US Embassy Alert - Panama City & Panama Oeste Quarantine

[Denese A Rodgers]

Panama Oeste and Panama Provinces Quarantine

 

On June 6, the government announced that the provinces of Panama and Panama Oeste will return to movement restrictions based on gender and ID number, starting on June 8.  Gender restrictions allow for movements as follows:

• Women:  Monday, Wednesday, and Friday
• Men:  Tuesday and Thursday

 

Additionally, movement will be restricted to a two-hour window based on the last digit of each individual’s cedula number or passport number if an individual is not a citizen of Panama.  U.S. Citizens in Panama should always carry their passports, and their Panamanian cedula if they have one.  The two-hour windows are as follows:

• Last number is 7 – 6:30 – 8:30am
• Last number is 8 – 7:30 – 9:30am
• Last number is 9 – 8:30 – 10:30am
• Last number is 0 – 9:30 – 11:30am
• Last number is 1 – 12:30 – 2:30pm
• Last number is 2 – 1:30 – 3:30pm
• Last number is 3 – 2:30 – 4:30pm
• Last number is 4 – 3:30 – 5:30pm
• Last number is 5 – 4:30 – 6:30pm
• Last number is 6 – 5:30 – 7:30pm
• Weekends are quarantine from 5:00pm on Friday until 5:00am on Monday.
• Normal exceptions apply for holders of permission letters (salvoconductos)

Hours of circulation during the total quarantine are intended only for essential purchases by one person per household.   The Embassy reminds U.S. citizens in Panama that it is always obligatory to comply with local laws.  Other provinces in Panama will continue with the curfew that began on June 1 (see details below).

On June 6, Panama’s Ministry of Health (MINSA) confirmed 16,004 cases of COVID-19.

This weekend the curfew was extended for Panama Oeste and Panama provinces.  On Saturday, June 6 curfew began at 5 p.m. and will last until Monday, June 8 at 5 a.m.  Curfew for all other provinces remains from 7 p.m. until 5 a.m. the next morning.

MINSA also announced on June 4 that a health cordon has been declared in the district of Chiriqui Grande, and in the communities of Pantanal and Finca 1 in Changuinola, and Solución in Bocas del Toro.

On June 2, 2020, the Government of Panama’s Ministry of Health (MINSA) published a resolution stating that anyone leaving their residence must be wearing a mask that covers their nose and mouth.  Any individual not wearing a mask is subject to possible detention and fine.

The Government of Panama still maintains security checkpoints on the roads and prohibits most interprovincial travel.

MINSA reminds citizens and residents of Panama that staying at home, not touching your face, and washing your hands frequently are the best means of prevention against COVID-19.  It also requires the use of masks, even homemade ones, when in public.

The Embassy encourages everyone to prepare accordingly.  Take the opportunity to stock up on any medicines and food supplies you may need to shelter in place in your homes for an extended period of time.

Edited June 8, 2020 by Denese A Rodgers