PANAMA CITY, March 9 (Xinhua) -- Panama's health authorities on Monday confirmed the first case of COVID-19 in a 40-year-old woman who returned Sunday afternoon from Spain.

Health Minister Rosario Turner said at a press conference that the woman went to a hospital in the capital Panama City on Monday morning after showing symptoms of cough and fever.

The patient is now being treated at home and in stable conditions, she added.

With this case, the country's focus will move from containment to mitigation of the virus, said the minister, adding that Panama will maintain all necessary preventive measures, and ask its people to avoid unnecessary visits to medical centers.  ■