COVID Precautions continue as Block 2 is instigated

Contrary to the controversy and non-compliance of some citizens in the US regarding corona virus prophylaxis,  Boquete steadfastly implements sanitation and prevention measures while quarantine restrictions are lifted and additional businesses begin to open.  The procedures to be followed before entering any supermarket are:

1) Use of face masks out of doors is mandatory for all residents.
2) Stepping on rubber mat soaked in disinfectant required before entry into establishments.
3) Hand sanitation via direct alcohol spray  onto the palms, or use of hand sanitizer gel via wall dispenser.
4) Temperature check by personnel before entrance into establishments.

It's been almost a month since the last blog entry, and the health stats have increased throughout the country.  The worst hit areas remain Panama City and Panama West.  Chiriqui is also battling increased numbers of cases, primarily in the outskirts of David. 

Panama's total number of confirmed COVID cases to date is 26,752.
Panama's total number of recovered COVID cases to date is 14,664.
Panama's total number of active  COVID cases to date is 11,567.
Panama's total number of COVID deaths is 521.

Total number of new cases in last 24 hours has been 722 out of 2087 tests performed in same time period.   We are currently averaging between 600-600 new cases daily.

Panama's total number of COVID tests performed is 109, 990.
Panama's total number of negative COVID tests is 80, 449.

There are currently no cases of COVID in Boquete.  This is what doing things right looks like!

Things are easing up slightly

Total number of COVID deaths in Panama to date are 315. Total cases in Panama at days end on May 27,   is 11,728.    There still hasn't been a leveling off of new cases, but the curve has remained relatively flat, so re-opening measures will move into Block 2 on June 1st, a Monday.   

The highest daily number of cases was 370 on May 2nd, and the second highest daily case rate was reported on May 24th with 349 cases.  On most days the new case numbers run somewhere between 200 and 300.  Today's new case number was 281.  Virus testing has been ramping up,  so this may have some impact.  

Panama has completed 61,895 tests, 1297 tests were done in the last 24 hours.  

The most recent embassy communication to expats is pasted below:

Health Alert - U.S. Embassy Panama City, Panama (May 27, 2020) 

   

Event:  COVID-19 Situation – Starting June 1 Quarantine Ends and Curfew Begins 

Starting June 1, the quarantine with movement restrictions will end.  The quarantine and two-hour movement windows will be replaced by a curfew from 7 pm to 5 am, Monday through Sunday.  Children will also be free to move about from 4 pm to 7 pm, accompanied by a parent, guardian, or caretaker.  The use of masks and social distancing will still be 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.  

Also on June 1, the second economic block will be allowed to open.  The sectors included in that block are: public construction, mining of non-metals, industry, and religious sites, parks, social areas, and sporting areas will be allowed to operate at 25 percent capacity.  

On May 27, Panama’s Ministry of Health (MINSA) confirmed 11,447 cases of COVID-19. 

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. 

Almost over the Hump

Panama currently has a total of 8,783 confirmed Coronavirus cases.  There have been 256 deaths.  The number of active cases is currently 3, 848 and the remaining have  recovered.  The country is showing a viral containment rate of 70% (which is rapidly improving to 85%),  with a 67% recovery rate .   Panama is the Central American country that has carried out the most viral testing, being accomplished as a Ministry of Health [MINSA] control strategy for viral spread.  Panama does about 1000 tests per day and the rate of positives has declined from 30% in early April to 15% as of May 9th.  The goal for countries that have achieved the best control is to get the rate of new cases down to below 10% and that is Panama's objective as well. 

Panama's current hospitalization capacity is also encouraging.  In the MINSA and Social Security Hospitals, capacity to treat COVID patients in regular hospital rooms is 46%, in ICUs it's 40%, and ventilator availability is currently at 67%. For four weeks now, Panama has maintained a stable pattern of COVID-related hospitalizations of <90 in ICU and <300 in hospital wards.  The distribution of cases shows the highest incidences in Panama Metro, Panama West, San Miguelito and the Kuna Yala territories.  These areas correspond to the densest populated and/or poorer sections of the country.

Unlike the United States, my adopted country has a clear cut strategy for reopening.  We are slowly beginning the process at this time.  On May 13th, the sale of alcohol was again permitted, and the list of business that can open to the public has been expanded as well. We are just entering Stage One of Phase 2 of the reopening plan.  

