The Ministry of Health of Panama announced that starting Monday that all travelers from South America must undergo a mandatory molecular COVID-19 test.

The cost of this test will be 85 USD, and it must be assumed by the traveler.

It is added that according to Executive Decree No. 486 of 2021, it is established that each traveler who enters the country with a negative COVID-19 test must spend three days in a non-COVID-19 facility, a stay that will be paid for by the State.

The Minsa highlights that these measures also apply to those travelers who enter through other entry points to the country.

The entity ensures that, in addition, the measure that dictates that the person who upon entering Panama or at the end of his isolation test positive for COVID 19, must comply with a fourteen-day quarantine in a hospital hotel for COVID-19 travelers or where ordered by the health authority.

It should be noted that Decree No. 486 also emphasizes that the health authority reserves the right to randomly perform the COVID 19 test, to all travelers at different points of entry into the national territory.

While it is noted that passengers in transit in Panama and with flights to other destinations do not require the COVID-19 test.

Panama registered in the last hours some 360,597 accumulated infections by coronavirus and some 6,187 deaths due to COVID-19.