"JB"

MINSA approves (7) legal licenses to produce cannabis derivatives.

“JB” This is actually to me “huge” news. PANAMA has been 10 steps behind on Medical and Legal Marijuana production it is a joke. Marijuana and Production of THC derivatives could be a HUGE economic BOON to the agricultural GDP export of PANAMA. PANAMA is still rooted in Judeo-Catholic beliefs …

"JB"

EX-PAT ALERT: Backpackers and Vacationers take a look at labels in Bocas del Toro supply chain.

“JB”-  You know my feelings on Bocas and Isla Colon. If invested in properly, what is already the tourism hub of Panama, would be a tropical jewel. I feel things are changing looking forward, as “REAL” developers are getting primed to build sustainable and professionally thought out developments. We have …

Health

PNO Travel alert: Reason to be aware and innoculated for influenza

Health authorities assure that there are enough vaccines for the population Influenza. With a total of 13 deaths due to influenza, the Ministry of Health (Minsa) called on the population to get vaccinated and if they feel symptoms go to the doctor with their respective mask. The director of the Metropolitan …

Health

With COVID contained, Panama focusses on Monkey Pox.

With the new case of monkeypox confirmed this Thursday, May 4, those detected since last year have increased to 226, revealed the Department of Epidemiology of the Ministry of Health (Minsa).Of the total number of cases, according to Minsa statistics, 89 correspond to the year 2022 and 137 were confirmed …

Environmental

Panamanians and EX-Pats should know more about IDAAN. Quality of H20 and Quality of septic.

The National Government will not promote changes to the law of the Institute of National Aqueducts and Sewers (Idaan), but it is advancing in a process of transformation of the entity, which according to its director Juan Antonio Ducruet, is already in operation and its results, he assures, will be …

Health

COVID Update: PANAMA making massive strides in controlling virus. 1 death reported.

Panama registered only one death from covid-19 in the epidemiological week from Sunday, October 9 to Saturday, October 15, according to the latest weekly report of the Department of Epidemiology of the Ministry of Health (Minsa). The total number of deaths in Panama to date, since the COVID-19 pandemic began, …

Health

PNO info update: So what exactly is MONKEYPOX? And how is is affecting Panama?

https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/monkeypox/response/2022/world-map.html Formal information from the CDC https://www.plenglish.com/news/2022/09/02/panama-reports-11-new-monkeypox-cases/ According to a report from the Epidemiology Directorate, traceability applied to this person found patient’s last close contact was on August 21 with another foreigner person. The report specified this person began with skin and vesicular lesions symptoms on August 27. Tests were …

Health

COVID UPDATE: Panama process stems the tide as lowest number of transmissions reported.

https://www-laestrella-com-pa.translate.goog/nacional/220919/panama-registra-cifra-baja-muertes-covid-19-semana-reportan-3-defunciones-11-17-septiembre?_x_tr_sl=es&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=sc A total of 3 deaths from covid-19 were registered in the country in the epidemiological week from September 11 to 17, according to the latest weekly report from the Department of Epidemiology of the Ministry of Health (Minsa). The total number of deaths in Panama to date, since the …

Economy

Pharmacies claim discount will undoubtedly lead to increased unemployment.

https://elsiglo-com-pa.translate.goog/panama/descuento-30-puede-generar-desempleo/24208296?_x_tr_sl=es&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=sc&_x_tr_sch=http Pharmacy owners ask the Court to declare the regulation null The 30% discount on medicines, which came into effect on August 15, continues to cause hives. Owners of the pharmacies warn of millionaire losses in their premises, which can generate the unemployment of 4,500 workers. Members of the National Union …

Health

COVID-Update: Ex-Pat ALERT

https://www-laestrella-com-pa.translate.goog/nacional/220829/panama-registra-19-muertes-covid-19-semana-epidemiologica-21-27-agosto?_x_tr_sl=es&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=sc A total of 19 deaths from covid-19 were registered in the country in the epidemiological week from August 21 to 27, according to the latest weekly report from the Department of Epidemiology of the Ministry of Health (Minsa). The total number of deaths in Panama to date, since the …

Health

EX-PAT ALERT: MonkeyPox is appearing in Panama

https://www-laestrella-com-pa.translate.goog/nacional/220825/confirman-octavo-caso-viruela-simica-panama?_x_tr_sl=es&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=sc The Department of Epidemiology of the Ministry of Health (MINSA) confirmed this Thursday the eighth case of monkeypox or monkeypox detected in the country. This eighth case is a 25-year-old male patient, who began symptoms on August 15, with vesicular-type skin lesions. Previously, on August 19, I have started with …

