suspended for the time being, at least, until July 26, 2020.
The Ministry of Health (
Minsa) decided to extend the suspension order - which was to end on July 10 - for 15 more days, until next July 26.
This is stated in Executive Decree No. 867, issued on July 10, 2020, by the Ministry.
The
Minsa may, by resolution, order the reactivation of the operation, activity and mobility of companies that carry out certain projects.
The industry has been paralyzed since March 24, as a health measure in the face of the growing advance of the
coronavirus in the country. It is assumed that in the second block of the economic revival plan - which came into effect on June 1 - is the construction of public infrastructure works. However, very few works are in progress. For example, the Ministry of Public Works (MOP) has only reactivated 11 projects (from an original list of 29), with the endorsement of the
Minsa.
Construction of private projects is in the third block of the plan, which has no date yet to be activated.
The Panamanian Chamber of Construction (Capac) calculates that the sector generates 70,000 jobs.