COVID-19: No Malaysians stranded in Panama

COVID-19: No Malaysians stranded in Panama – Embassy

Panama's Archbishop Jose Domingo Ulloa waves a Panamanian national flag during the presentation of the popemobile that will be used by Pope Francis during his upcoming visit to Panama where he will attend World Youth Day, in Panama City on January 6, 2019. - Pope Francis will visit Panama from January 22 to 27. (Photo by Luis ACOSTA / AFP)

by BERNAMA/ pic by AFP

THE Malaysian Embassy in Peru has confirmed that there are no Malaysians currently stranded in Panama in view of the travel restrictions imposed to control the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The embassy’s second secretary, Syed Ahmad Naufal Syed Isa, however, said there was one Malaysian tourist who reported to the embassy of being stranded at Tocumen International Airport in Panama on March 17.

“She had returned to Malaysia safely after receiving help from the embassy to secure a returned flight on the next day (March 18) via route: Panama – (transit Colombia) – Barcelona – (transit Dubai) – Kuala Lumpur,” he said in a reply statement to Bernama.

The Malaysian embassy in Peru is concurrently accredited to Panama.

In a separate case, the embassy also said that it has received an email from an individual on March 25 informing that a group of four Malaysian tourists were stranded on a cruise ship.

It said the cruise ship was expected to dock in Panama, but later received information that it might also continue to sail and dock at Fort Lauderdale (Florida), The Bahamas, or Cuba.

“The embassy had given the necessary contact details of respective Malaysian embassies in Peru, the United States and Cuba to the individual concerned for further assistance,” said the statement, adding the embassy’s last communication with the individual via email was March 28.