Luis Francisco Sucre, Minister of Health of Panama, has revealed that the protocol for the reopening of lotteries in the country is set to be reviewed, however, he warned that adjustments will need to be made as most lottery sellers are included in the ‘at risk’ age group.
Sucre said that the reopening is only possible if Panama adapts to current needs and follows all possible measures to safeguard the sellers of the Lotería Nacional de Beneficencia (LNB).
Speaking to the local press, the Minister of Health said: “There is already a protocol that was delivered to the General Directorate of Public Health regarding the reopening of the Lottery. That team is working on that, and once they finish making the adjustments, they will pass on this protocol to us and we will discuss it.”
However, he warned that they have to study how to implement it since ‘a large part of the people who sell [tickets] are seniors, and usually crowded groups of people form to buy’.
“We are not saying that we are not going to open [the lottery], but we have to find a way, complying with technical and scientific criteria,” he added.
For its part, as reported by Telemetro, the LNB has already begun with the adjustments, which include the use of screens to carry out the sale of tickets.
The Vice Minister of Commerce and Industries of Panama, Omar Montilla, has already said that he hopes there will be criticism once they give the go-ahead for the gambling halls to open, but that it is necessary to understand that the sector contributes to the economy and generates jobs .
