US Embassy Alert - Movement Restrictions July 31, 2020

[Denese A Rodgers]

July 21, the Government of Panama announced total quarantine in the provinces of Bocas del Toro, Colon, and Chiriqui on Saturdays and Sundays. The curfew from Monday through Friday remains from 7pm until 5am.

 

Effective July 17, MINSA established new quarantine hours for the Panama and Panama Oeste provinces. Total quarantine begins on Friday at 7:00pm and ends on Monday at 5:00am. There is also a curfew from 7:00pm until 5:00am Monday through Thursday. Movement in these provinces remains restricted based on gender and ID number. Gender restrictions allow for movements as follows:

Women:  Monday, Wednesday, and Friday

Men:  Tuesday and Thursday.

These movement restrictions allow for a two-hour window, intended only for essential purchases, 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 – 7:00pm

There is a special window for those over 60 years old, regardless of cedula or passport numbers, between 7:00am and 10:00am (gender restrictions still apply).

 

Normal exceptions apply for holders of permission letters (salvoconductos).

Parents may take one child per family outside near their home or in the social areas of their apartment building during the two-hour window of the accompanying parent.

 

Exercises such as bicycling, running, and skating are permissible if done within one kilometer of your home, with a mask, and inside your two-hour window.

Private sector employees are required to enter their places of employment by no later than 8:00am. Public sector employees are required to enter by no later than 9:00am.

 

All other provinces have a curfew from 7 pm to 5 am, Monday through Sunday. Children are also free to move about from 4 pm to 7 pm, accompanied by a parent, guardian, or caretaker. The use of masks and social distancing are still required. This new flexibility does not permit social group activities, cultural events, festivals, visits to the beach, contact sports, or any other activity that violates social distancing. 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.