Coronavirus in Chiriqui, Panama

By stgibson

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Sep 30, 2020 Update

We Asked: What is currently happening with regard to the Coronavirus outbreak in your area? Please provide as much detail as possible. He replied...

You mean the flu?? It's about normal for the year.

How People are Coping

We Asked: How are people handling the situation in your area? He replied...

I'm getting really bored sitting at home all weekend and not being able to take our weekend drives. I'm getting really sick of standing in lines breathing my own CO and suffocating with a mask on my face. My cows, cats and dogs don't recognize me anymore and bark at me when I approach with my mask on. The only good thing that has come out of this is that now I can walk into a bank with a mask on but they still won't let me wear my sun glasses. Actually the media and social media scare me a lot more than Covid 19.

Government Response

We Asked: Describe how the government of the country about which you are reporting is handling this situation. He replied...

CRAZY, like most of the rest of the world!

Supplies and Shortages

We Asked: Is there a shortage of supplies in your location? He replied...

Can't buy vitamin supplements anymore but everything else is in good supply after all Jeff Bezos has doubled his fortune since this all began. I feel extremely sorry for the thousands of Panamanian small businesses that have been lost.

Travel Restrictions and Related COVID-19 Testing

We Asked: Are non-citizens allowed to travel to your country? Describe travel restrictions, COVID-19 testing requirements and any details about traveling into your country. He replied...

Panamanian citizens and foreign permanent residents are allowed in now. Many of my friends & neighbors have been able to return in the last month or so after being marooned in different parts of the world for months. All that I know have had to total quarantine for 14 days in their homes. Welcome home everyone!

Health Insurance Requirements

We Asked: Is health insurance required when traveling into the country? Is it required when applying for residency? Is this a new requirement since COVID-19? Describe the health insurance requirement. He replied...

Don't know. No

COVID-19 Testing

We Asked: How easy or difficult is it to get a COVID-19 test locally? Where can you get tested? Do you need to have symptoms or a prescription from a doctor? Describe the process. He replied...

Don't know. Don't care.

Public Healthcare & Public Hospitals

We Asked: Are you enrolled in the public healthcare system where you live? Do you feel that the public hospitals are handling or preparing for the Coronavirus outbreak effectively? He replied...

It's hard to get in to see a doctor these days where it used to be simple.

Private Health Insurance & Private Hospitals

We Asked: Do you have private health insurance? If you have private insurance, does this give you access to private hospitals? Are private hospitals or clinics better prepared, less prepared, or the same? Please explain. He replied...

Self insured. Same as above.

Hospital of Choice for Coronavirus Treatment

We Asked: Would you choose a public or private hospital if you needed treatment for Coronavirus? Why? If there is a specific hospital that you would go to in the event of severe illness? Which hospital and why? He replied...

Not sure, but probably private. Mae Lewis in David.

Residency & Visa

We Asked: Are new residency applications being processed? Have there been any changes or extensions made in terms of residency and other visa renewals? He replied...

Yes. They have extended everything. just beginning to function again.

Future Outlook

We Asked: Are you considering returning to your home country due to the Coronavirus? Would this be a temporary move or a permanent repatriation? Please explain. He replied...

Glad I'm here! I was looking forward to doing some more traveling before I die, but I guess that won't happen until people wake up.