There has been a lot of complaining on the expat social media sites about the quarantine restrictions and lack of mobility freedom.  Boquete's mayor has been scapegoated for much of this by expat residents, despite the fact that it's a national restriction and his efforts have managed to keep a highly at-risk elderly population safe and sound during the most crucial periods.  There have been only 17 cases of coronavirus in Boquete, and all patients have recovered.  No new cases have appeared here in at least two weeks. 

There was a recent new case spike in Alanje, another district of Chiriqui,  on the outskirts of David,  but Boquete has remained stable.  The cases in Alanje(40 total) have been hotel-isolated and are  receiving treatment.  

I've heard mention,  but haven't been able to yet confirm, that vehicles  traveling from outside the area will start being allowed to enter Boquete again on a tourism basis.  Will need to investigate further before commenting.  

April is over, but we've a ways to go

Well, April has come and gone.  There have been 6,532 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Panama and presently there are 5, 769 active cases.  Total deaths have reached 188.  2,484 cases are reported as clinically recuperated.  A total of 30, 749 tests have been administered.  Panama still hasn't reached it's peak as the numbers continue to climb.  There were 154 new cases in the last 24 hours.  

The Ministry of Health has placed the population on lock down for the 3rd weekend in a row.  Previously, men could go out for a few hours on Saturdays to conduct personal business and shopping, but that has been prohibited for the last two Saturdays and will be implemented again this coming Saturday, May 2nd.  It could be having an effect, as the number of new cases isn't jumping by as much as before the policy was implemented.  Tomorrow, a Friday, is Labor Day in Panama so perhaps the Ministry of Health took into account the 3-day weekend as potential for partying and increased social contact absent these restrictions.   The sale of alcohol remains prohibited at all times. 

Chiriqui is doing well in comparison to the national register.  The province is now at 103 confirmed cases and 5 deaths, but only one hospitalization.  

Credit for this needs to be given to the mayors of the province and particularly to the mayor of Boquete, who has been proactive in combating the opportunity for COVID-19 to grab a major foothold in our town.  Against significant obstacles and following denial by the national authorities to establish a sanitary barrier around Boquete, he took it upon himself to implement additional screening at the Caldera checkpoint before allowing thru-traffic from other areas of the country.  People wishing to drive into Boquete are now stopped and temperature-checked by personnel from the municipality before being allowed to proceed.  They must present appropriate documentation to support their need to enter, such as being residents of Boquete working in David, or being commercial delivery personnel, etc.  Employees of essential businesses in David, and commercial truck drivers, for example, are given "salvoconductos" or passes which allow them to come in and out.  According to most recent reports, these recently implemented measures have resulted in the discovery of two highly suspicious cases being pursued by local medical authorities.  Both individuals presented with high fevers approaching 104 degrees---one was a foreigner living in Alto Boquete, and the other was a Panamanian living in Jaramillo.  Both Alto Boquete and Jaramillo are Boquete neighborhoods. 

In addition to the temperature and document checks, the Boquete mayor has also instituted a disinfection station wherein vehicles are sprayed with chemicals prior to passing the checkpoint.  The expat community has questioned the effectiveness of this measure, but no one seems to openly object to it.   I remember about 10 years ago when the coffee farms were threatened by some type of crop fungus or parasite that similar measures were taken with positive outcomes.

It remains to be seen how serious and long this pandemic will affect life in Chiriqui.  Personally, I'm grateful to be living here instead of many other places at this significant time in world history.  The actions of our local government authorities leave me feeling much more confident of my own safety here compared to that of family in the  USA.

Update # 7 COVID 19

It's been 12 days since my last post and the numbers have significantly increased.  In addition, the quarantine measures have been tightened. Last week, for the first time, Panama was completely shut down on Saturday and Sunday.  No one could go out for groceries, or pharmacy meds, or family excursions, etc.  If people were caught violating the quarantine, they were detained, fined, and their car confiscated.  Nevertheless,  over 12,000 people were processed for violating the mobility restrictions.  Because of all these violations, the Health Ministry has declared both Saturday and Sunday of the coming weekend as absolute lockdown as well.   Alcohol sales in Panama remain prohibited as well.   According to graphs displaying Panama's numbers in comparison with other countries in Latin America, we've kept the curve relatively flat and the numbers low.  Nevertheless, the numbers have really jumped from where they were 12 days ago. 

