Panama sets gender-based movement restrictions to control coronavirus spread

Men and women in Panama can only leave their homes for two hours on different days.

Panama has restricted men and women to leaving the house on different days. Source: EFE

The government of Panama have announced strict quarantine measures that separate citizens by gender in an effort to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus.

From Wednesday, men and women will only be able to leave their homes for two hours at a time, and on different days.

Until now, quarantine regulations were not based on gender.

Men will be able to go to the supermarket or the pharmacy on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, and women will be allowed out on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Men and women will no longer be allowed to leave the house together in Panama. Source: AAP

No one will be allowed to go out on Sundays.

The new measures will last for 15 days.

"This absolute quarantine is for nothing more than to save your life," security minister Juan Pino said at a press conference.

According to Mr Pino, more than 2,000 people were detained last week for not abiding by the quarantine.

Since the first case was reported on 10 March, Panama has confirmed 1,075 cases of the coronavirus, 43 of which are in intensive care, and 27 deaths.