Health

HEALTH alert: Something to monitor yet not freak out. Panama sees first Monkeypox infection.

https://www-laestrella-com-pa.translate.goog/nacional/220705/panama-confirma-primer-caso-viruela-mono?_x_tr_sl=es&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=sc Health Minister Luis Francisco Sucre confirmed the first case of monkeypox or monkeypox in the national territory. He is a 30-year-old man who underwent a test yesterday at the Gorgas Memorial Institute for Health Studies.  The patient remained isolated at home and was transferred this Tuesday, July 5, to the …

Health

EX-PAT ALERT: COVID anti-virals showing new promise.

https://www.laestrella.com.pa/nacional/220703/minsa-tratamientos-antivirales-han-dado The Ministry of Health (Minsa) assured that the antiviral treatments Remdesivir, Molnupiravir and Paxlovid have given the expected results, since they have reduced the impact of symptoms in patients with covid-19. Yashica González, coordinator of the outpatient services of the Figaly Care Center aimed at Covid-19 patients, emphasized in …

Health

EX-PAT ALERT- COVID numbers still dangerously high.

https://www-laestrella-com-pa.translate.goog/nacional/220621/casos-activos-covid-19-suman-15-285-reportan-2-080-nuevos-contagios?_x_tr_sl=es&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=sc Panama reported a new death from covid-19 in the last 24 hours, but three deaths from previous dates are updated for 8,329 accumulated deaths and a lethality that remains at 0.9%, according to the Epidemiology Department of the Ministry of Health. (Minsa). The report indicates that 906,435 accumulated cases of …

Health

EX-PAT ALERT- COVID update for the week.

Panama registers 2,080 new infections of covid-19; one new death reported The Department of Epidemiology of the Ministry of Health (Minsa), reported that to date 896,924 accumulated cases of covid-19 have been registered in Panama, of which 2,080 are new positive cases in the last 24 hours. The Minsa, through the …

Health

EX-PAT ALERT: Know the Insurance scenario.

https://www.allianzcare.com/en.html Do you want to keep your family healthy while exploring new horizons abroad ? Planning to retire outside of the US? Allianz Care’s plans ensure that you have access to quality healthcare whenever you need it. Our flexible solutions allow you to tailor your cover to meet your needs …

Health

Citizens of China spread wings as 2 MONTH mandatory lockdown is lifted.

https://www-laestrella-com-pa.translate.goog/internacional/mundo/220601/euforia-traumatizada-shanghai-final-confinamiento?_x_tr_sl=es&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=sc The vast majority of the 25 million inhabitants of the eastern Chinese metropolis of Shanghai returned to their streets today after the authorities ended more than two months of a strict confinement imposed to stop their worst outbreak of covid. The end of the lockdown came at midnight on …

Health

EX-PAT ALERT: COVID rise for the week.

https://www-laestrella-com-pa.translate.goog/nacional/220531/panama-suma-27-994-casos-activos-covid-19-reportan-3-819-nuevos-contagios?_x_tr_sl=es&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=sc At least 3,819 new positive cases of covid-19 were registered in Panama in the last 24 hours and no deaths were reported, but one from a previous date is updated for a cumulative of 8,255 deaths and a lethality of 1.0%. The report from the Department of Epidemiology of …

Colón

Cortizo finds his way to Colon. At present time, the armpit of Panama. Promises progress.

https://www.laestrella.com.pa/nacional/220527/presidente-cortizo-entrega-orden-proceder-construccion-nuevo-hospital-colon This Friday in the province of Colón, the President of the Republic, Laurentino Cortizo Cohen, gave the order to proceed for the construction of the new Manuel Amador Guerrero hospital, the construction of commercial premises for handicrafts in La Feria and Buena Vista, as well as the protocol to …

Food

Varela buddy Putin and his “INVASION” is affecting Food Supply Chain in Latin America.

https://www.laestrella.com.pa/internacional/america/220524/guerra-ucrania-agrava-inseguridad-alimentaria-latinoamerica The World Food Program (WFP) warned on Tuesday that the “domino effect” of the conflict in Ukraine aggravates the problems of the pandemic, worsens food insecurity in Latin America and the Caribbean and leads to the need for more resources to help vulnerable people in the region. The United …