As of today, April 16th, Panama's total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases is 4,016.  There have been 109 deaths and 98  hospital recoveries.  A total of 17, 850 tests have been done.  Total hospitalized COVID patients is currently 326, and 3483 patients are in community isolation, either at home or in hotels.   Within the community isolated group,  symptomatic recovery is reported for 1809 individuals monitored in the clinics, and  laboratory confirmed recoveries in this group is 23.  The daily numbers for new cases has not yet dropped off, but these increased numbers could be due in part to additional testing.  Today's total number of new cases is 265. 

Below is a chart of the numbers for Chiriqui Province, which has less than 3% of the total national cases of coronavirus.   Four patients from Chiriqui have died.

Update # 6 COVID 19

As of end of the day April 4, 2020, there are a total of 1801 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Panama.  There are 229 hospitalized cases, 74 in intensive care, the others in regular hospital eds.  1513 cases are on home care, and 13 cases are reported recovered.  There have been a total of 46 deaths. 

Chiriqui now has a total of 57 cases.  The very informative and complete table pasted below was provided by RetenChiriqui.  Boquete has not seen any increase in cases, but there have been scattered cases throughout the province.  Two of the 46 national deaths occurred in Chiriqui---one in Las Lomas near David and the other in Volcan. 

Update #5: Coronavirus

Lourdes Moreno, chief of epidemiology at the Panama Ministry of Health reported today, April 1, 2020,  that the total number of cases of  coronavirus in Panama has reached 1317.   Total new cases in the last 24 hours is 136, and total recovered patients since the first case are 9.  

Of the total number of cases reported nationally,  198 are hospitalized, with 63 patients in ICU and 135 in regular hospital beds.  1078 cases are on home care and 9 have recovered. The number of deaths has increased to 32.

Over the last weekend, it appeared that the daily rate of new cases was decreasing, with only 88 being reported on a Saturday and 86 on Sunday, however the numbers have increased again, so that may have been the result of less testing or less presentation to health centers.    It remains to be seen how things play out.

Boquete, gratefully, still only has 2 cases.  As of March 31st stricter national quarantine measures were enacted, aimed at further reducing the amount of people out and about at any given time.  Woman are now only allowed out for shopping and essential purchases on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.  Men go out on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.  Sundays are total quarantine days. These measures were presumably implemented to deal with incidences of ransacking and looting in Curundú and some of the poorer barrios en Panama City.  This hasn't been a problem in Chiriqui, and from my experience out and about today, the police aren't strictly enforcing these tighter limits locally.

We have one more week to go and then we'll see how things progress...Still no alcohol sales, even in the supermarkets. All the wine and liquor aisles were cordoned off at Romeros.  :-)

Update #4 Panama Corona Virus

Currently 786 total cases, 662 of which are on home care. 108 hospitalized, 28 in ICU and 80 in regular medical beds.  2 Full recoveries .  14 deaths so far.

I continue to be amazed at the action taken by Panama's leaders regarding this pandemic.  Despite a large retiree expat population, Bajo Boquete still has not had a single case of coronavirus.  Alto Boquete has had 2,  both originally situated near the Caldera turn off.  One case is hospitalized.  The patient has a history of travel outside the country.    

The expanded curfew hours remain in effect, and during my two-hour window I ran multiple errands easily and quickly.  Completed a bank run, a supermarket run, a pharmacy run, a specialty shop stop for cheese and veggies,  and exchanged a tank of gas, all in less than 30 minutes.  There was almost no one at the supermarket meat counter.  Everything was spotless and smelled the freshest ever in 10 + years of living here.   All employees wore masks and used gloves.  I personally did not use a mask because I haven't been able to find them, but was sure to maintain social distance and use good handwashing practices before and after the excursion.  

My hopes are the numbers for Boquete continue to remain low.  One of the reasons this is occurring, I'm certain, is because Panama's President Cortizo implemented early travel restrictions within the country.  Road blocks were set up to prevent people from the city traveling to Panama's interior and/or beaches during this crisis.  Unless you could show proof of residency, you weren't allowed to cross the checkpoints.  

I am so impressed  and proud of my adopted country of residence.

