300 Quarantined On-Site At Tribal Gathering Festival In Panama

Around 300 attendees at the annual Tribal Gathering festival in Playa Chiquita on Panama’s north coast have been ordered to remain on site until March 23.

The 18-day “conscious festival,” which invites DJs, performers, musicians, and representatives of indigenious cultures from over 30 different countries who share their rituals and traditions with those in attendence, first began on February 29.

As the end of the festival drew near, Panama’s president declared a national emergency amid concerns of furthering the spread of the global Covid-19 pandemic in his country. At the moment, Panama is the country that has been hit the worst by the Coronavirus in Central America, with 69 confirmed cases and one death.

On March 15, as many were boarding busses to leave for the airport, Panama’s Minister Of Health ordered the Tribal Gathering’s festival-goers (both nationals and international visitors) to remain on-site until March 23. They have since allowed Panamanian citizens to exit the festival grounds, but still, many visitors remain stuck on location. Located in one of the most remote parts of Panama, the nearest township to Tribal Gathering’s festival site is nearly two hours away by bus.

The festival’s organizers have stated that there are no verified or presumed cases of the virus among the attendees. Information coming out of the festival grounds is limited due to lack of Wi-Fi access. Still, in a post on Instagram, organizers advised everyone stuck on the Playa to get in touch with their respective embassies and family members for help and information.

The festival maintains that it is complying with the orders and recommendations of Panama’s Minister of Health, and festival-goers will remain in place until further notice.