<p>Panama's health minister on Tuesday confirmed eight cases of the new coronavirus in the country, including one death, the first virus-linked death in Central America.</p>.<p>"Of the eight patients we are reporting, one person is in intensive care, another unfortunately died," Minister Rosario Turner said during a press conference in Panama City.</p>.<p>According to the ministry, a 64-year-old man who was already suffering from diabetes complications associated with bacterial pneumonia died of the COVID-19 virus on Sunday.</p>.<p>The other seven people who tested positive ranged in age from 29 to 59 and had each recently travelled abroad.</p>.<p><strong><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/coronavirus-live-updates-total-confirmed-cases-reach-4-in-karnataka-12-in-kerala-56-in-india-799686.html" target="_blank">Follow coronavirus live updates here</a></strong></p>.<p>Panama is the second Central American country to record cases of the COVID-19 virus following Costa Rica, where 13 people tested positive, including three Americans.</p>.<p>The Panamanian government ordered public and private schools closed until April 7 in the affected areas.</p>.<p>The Health Ministry, meanwhile, called on the population "to remain calm and follow prevention protocols." A total of 117,339 cases of the novel coronavirus have been recorded worldwide, including 4,251 deaths, across 107 countries and territories, according to an AFP tally. </p>
<p>Panama's health minister on Tuesday confirmed eight cases of the new coronavirus in the country, including one death, the first virus-linked death in Central America.</p>.<p>"Of the eight patients we are reporting, one person is in intensive care, another unfortunately died," Minister Rosario Turner said during a press conference in Panama City.</p>.<p>According to the ministry, a 64-year-old man who was already suffering from diabetes complications associated with bacterial pneumonia died of the COVID-19 virus on Sunday.</p>.<p>The other seven people who tested positive ranged in age from 29 to 59 and had each recently travelled abroad.</p>.<p><strong><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/coronavirus-live-updates-total-confirmed-cases-reach-4-in-karnataka-12-in-kerala-56-in-india-799686.html" target="_blank">Follow coronavirus live updates here</a></strong></p>.<p>Panama is the second Central American country to record cases of the COVID-19 virus following Costa Rica, where 13 people tested positive, including three Americans.</p>.<p>The Panamanian government ordered public and private schools closed until April 7 in the affected areas.</p>.<p>The Health Ministry, meanwhile, called on the population "to remain calm and follow prevention protocols." A total of 117,339 cases of the novel coronavirus have been recorded worldwide, including 4,251 deaths, across 107 countries and territories, according to an AFP tally. </p>