Panama on Obligatory Lockdown except 2 hours per day

Panamá registra 443 casos de coronavirus, 8 fallecidos y declara cuarentena total

Por 

Agencia AFP

 en 24 Marzo, 2020 - 7:32 PM

El presidente de Panamá, Laurentino Cortizo, declaró este martes cuarentena total para contener la rápida expansión del nuevo coronavirus, que registra 443 contagios y ocho fallecidos en el país centroamericano.

"A partir de las 5:01 a.m. del miércoles 25 de marzo (10H01 GMT), declaro cuarentena total obligatoria en el territorio nacional de manera indefinida, con excepciones", escribió Cortizo en Twitter.

Entre las excepciones citó la línea de producción de alimentos, así como el personal de salud, fuerza pública, bancos y supermercados. Las personas solo podrán movilizarse dos horas en el día para la compra de alimento y medicamentos, indicó.

"Como gobierno, nuestra responsabilidad es preservar a toda costa la salud y la integridad de los panameños", agregó el mandatario.

Panamá es el país de Centroamérica que más casos ha detectado de la COVID-19, con 443 contagios, 98 más que los reportados el lunes, informó la ministra de Salud, Rosario Turner.

Al mismo tiempo, la ministra dio a conocer dos nuevas defunciones por el coronavirus, para un total de ocho fallecidos.

Ministerio de Salud de Panamá "MINSA" Informa 443 casos confirmados de COVID-19 "Coronavirus":

Sexo:
200 MUJERES
243 HOMBRES

Estado de Pacientes:
98 nuevos casos
64 Hospitalizados "19 Cuidado Intensivos"
373 Atención Domiciliaria.
8 Fallecidos
Fuente: @MINSAPma

Pruebas Realizada:
Positivas:345
Total de pruebas realizadas: 3690

Cerco Sanitario:
Provincias Panamá, Panamá Oeste,
Colón, Chepo, Divisa, Ocú, Viguí, Guabalá,Etc.

Fuente: @MINSAPma

COVID-19: Third Update: 313 cases

Panama now reports 313 confirmed cases of coronavirus.  Three cases have been reported in Chiriquí province, in Tijeras, Santo Tomás, and Aserrío de Gariche.  All three locations are between David and the Costa Rican border, Aserrío being the closest to the border with a population in 2010 of 11,000 people and located in the district of Bugaba.  Santo Tomás is in the district of Alanje and reported a population in 2010 of 1259 persons. Tijeras is in Boquerón and boasted a population in 2010 of 2670.  

COVID-19, second update: 109 cases

I continue to be impressed with the way Panamanian authorities are handling public safety in the face of this viral outbreak.  It's March 18th, and the numbers have jumped to 109 confirmed cases, with  the city of Santiago reporting 2 and Soná, in Veraguas province, reporting 1 case.  No further deaths have been reported, and the Ministry of health has sent additional personal protective and respiratory equipment  to the hospital in Soná.  (This is not a highly populated region so it mustn't have been as well equipped as the hospitals in Santiago.)  Santiago is 2.5 hours from David, the second largest city in Panama and located in Chiriqui province.  To date, [knocking on wood] there have been no reported cases in Chiriqui province.  Other than the 3 Veraguas cases, all have been in the Panama City regions. In all, there are 55 men affected and 54 women.  

On a national basis, the President has issued a health curfew from 9 pm to 5 am.   The sale of alcohol has been prohibited through April 7th.  In Boquete, the mayor has issued an additional financial penalty for violation of this curfew.  A $100 fine for first offense and a $500 fine for second offense will be imposed.  Stores that violate the alcohol sale restriction will be fined $50 for first offense and $500 for second

At first glance it's hard to comprehend a relationship between the coronavirus and alcohol.  In fact there isn't, other than people gathering in close proximity.  Many of the expats, myself included, consider these measures overkill,  but people do like to party and I imagine it might prevent some social gatherings.  

Coronavirus Update: 55 cases

As of March 15th, the total number of cases of coronavirus in Panama has risen to 55.  Also reported are the first 2 cases of the virus in the country's interior.  One case in Colón and one in Santiago de Veraguas.  Eighty percent of these cases are reported as mild.

