2 Retire In Panama? NEWSLETTER 
March 1, 2021 Volume 23
Credit for this week's header...
...photo goes to Mark Gripman. Thank you Mark for allowing me to share this gorgeous view of a sunrise over the Pacific in Panama.
This week's COVID update...
...is how I am helping to keep readers updated on how "under control" COVID-19 is in Panama. This is the update as of February 27th from Karyn Saunders. Thank you so much Karyn for continuing to keep ex-pats aware of the statistics:
Panama has 664 new cases, +11 new deaths, 168 in ICU, 968 hospitalized, 9,123 active cases, 874 newly recovered, 9,123 active cases.
1) 5.6% positive rate on 11,701 tests.
2) Beaches are open Monday through Friday from 6am - 5pm.
3) All retail has reopened in Panama and Panama Oeste which includes beauty salons and barber shops, restaurants, car washes and other cultural and creative businesses. Restaurants must close by 9pm and alcohol may only be served with a meal.
4) Gender specific shopping has been discontinued. This means that we can once again shop with our spouses.
5) The total weekend lockdowns have now ended, however, total nightly curfews (10pm-4am) remain in effect.
The administrator of the Government Innovation Authority (AIG), Louis Olivia, detailed that the identity card (Cedula) will determine the day and time of the application of the COVID-19 vaccine in the next phases of the PanavaC-19 plan.
As he explained, the last digit determines the day, while the penultimate one indicates the time.
Vaccines will be applied Thursday Through Monday at a time from 7am to 5pm, considering the time of recess of health professionals.
Your vaccination day if the last digit of your card ends in:
- 0 or 1 gets vaccinated on Thursday
- 2 or 3 gets vaccinated on Friday
- 4 or 5 gets vaccinated on Saturday
- 6 or 7 gets vaccinated on Sunday
- 8 or 9 gets vaccinated on Monday
With regard to time, he explained that the time of your vaccine will be based on the penultimate digit of your card as follows:
- if the digit is 7 the vaccination will be at 7am
- if the digit is 8 the vaccination will be at 8am
- if the digit is 9 the vaccination will be at 9am
- if the digit is 0 the vaccination will be at 10am
- if the digit is 6 the vaccination will be at 11am
- if the digit is 1 the vaccination will be at 1pm
- if the digit is 2 the vaccination will be at 2pm
- if the digit is 3 the vaccination will be at 3pm
- if the digit is 4 the vaccination will be at 4pm
- if the digit is 5 the vaccination will be at 5pm
Olivia explained that the immunization begins on Thursdays because Panama has been receiving doses of the coronavirus vaccines on Wednesdays.
Vaccination centers are sought to coincide with polling stations in elections.
Next Thursday, March 4, phase 2 of vaccination will begin, including adults over 60, and the population of 16 to 59 years with chronic diseases, in its stage 1A, and teachers and administrators from public and private schools and universities, as well as Caipis staff, in the 1B stage.
Below are the links to register and verify:
To date, more than 100,000 people have been immunized against coronavirus in Panama.
Church services at Coronado Bible Church...
...continue on Wednesday with 2 services. One service at 10:30am and the other at 4pm. Protocols required by MINSA are being followed with strict adherence to number of people in attendance, social distancing, and wearing of masks. For this reason, people are asked to register in advance to attend. Click here to register for services. The worship is recorded and rebroadcast on Sunday morning via Facebook and You Tube. With the full lockdown weekends having just ended Pastor Jon and the elders will be making a decision soon with regard to returning to regular Sunday worship.
This past Wednesday the congregation invited Jon Fowler, director of Word of Life Camp, to give an update. Jon spoke of the many blessings going on in the life of the camp. It is now summer here in Panama and the camp is operating this year on a virtual platform. This allows the camp to reach children in Panama during their summer vacation in a safe way. The camp has over 20 missionaries workiing to bring the good news of Jesus to children in Panama.
Word of Life Camp is one of the organizations that Jen and I try to volunteer and support during the year. Usually we are helping to prepare lunches by chopping vegetables during camp, but this year we will miss that outreach due to the virtual platform. The camp is always in need of financial support and if you feel so inclined please clik here to make a financial gift.
My special offer this week...
...is right on point for anyone who is heading off to Panama or just gearing up for summer. Jen and I find that our main wardrobe here is shorts and flip-flops. This crazy great offer is 40% off on a great pair of flip-flops. To get this great deal you must click here. These flip-flops have arch support and are orthotic, so your feet will not suffer from comfort with this great deal. Do not wait this offer ends when the supply is gone or midnight PST on March 8th.
In case you missed it...
...Jen and I bought a new car last week. Making a major purchase in a foreign country with language and culture differences is not for the faint at heart. The car transaction caused a lot of stress for me, but with the help of Marc Vargas we were able to wrap up a great deal. Marc is a great asset for us, and all other expats in Panama. Thank you, Marc, for all you do.
This week's fan photo...
...is our friend Becky. She and her friend Sasha have been enjoying my book in Washington, and wishing for a warm weather vacation, We met Becky last March on our trip to Israel. The trip was sponsored by fellow author Mesu Andrews. Our group of 26 people included 4 authors including myself. Having the love and support of all these awesome people was instrumental in my finishing the book and getting it published.
I am running out of original fan photos, so if you are willing, and can share a fan photo with me it would be greatly appreciated. It will appear in an upcoming newsletter.
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
