Health Alert: U.S. Embassy Panama City, Panama (October 9, 2020)
Events: Additional Economic Reopening, Resumption of Commercial Aviation, and Change in Movement Restrictions
Beginning on October 12, curfews will remain unchanged in all of Panama except the provinces of Bocas del Toro, Colon, and Chiriquí. In Bocas del Toro and Chiriqui curfew will be from 7:00 p.m. until 5:00 a.m., Monday through Thursday, with a weekend quarantine from Friday at 7:00 p.m. until Monday at 5:00 a.m. The province of Colon and the districts of Chiriqui Grande, Isla Colon, and Almirante in Bocas del Toro will have the same curfew hours, but curfew in these areas runs from Monday through Friday, with quarantine from Saturday at 7:00 p.m. until Monday at 5:00 a.m.
Additionally, the following economic sectors will reopen on October 12: Hotels, motels, lodging services, pools at 25 percent capacity, tourism, non-essential transportation services, creative and cultural institutions, and academies of music, art, and dance, along with gambling and the lottery. Cinemas, theaters, museums, galeries, and indoor tourist sites are permitted to operate at 50 percent capacity.
Due to the resumption of international aviation, also scheduled for October 12, we will no longer send messages to citizens about upcoming humanitarian flights. If you still wish to evacuate Panama and return to the United States, you should do so by booking a commercial flight through the airline of your choice.
Beginning October 12, international arrivals will no longer be subject to quarantine requirements, but must present a negative COVID-19 test (PCR or antigen test), and that test must have been completed within 48 hours prior to arrival in Panama.
The following remain pending and do not have a foreseen date for reopening: family activities at the beach, schools, colleges, universities, day care, kindergartens, gyms, indoor play areas for children, bars, clubs, conferences, concerts, fairs, carnival, parades, and processions.
The Embassy will continue to provide updates on changes that may effect U.S. citizens in Panama. For all the details about changes made by the Government of Panama in response to the pandemic, please see the daily announcements from the Ministry of Health.
Actions to Take:
- Consult the CDC website for the most up-to-date information.
- For the most recent information on what you can do to reduce your risk of contracting COVID-19, please see the CDC’s latest recommendations.
- Visit the COVID-19 crisis page on travel.state.gov for the latest information.
- Visit our Embassy webpage on COVID-19 for information on conditions in Panama.
- Visit the Department of Homeland Security’s website on the latest travel restrictions to the United States.
Assistance:
U.S. Embassy Panama City, Panama
Building 783, Demetrio Basilio Lakas Avenue
Clayton, Panama
+507 317-5000
Panama-ACS@state.gov
https://pa.usembassy.gov/
State Department – Consular Affairs
+1 (888)407-4747 or +1 (202)501-4444
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