Effective March 16th,  Panama's airport will be closed to tourists.  Nationals and residents arriving from outside the country will be placed on a mandatory 14 day home quarantine. Closure of all business establishments has also been ordered, except for supermarkets, pharmacies, medical centers and establishments that sell health products, gasoline and food.  Restaurant dining areas will be closed, but food delivery services will be permitted.  Personnel are requested to wear masks.    Access to beaches, public pools, rivers and swimming holes are prohibited.  Children's parks, theaters, party halls, sports facilities, and convention centers are also ordered closed.  Establishments that are allowed to remain open will be expected to limit the number of persons in their interiors to less than 50, violators will be sanctioned, and there will be police monitoring for compliance.    In a situation where lines may form to enter a business or establishment, people must  maintain a distance of 1.5 meters between each other.  

Panamanians in Panama City have been instructed NOT to travel to the interior of the country and a warning has been issued that if these instructions are not observed, the possibility of  health safety barriers may be entertained. 

Statistics involving current confirmed cases are as follows:  44 cases classified as mild and on home isolation.  10 cases hospitalized, 6 in critical care and 4 on a regular ward.  30 women are affected and 25 men are affected.  

Message from US Embassy re: Coronavirus in Panama

The government of Panama has implemented enhanced screening and quarantine measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

As of March 13, all cruise ship passengers are banned from disembarking in Panama. If passengers must disembark, they will be subject to a 14-day quarantine.

Travelers should be prepared for travel restrictions to be put into effect with little or no advance notice. Visit the website of the Panamanian Ministry of Health (in Spanish) for additional information on these new measures. The government has implemented school and university closures nationwide until March 20. Schools and universities in San Miguelito, Panama Centro, and Panama Norte will remain closed until April 7. The government has also suspended large gatherings until April 7. Visit the local government COVID-19 website for updated information.

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.

Check with your airlines or cruise lines regarding any updated information about your travel plans and/or restrictions.

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

Brief Remarks regarding COVID-19 in Panama

Panama's first case of coronavirus was reported on March 10th.  A 40 yr old female  arrived in Panama the previous day from Barrajas, Spain with fever and a cough.  She presented to a local health facility and was diagnosed with the virus.  She apparently had a mild case and was released to home quarantine under medical supervision.  Family members and all contacts were handled according to health department protocols.  There were 10 direct contacts of this individual, both on the airplane and in her home.  The contacts of these contacts brought the total number of potential cases to 64.  All remain under medical monitoring at the current time.

On March 11th, the number of confirmed cases had increased to 8 and the first death attributed to the virus was reported.  The deceased was a 65 yr old school principal with no history of foreign travel, but had been in contact with someone who had traveled.  He also had co-existing conditions of diabetes and bacterial pneumonia.  The other cases all had travel histories to either Europe or the US.  At this time authorities made the decision to suspend until April 7th all crowd-gathering activities, such as fairs, concerts, rodeos, and sports events.  Some schools in districts of Panama City were also closed down.  Affected were Panama centro, Panama norte, and San Miguelito areas. 

As of today, March 13th, the number of confirmed cases has risen to 36.  Travel to Europe has been banned.  Panama's president has declared a state of emergency.  The president explained this emergency declaration was done to bypass bureaucratic red tape, bidding, and approval procedures should it be necessary to quickly obtain medical equipment and/or implement other costly interventions.    

The President has also outlined a strategy for dealing with this crisis which involves the appointment of four specific work teams that have specific functions in addressing international, social, economic, and commercial issues related to the virus outbreak.  

To date, there are no reported cases in the Boquete area, nor in Chiriqui province.  The 36 confirmed cases involve 33 Panamanian natives and 3 foreigners---2 Germans and a Venezuelan.  All of the cases are located in the Panama City area.  To date, a total of 756 people have been tested.  94 tests are pending, and 36 have resulted positive.  The death toll remains at only 1.  There is one individual in serious condition in intensive care.

The transparency and proactive behavior of Panama's governmental response to this pandemic gives me  a degree of comfort and assurance regarding my own situation that I don't have regarding the situation with friends and loved ones living in the US.  

Panama's Desert

For a decade-long expat like me, Sarigua's National Park in Herrera province was a surprise find.  Traveling through the central provinces this past weekend with a Panamanian family, I was asked if I'd be interested in visiting Panama's "desert".  As an ex-Arizona resident, I was    We were in a time crunch and couldn't explore at any great length, but made a cursory stop with hopes to return for a more comprehensive visit. 

