Panama posts nearly 200 new coronavirus cases, extends flights ban

PANAMA CITY (Reuters) - Panama registered 191 new cases of the coronavirus on Monday, bringing the country's total to 4,658 cases, the Health Ministry said.

Officials also confirmed 10 more deaths, raising Panama's death toll from the highly contagious respiratory disease caused by the virus to 136.

Earlier on Monday, the Central American country's aviation authority said in a resolution it will extend by one month a suspension on international flights for what it said was public health reasons.

The suspension, which was set to expire April 22, will now extend through at least May 22. Exceptions will be made for humanitarian flights as well as those transporting medical supplies deemed necessary to fight the viral outbreak, one of the worst in the region.

(Reporting by Elida Moreno; Editing by David Alire Garcia, Sandra Maler and Leslie Adler)