Panama: Authorities amend COVID-19-related curfew hours in certain areas as of June 25; most other measures remain largely unchanged /update 33

Panama amends curfew hours in certain areas as of June 25; most other COVID-19-related restrictions remain unchanged.

Event

Authorities in Panama have amended COVID-19-related curfew hours in some areas of the country as of June 25. Under the new directives, a nightly 00:01-04:00 curfew remains in force nationwide; however, longer curfews are in effect in certain locations.

Parts of Panama District, as well as Colon District, in Colon Province, and the provinces of Panama Oeste, Herrera, and Los Santos are subject to an extended 22:00-04:00 curfew. The areas of Panama District that are under these restrictions include the townships of Alcalde Diaz, Chilibre, Caimitillo, Ernesto Cordoba Campos, Las Cumbres, and Pacora. The districts of Ocu and Los Pozos in Herrera province and the districts of Pocri and Pedasi in Los Santos province are exempt from the longer curfew and will remain under the nationwide 00:01-04:00 curfew.

In the provinces of Chiriqui and Veraguas, as well as the district of Aguadulce in Cocle province, a nightly 22:00-04:00 curfew remains in force Monday-Saturday, with a longer curfew running from 22:00 each Saturday until 04:00 the following Monday; non-essential commercial and industrial activities are fully suspended on Sundays in these areas. Las Palmas District in Veraguas province and the districts of Tole and San Lorenzo in Chiriqui province are exempt from these restrictions and will remain under the nationwide 00:01-04:00 curfew.

The community of Armila, Guna Yala province, will remain under lockdown until at least July 2; checkpoints remain in place around the area and only essential travel is permitted.

Essential services, critical transportation, and international travelers arriving or departing within curfew hours are exempt from the curfew. Nonessential businesses must close one hour before the curfew begins.

Most nonessential businesses may operate with certain capacity caps. All businesses are required to comply with strict sanitation, hygiene, and social distancing protocols, including ensuring that staff and customers use protective facemasks and maintain at least 2 meters (6.5 feet) between each other. Large gatherings and festivals remain banned.

International Travel
Panama's ports of entry remain open to international travelers. While the nation's land, sea, and river borders with Colombia remain closed, no suspensions of air travel with Colombia have been imposed. All arriving passengers are still subject to enhanced health screenings. Persons entering Panama must complete an online sworn affidavit before travel and must present a negative result from a COVID-19 PCR or antigen test taken within 48 hours before arrival; arrivals may be required to undergo a second test at the airport at their own expense. Passengers who test positive upon arrival must quarantine at a government-approved location.

Travelers who have been in India, the UK, South Africa, or any South American country within the 15 days prior to departing for Panama remain subject to additional restrictions, including at least three days of quarantine. In addition to presenting a negative result from a COVID-19 PCR test taken within 48 hours prior to arrival, travelers must undergo a second COVID-19 test at the airport at their own expense. Individuals who test negative at the airport undergo a three-day isolation period in a government-approved facility. Such travelers must undergo an additional COVID-19 PCR test on the third day of quarantine; those who test negative at this point may leave isolation. Individuals who test positive will be required to quarantine for 14 days at a government-approved facility.

Panamanian nationals and residents with digital vaccine certificates proving that they have been fully vaccinated at least two weeks prior to their arrival and have a negative COVID-test taken within 48 hours before arrival registered in their IATA Travel Pass will be exempt from testing at the airport and quarantine requirements.

Authorities could reimpose, extend, further tighten, or otherwise amend any restrictions with little-to-no notice depending on disease activity over the coming weeks. Highly targeted, localized measures could be enforced in provinces or local communities with higher disease activity.

Advice

Follow all official instructions. Abide by national health and safety measures. Reconfirm all travel arrangements and business appointments. Liaise with trusted contacts for further updates and guidance.