*** ----> Panama offers Covid-19 tests to international travellers | THE DAILY TRIBUNE | KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN

Panama offers Covid-19 tests to international travellers

The Daily Tribune - newsofbahrain.com

Panama is the latest country to offer travelers a Covid-19 test when they arrive at its main airport, a little less than a week after resuming international flights following a seven-month suspension due to the pandemic.

The Sofia SARS Antigen Fluorescent Immunoassay tests are meant to prevent the import of new cases.

International flights resumed on Monday, October 12.

Since then, some 1,000 people were tested, said Yelitza Campos, an adviser at Jers Medical, the distributor of the tests in Panama.

A Panamanian health official said of those tested, one in 20 people have come back positive for Covid-19.

Raffoul Arab, the manager of the Tocumen International Airport in Panama City, said the tests cost $50 for travelers who do not already have a negative test less than 48 hours old.

Panama has so far registered about 125,000 official cases and 2,500 deaths.