Health

EX-PAT ALERT: Bocas del Toro reports HIGHEST rate of Dengue fever in country

Hard to believe after I have been calling for 5 years for the Government to TRULY INVEST REAL MONEY into the Bocas region that this occurs.  For an area that is one of the gems of tourism for this country, it still has a POS airstrip and next to nothing …

Health

EX-PAT ALERT: COVID Weekly Update

https://www.laestrella.com.pa/nacional/220516/panama-alcanza-24-129-casos-activos-covid-19-reporta-nueva-defuncion Panama reached 24,129 active cases of covid-19 this Monday, after 1,799 new positive cases were detected and 8,403 tests were carried out in the last 24 hours, which translates into a positivity of 21.4%. Juan Díaz, Bethania, San Francisco, Rufina Alfaro and Penonomé are the areas that register the …

Health

EX-PAT ALERT: COVID increases continue to be seen. Stay vigilant.

https://www-laestrella-com-pa.translate.goog/nacional/220509/casos-activos-covid-19-panama-incrementan-13-732-reporta-1-fallecido?_x_tr_sl=es&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=sc Panama maintains 13,732 active cases of covid-19, after registering 1,359 new positive cases this Monday, May 9, so according to the Department of Epidemiology of the Ministry of Health (Minsa) positivity reaches 22.4%. In addition, the report detailed that in the last 24 hours there was a death due …

Health

Health official sees Panama entering a 5th stage of COVID amid recent spikes.

https://www-laestrella-com-pa.translate.goog/nacional/220503/eduardo-ortega-panama-inicio-quinta?_x_tr_sl=es&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=sc With the increase in coronavirus cases in recent weeks, between 700 and 900, everything seems to indicate that Panama is at the beginning of a fifth wave, warned the secretary of the Eduardo Ortega, national secretary of the National Secretariat of Science, Technology and Innovation (Senacyt). Ortega explained, during …

Health

EX-PAT ALERT: Slight rise in New COVID infections

https://www-laestrella-com-pa.translate.goog/nacional/220427/leve-aumento-nuevos-casos-covid?_x_tr_sl=es&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=sc Panama registered 744 new infections of covid-19 in the last 24 hours and total up to this Tuesday, April 26, 772,830 confirmed cases. For this Tuesday, one death is reported, for a cumulative of 8,183 deaths and a lethality of 1.1%. The number of people recovered from the disease amounts …

Health

Here’s a nice look……..PANAMA get your “shit together” literally!! Go play kids.

http://elsiglo.com.pa/panama/aguas-servidas-basura-preocupa-usuarios-parque-brisas-golf/24198393 Orlando Pinzón pointed out that for almost 10 years they have been demanding better management of the park from the authorities.  In the township of Rufina Alfaro, district of San Miguelito, residents denounce the large amount of garbage in the surroundings of the Brisas del Golf Park, added to …

Bocas del Toro

Disease in Bocas shows sign of decreasing: EX-PAT ALERT

http://elsiglo.com.pa/panama/disminuyen-casos-leishmaniasis-bocas-toro/24198208 With everyone still worried and dealing with Covid and the fallout from all accompanied with the virus. Travelers and Ex-Pats in and around the biggest tourism area of Panama need to take notice of this disease that has indeed caused deaths, and is spread via mosquitoes ( or more …

Health

Spike in China reminds us COVID is part of our new reality forever.

https://www.laestrella.com.pa/internacional/mundo/220328/confinada-mitad-ciudad-china-shanghai-brote-covid-19 Millions of people in the eastern part of China’s financial hub of Shanghai were confined to their homes on Monday to contain the country’s biggest COVID-19 outbreak. Authorities announced a two-phase lockdown in the city of 25 million people on Sunday night for massive testing. The announcement prompted a …

Health

Mandatory mask usage LIFTED as of today. EX-PAT ALERT

After almost two years of having been adopted as one of the main biosecurity measures to prevent the spread of the deadly covid-19 virus, (about 665 days to be more exact) as of today, Panama lifts the mandatory use of mask or chinstraps in open or free spaces; but its use …

Health

Panamanian schools returning to face to face classes after 24 Months.

http://elsiglo.com.pa/panama/presidente-cortizo-evalua-24-meses-escuela-virtual-tenia-otra-opcion/24195533 Cortizo recounted the challenges he faced in addition to the pandemic, and described vaccination as one of the best in Latin America and the Caribbean In the traditional presidential tour for the start of classes, President Laurentino Cortizo, upon his arrival at the Concepción de Juan Díaz School, asked …