2 Retire In Panama?
NEWSLETTER
Volume 9 November 23, 2020
Panama continues to reopen...
...and one of the questions I get the most is how "under control" is COVID-19 in Panama. This is the update as of November 20th from Karyn Saunders.Thank you so much Karyn for continuing to keep ex-pats aware of the statistics:
Panama has 152,289 total cases + 1200 new, 2932 total deaths + 10 new, 152 in ICU, 773 are hospitalized, 16,609 active, 132,748 have recovered + 1433 new, resulting in a death rate of 1.9%.
1) 811,323 total tests, 9853 new, 12.2 positive rate, 18,963/100,000
2) National rate of transmission (RT) 1.9%
3) Panama is in the top 4 countries of the Americas that have administered the most tests per capita. U.S., Canada, and Chile lead the Americas.
4) Our active cases have dropped by almost 400, bringing it down below 18,000. Our recovered is now 86.2% of total cases which exceeds the world rate of 64.3%.
5) The positive rate is acceptable if it remains under 15%, but the goal is to have it consistently below 10%.
6) A vaccine is in the works, and Panama will have access to what is safe, secure, guaranteed, and endorsed by international organizers. The funds have been approved to proceed with acccess to the vaccines.
My coupon offer this week is exciting...
...and with Thanksgiving later this week in the United States, it is time to think about decorating for Christmas. 20% is deducted at checkout when you click through the link. get offer here. This offer is good through midnight PST on November 30, 2020. While supplies last. Check out the link above. There are several from which to choose.
NOTE: before I schedeule the newsletter for delivery I check the links. It seems that the coiupon offer has ran its course. Maybe they reached the limit on this before it timed out. The link is still good and the item is incredible. Check it out, and if you like it, you will get the best offer available. Sorry this one was just too good to last.
Our bathroom remodel is...
...almost complete. The guys finished last Monday. Casa Granito did a great job with the countertop; and the stone vessel sinks were installed and connected. I put up some new towel hardware, a shelf, and robe hooks. I also installed the drawer and door pulls. We contacted the guy who will cut and install the mirrors. He is coming today to measure. That is all we lack.
One of my sources...
...for interesting information is PanaTimes. This is a non-profit news source published in English for English speaking Panamanians and ex-pats. I have been sifting through the stories there each week to find interesting and important information to share in my newsletter. I encourage you to check it out and add it to your favorites. The news on their site is presented with extarordinarily little bias toward political situations and is just plain good information.
This week I found an interesting article that talked about the incentives being offered to cruise lines. The Tourism Authority of Panama has modified its incentive period to cruise lines interested in establishing a base port in Panamanian territory.
This incentive reimburses the line 100% for all canal passages through December 31, 2021. This is an effort to turn Panama into a world class cruise destination. To meet the criteria the cruise ship must be occupied at a minimum of 80% by International travelers. My research during the writing of my book uncovered, for me, information about the new port in Panama City which was built to accommodate the biggest of cruise vessels. These ships can now pass through the canal in the new larger locks.
According to PanaTimes this incentive should result in a direct economic injection of 1.75 million to the country of Panama.
From my point of view this could result in some great cruise deals for those of you who have always dreamed of a Panama Canal excursion.
November is a big holiday...
...month in Panama. The next National Holiday is Independence from Spain. Panama declared their Independence from Spain just 18 days after the uprise in Los Santos, on Novemember 28, 1821. Next year Panama will be celebrating 200 years of sovereignty from the control of the Spanish Monarchy.
When National Holidays fall on a weekend, the holiday from work occurs on the following Monday. This year the Independence from Spain is on Saturday causing it to be celebrated on December 1.
Mother's Day is celebrated next Tuesday December 8. It is a celebration in Panama where people here show how much they appreciate their mother and the other people who are considered mother figures. Mother's Day is always celebrated on December 8. This picture is of my sweet mom who lives in the United States.
My book has great detail of the Panamanian holidays. If this interests you, pick up a copy to read more detail of the events taking place in a normal year. You can get a copy of my book by clicking the link here, or the link on the blog. It is exclusively available on Amazon or Kindle. Kindle Unlimited subscribers read it free.
Blessings from paradise, 
Greg 