Sarigua isn't really a desert, but resembles one in many aspects.  It is actually a very unique area in Panama that underwent drastic change in the second half of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries due to massive deforestation by colonizers.  It is currently under governmental protection, with efforts  being dedicated to its restoration.  The area is significant not only as an example of how not to treat this planet, but also because of it's historic importance as an archeological site and the oldest known area of habitation in Panama, dating back 11,000 years. 

Located about 240 km from Panama City, in the district of Parita in Herrera province, it can be reached by road via the towns of Santa Ana and Parita.  There are buses from Chitre to Parita, and it's possible to take a taxi  or walk from Parita to the park entrance, but sources say the walk is 30+ minutes.   The actual park area covers about 20,000 acres, (8,000 hectares), so a private vehicle is highly desirable.  Apparently the park can also be accessed by boat via the coast on the Gulf of Parita.  I imagine this route may provide more opportunities for wildlife observation.  The entrance area from Parita is essentially arid wasteland with wind and high temperatures.  There are nature and archeological trails to explore, as well as informational talks by the park rangers, but we were unable to avail ourselves of either due to the lecture schedule and our time constraints.  If you understand Spanish there is also a great youtube video online.

According to this video, the park's land area is believed to have been underwater previously and over time elevated to  create a salt lake.  In that period, the area was much greener and fertile. Deforestation however destroyed the lands.  The lake eventually dried up leaving heavily salted soil that couldn't be cultivated.  The park currently receives low rainfall, and temperatures may reach as high as 113 degrees fahrenheit in the day and drop into the 60's at night.  Sand storms hamper vegetative growth and augment the actual desert area by 3 sq meters per year.  Reforestation efforts in progress are replenishing vegetation wherever possible using native species.  

Currently about 500 hectares remain as salt lake deposits, and the rest is being developed into varied concessions dedicated to the mitigation of the sand storms. Included in these are around 2,500 hectares for shrimp farms, about 4,000 hectares of mangrove forest nearer the coast, and designated tourist camping areas for the ecological-minded who have an interest in astrology and star-gazing.  

It would be very interesting to return when time permits to speak with park specialists and explore the diverse elements along the trails.  It's on my bucket list !

Rio Encantado Eco Resort, Chiriquí

FINALLY, after two years of combined sloughing-off and problems with blog access, I've finally managed to get back in to execute a post !  These photos are from 8 months ago when I took time off to be with an Arizona visitor and enjoy this local treasure.  

If you're ever in the area and want to immerse yourself in civilized nature, this is one of my recommendations.  The clean, well-accommodated, reasonably-priced facilities will please your inner critic,  and the grounds will inspire spiritual enlightenment.  

There is no restaurant on the premises, but all cabins  have well-equipped kitchens, a mini-bar, and snacks.  The poolside bar is accessible during regular hours for simple umbrella drinks,  mixed cocktails, or  well drinks. 

Here are a few photos from my morning walks through the premises.  Specific information related to lodging can be found on the hotel booking sites or the Cabañas Rio Encantado facebook page.  

New David Bus Terminal and Mall

Took a drive into David two days ago and was amazed to see how much progress has been made toward the new mall and national bus terminal.  Unfortunately, there is no parking on the highway as one drives by , nor have any entrances been designated/opened yet.  Did the best I could to snap the following photos.  This is planned to be on the same scale and quality as Albrook in Panama City.

2018 Feria de las Flores y el Café

Beautiful Downtown Boquete

The rains have been heavy in Boquete since May, with July and August feeling more like October and November.   Lloyd Cripe's Boquete Weather website has reported total Boquete rainfall through August 2017 as  running somewhere between 78 inches and 212 inches, depending upon the focus area.  Since there are no gauges for the Alto Boquete area, I can't speak for my neighborhood,  except to say it sure feels more like 212 inches than 78 inches!  We're about level with Jaramillo Abajo, though, so I'd wager a guess that we've received somewhere around 140 inches.   (Perhaps I should contact him and offer to monitor rainfall data for next year...)  Here's the link to that website should you want to check it out yourself.  

http://www.boqueteweather.com/watchers/bww_update_091917.html

Bottom line, the worst is yet to come.  However, when I think about Houston and Florida and the Caribean Islands, I realize that things could be a lot worse and I need to be thankful for having electricity, running water, and a dry house to come home to.   At least the majority of the time!

