Cortizo eliminates humanitarian flights for returning Panamanians
The president of Panama, Laurentino Cortizo, announced this Wednesday that humanitarian flights for nationals will be "eliminated" starting next week and that they will only be required to have a negative COVID-19 test to enter the country.
Those humanitarian flights that were coordinated for Panamanians, as of next week will cease to exist, said the Panamanian president.
Nationals and residents who wish to enter Panama must deliver a negative COVID-19 swab test result 48 hours in advance or undergo an antigen test in the country, and make a mandatory quarantine for fourteen days, as measures to avoid the contagion.
Cortizo also announced that the Tocumen International Airport, the main airport in the country, will be maintained as a "mini humanitarian hub."
"Please, let's use the transfer airport," declared the President.
Last Friday, the Government approved a decree, which came into force that same day, which allows the limited opening of Tocumen Airport, an important hub for the region.
Passengers are only allowed to leave Panama on humanitarian flights, as well as the transit of passengers through the airport on a limited basis, in terms of number and connections, as long as the waiting time between the connections do not exceed six hours.
The Ministry of Health (Minsa) is in charge of regulating the entry of passengers and will have the power to authorize or reject the entry of flights into the country, taking into account the level of spread of COVID-19 in the country, the epidemiological status of the embarkation country, the number of passengers and their health condition.
The flights must be presented and communicated by the air operators to the Civil Aeronautical Authority.
The decree establishes that all Panamanian and resident foreigners who enter the national territory through these flights must submit to the sanitary and biosafety protocols established by the Ministry of Health.
Since it was imposed on March 22, the Government of Panama has extended the suspension of international flights four times due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which will continue at least until August 21.
Nationals and residents who wish to enter Panama must deliver a negative COVID-19 swab test result 48 hours in advance or undergo an antigen test in the country, and make a mandatory quarantine for fourteen days, as measures to avoid the contagion.
Cortizo also announced that the Tocumen International Airport, the main airport in the country, will be maintained as a "mini humanitarian hub."
"Please, let's use the transfer airport," declared the President.
Last Friday, the Government approved a decree, which came into force that same day, which allows the limited opening of Tocumen Airport, an important hub for the region.
Passengers are only allowed to leave Panama on humanitarian flights, as well as the transit of passengers through the airport on a limited basis, in terms of number and connections, as long as the waiting time between the connections do not exceed six hours.
The Ministry of Health (Minsa) is in charge of regulating the entry of passengers and will have the power to authorize or reject the entry of flights into the country, taking into account the level of spread of COVID-19 in the country, the epidemiological status of the embarkation country, the number of passengers and their health condition.
The flights must be presented and communicated by the air operators to the Civil Aeronautical Authority.
The decree establishes that all Panamanian and resident foreigners who enter the national territory through these flights must submit to the sanitary and biosafety protocols established by the Ministry of Health.
Since it was imposed on March 22, the Government of Panama has extended the suspension of international flights four times due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which will continue at least until August 21.