Health authorities have requested that residents and visitors in the districts of Chitré, Los Santos, Guararé, and Las Tablas refrain from consuming tap water. María Joannou, head of the Ministry of Health's (Minsa) Emergency Department, reported that “they are awaiting validation from an external laboratory regarding tests conducted by the National Aqueducts and Sewers Institute (IDAAN) at the Roberto Reina and Rufina Alfaro water treatment plants in Chitré and Los Santos, as well as in the water networks of these districts”. The official detailed that “until the results are obtained, Minsa cannot guarantee that the water from these plants is suitable for human consumption”. Therefore, she reiterated that while awaiting validation of the results, Minsa recommends refraining from consuming tap water, or, as an alternative, boiling it before consumption. “Water treated at these plants can only be used for personal hygiene and household chores,” Joannou emphasized. “To ensure the supply of drinking water, IDAAN will maintain supply tanks at various points in the districts of Chitré, Los Santos, Guararé, and Las Tablas to meet the high demand during the Carnival festivities,” the official added.