Construction is at an all time high in Boquete, despite the rains and inclement weather. Some of it is preparation for installation of the new water system, and some is due to business centers and generalized expansion.  All the downtown roads have been torn up and there are ruts and potholes and puddles and traffic and rocks everywhere. Panamanians don't believe in driving normal speed over roadways that aren't completely level and paved, so traffic slows to 2-5 mph with vehicles weaving in and out of the oncoming lanes when it means they can avoid running over a tiny bump or getting a splash of muddy water on their Hyundai tires.  Funny thing---they recklessly speed along the David highway when they should exercise caution, but exercise undue caution if they think a bump might "rattle" their  auto's suspension.  Got to get one's priorities straight, I imagine...

For the curious who believe a picture is worth a thousand words, I offer the following:

Wondering what things will be like for the November festivities and annual parade.  Or for the January Feria de las Flores y el Café.   Who knows.  Maybe it will be fixed by then, but it seems to be a major undertaking and only a minimal time distance away.  We shall see.   Also worth mentioning, although I failed to  take photos---Los Naranjos is a huge mess, as well.  There are detours to get to Cafe Ruiz, and the mud and yuck is obscene.    Hate to say it, but Boquete is currently not the scenic spot it's known for.  The end result will be well worth it, but this "ugly hair" stage is pretty bad.  If I didn't live here, I certainly wouldn't come for the November parade or the 2018 Feria.  Just sayin'...

Maybe things will be better by the Jazz Festival in February.    

Panamanian Immigration Policies

Haven't been in the mood to blog for some time.  Got quite involved in the US general election and then quite depressed with its outcome.  Reserved my ranting and raving for facebook and had nothing additional or positive to post.  I figure enough disenchanted citizens will be jumping Ship USA as is,  and have just been hoping we get the liberals and democrats here in Boquete.  Lord knows we don't need any more Trump supporters.  Many are returning home, and my best wishes accompany them!

As a result of the new administration's attitudinal changes toward immigrants and foreign visitors, a backlash has been brewing  abroad.  Panama is no exception.  I expected it would happen. The primary impact is occurring at the fronteras as immigration officials tighten down on perpetual tourists.  But I'm also hearing stories of unpleasant encounters with Panamanian traffic police over routine, previously overlooked driving issues.  Just yesterday,  someone who knows someone I know had their car confiscated when they forgot to take their driver's license along on a short run into David.  In an area replete with forgetful retirees, this sort of matter used to be handled with patience and tolerance.  Usually, the driver would be stopped and allowed to call a friend to meet them and drive their car home.  This time the rules were strictly enforced.  The driver was ticketed, the car towed, an it took a full day and about $250 to locate the car and get possession of it back.   What goes around comes around, and I was fearing we would see changes in attitudes here as well. 

Today, the US Embassy sent out an email to all expat residents and "wannabe residents" in Panama. It discusses a tightening of immigration policies here in Panama and addresses frequently asked questions newbies might have. I've done a cut and paste below:

U.S. Embassy in Panama

Message for U.S. Citizens

March 15, 2017

The U.S. Embassy in Panama would like to inform all U.S. Citizens in Panama that on March 6^th 2017, the Panamanian Immigration Authority (Servicio Nacional de Migracion-SNM) announced new guidance for Panamanian immigration officials on the enforcement of pre-existing regulations.  According to the SNM, immigration officials have been instructed to be stricter about the enforcement of the regulation that foreigners entering Panama with tourist status prove that they are in fact entering Panama as tourists and not residing in Panama. Since the announcement, the Consular Section has received many questions from U.S. citizens about this new guidance.  Below are the most frequently asked questions along with the responses the Consular Section received from the SNM.  Should you have further questions, please reach out to the SNM directly via phone at 507-1800 or visit their website at:http://www.migracion.gob.pa

In order to re-enter Panama on tourist status, does a U.S. Citizen need to return to their country of origin (the country from which they came into Panama) or can they return from a third-country (example: Costa Rica)?

Answer:  In the new guidance SNM does not specify if the tourist needs to return his/her country of origin. What is being implemented is that, in most cases, the person needs to leave Panama for a minimum of 30 days before reentering as a tourist.

In order for a person to re-enter Panama on tourist status, what is the minimum amount of time the person needs to spend outside of Panama?

