Early Transmission Dynamics, Spread, and Genomic Characterization of SARS-CoV-2 in Panama

Emerg Infect Dis. 2021 Feb;27(2):612-615. doi: 10.3201/eid2702.203767.

Abstract

We report an epidemiologic analysis of 4,210 cases of infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 and genetic analysis of 313 new near-complete virus genomes in Panama during March 9-April 16, 2020. Although containment measures reduced R0 and Rt, they did not interrupt virus spread in the country.

Keywords: Bayesian analysis; COVID-19 transmission; Panama; SARS-CoV-2; coronavirus disease; early cryptic transmission; epidemic dynamics; genomic diversity; outbreaks; respiratory infections; viruses.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • COVID-19 / diagnosis
  • COVID-19 / epidemiology
  • COVID-19 / transmission*
  • COVID-19 Nucleic Acid Testing / statistics & numerical data*
  • Disease Transmission, Infectious / statistics & numerical data*
  • Female
  • Genome, Viral / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Panama / epidemiology
  • Phylogeny
  • Population Surveillance*
  • SARS-CoV-2 / genetics*
  • Time Factors
  • Young Adult