Answer: The new requirement that is being implemented by SNM in reference to time spent out of Panama is a minimum of 30 days before applying for admission, in most cases.

In order for a person to re-enter Panama on mariner visa status, what is the minimum amount of time the person needs to spend outside of Panama.

Answer: According to SNM, mariner visas are valid for 90 days and must be renewed on the 90^th day, or the day before, from the date of the previous mariner visa stamp.  Mariner visas can only be renewed once before the visa- holder needs to exit Panama.  The amount of time the person with the mariner visa needs to stay outside of Panama is not specified by SNM. 

If entering Panama on tourist status, does the method of entry need to match the method of exit (i.e. can a U.S. Citizen enter Panama on a plane and use as proof of exit evidence that they own a boat in Panama and plan to exit via boat)?

Answer: The method of entry and exit into and out of Panama does not have to be the same so long as the entries and departures are met legally by using established Ports of Entry - land, maritime or air and admitted by a Panamanian immigration officer.

Do U.S. Citizens with legal Panamanian residency status also require a roundtrip ticket when entering Panama?

Answer: No.  A foreigner with legal residence in Panama does not need to show proof of exit from Panama. 

Is a person applying for Panamanian residency required to stay in Panama for the entire duration of time required to complete the residency process? If so, what happens if the process takes more than the allotted six months for tourist status.

Answer: If the person has an ID that shows that his/her residency is in process, the person is fine to leave and return to Panama.  If there is no ID, then the person should exit as a tourist (i.e., before the sixth month approaches).

How long does the FBI Identification Record process, required for purposes of obtaining residency in Panama, take? Can this process be expedited?

Answer: For information on the FBI identification record process, individuals may visit https://www.fbi.gov/services/cjis/identity-history-summary-checks.  According to the FBI website, the current turnaround estimate for these records is 12 to 14 weeks plus the amount of time the results may take to arrive in the mail.  Currently there is no option to receive the response electronically. For questions on this topic, individuals may call (304) 625-5590 or write an email to identity@ic.fbi.gov

Tourists are only allowed to drive in Panama for 90 days.  Is there an exception for this given that tourists are allowed to stay in Panama for 180 days?

Answer: According to the Transit authority (http://www.transito.gob.pa/sites/default/files/reglamento_decreto_640..pdf Artículo 110) foreigners that enter Panama as tourists are not permitted to obtain Panamanian drivers’ licenses and are only allowed to drive with a foreign license for 90 days.  There are no exceptions to this rule.

Can SNM waive the FBI Identification Record process if a person does not exit Panama for two years? If so, would there be an exception to the 180 day stay limit for tourists for a person trying to obtain this waiver?

Answer: If a person stays in Panama for more than two years then the FBI requirement does not apply.  The waiver of the FBI requirement applies to those people that stay in Panama two years, without exiting.  In these cases, a fine is paid by the person for overstaying their tourist visa and the person is only required to present a PNM police record rather than the FBI check.

In all fairness I must admit that other factors probably also played into Panama's determination to implement established immigration policies.  The country has suffered (along with Costa Rica) surges of refugees and immigrants fleeing war-torn and repressive governments in Latin America, Africa and the Middle East.  The majority of those passing through the isthmus were heading to the USA.  The numbers mounted as Obama was completing his last term and in anticipation of a stricter stance with the incoming president.  Matters were complicated when Nicaragua  refused to allow passage through its territories on the journey.  Costa Rica became backlogged with refugees and then tightened it's border and the domino effect started to hit Panama. 

It's not a good time to relocate to Panama unless you plan to do so legally and pay the associated costs.  A conservative estimate of government and legal fees for a pensionado visa is about $2000, in my humble opinion.  The pensionado visa is the easiest and cheapest way to establish residency, to the best of my (inexpert) knowledge.   It requires an FBI background check, miscellaneous filings with local government agencies, and takes about 6 months to complete.

My understanding of current Panamanian immigration policy is that a tourist visa is granted for only 3 months instead of 6 months as previously practiced, and upon leaving Panama, a tourist has to wait 30 days prior to re-entering again as a tourist.    I admit I am somewhat out of the loop regarding what is actually being implemented at the borders, but a television video from 2 weeks ago reported that 300 Venezuelans were turned back at the border because their passport activity was suspicious for perpetual tourist border-hopping practices.  

I guess all good things must end someday, as the song goes.