The World Economic Forum lauded Costa Rica for their handling of Coronavirus Pandemic. See why in this short video:
¡Pura Vida!
Costa Rica Lauded by WEF
How to wash your hands?
Not only are we required to wash our hands before entering the supermarket, but they have a sign from the Ministry of Health showing us how! 🙂 But hey! We don’t have thousands dying from COVID19 in Costa Rica!
“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” ~Benjamin Franklin
¡Pura Vida!
Costa Rica has the lowest COVID19 death rate (0.86%) in Latin America! See the statistics in the “Live in Costa Rica” blog report:
Costa Rica’s Reopen Timeline
The Health Ministry on Monday presented Costa Rica’s plan for a gradual reopening.
Beginning May 16, Costa Rica will further ease coronavirus restrictions and allow limited visitation at beaches and national parks. If the epidemiological curve permits, more measures will be lifted in June and beyond.
Here is Costa Rica’s timeline for reopening, as presented Monday by the Health Ministry.
May 16 to May 31
- The following national parks can open at 50% capacity: Irazú Volcano, Poás Volcano, Guayabo, Braulio Carrillo, Carara, Corcovado, Manuel Antonio, Cahuita, Arenal, Rincón de la Vieja, Los Quetzales and Tapantí. Monteverde, a private reserve, can also open. Tickets must be pre-purchased.
- Non-contact and individual recreational sports / athletic training are permitted.
- High-level contact sports are permitted, without spectators.
- Small hotels (maximum 20 rooms) can reopen at 50% capacity.
- During the week, beaches can open from 5 a.m. to 8 a.m.
June 1 to June 20*
- Remaining national parks reopen at 50% capacity.
- All restaurants at 50% capacity.
- Public parks at 50% capacity.
- Museums at 50% capacity. (Prior ticket purchase is required.)
- All other hotels at 50% capacity.
- The current border restrictions will expire on June 16; these may be extended.
June 21 to July 12*
- All stores at 50% capacity.
- All cinemas and theaters at 50% capacity.
- Religious centers can hold gatherings (maximum 100 people with 1.8 meters of separation).
- Bars at 25% capacity.
July 13 to August 2*
- Schools under to-be-announced protocols.
- Contact sports with spectators (20% capacity).
- Beaches with social distancing.
* All plans beyond the measures announced for May 16-31 are tentative and may be changed if Costa Rica experiences a surge in cases.
‘Golden rules’ for containing coronavirus spread
The Health Ministry announced a series of “golden rules” that should be observed by all residents of Costa Rica.
- No one with a cold or flu, or with respiratory symptoms, should leave the house.
- People with coronavirus risk factors should avoid going to public places.
- While in public, maintain a distance of 1.8 meters (6 feet) between anyone not in your “social bubble.”
- Do not touch your face in public without first washing your hands.
- Do not sing, shout or speak loudly in public.
- Wear face masks, especially on public transportation or if remaining in a public place for more than 15 minutes.
- If possible, take the temperature of patrons before allowing them into an establishment.
Vehicular restrictions to continue
Starting on May 18, the following daytime vehicular restrictions will be enforced between the hours of 5 a.m. and 10 p.m.:
- Mondays: Vehicles with license plates ending in 1 and 2 cannot drive. Vehicles with license plates ending in all other numbers can transit freely between 5 a.m. and 10 p.m.
- Tuesdays: Vehicles with license plates ending in 3 and 4 cannot drive. Vehicles with license plates ending in all other numbers can transit freely between 5 a.m. and 10 p.m. .
- Wednesdays: Vehicles with license plates ending in 5 and 6 cannot drive. Vehicles with license plates ending in all other numbers can transit freely between 5 a.m. and 10 p.m. .
- Thursdays: Vehicles with license plates ending in 7 and 8 cannot drive. Vehicles with license plates ending in all other numbers can transit freely between 5 a.m. and 10 p.m. .
- Fridays: Vehicles with license plates ending in 9 and 0 cannot drive. Vehicles with license plates ending in all other numbers can transit freely between 5 a.m. and 10 p.m. .
A total vehicular restriction — with a few exceptions — will be enforced nationwide every weeknight from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. the following morning.
The weekend driving restrictions will continue between the hours of 5 a.m. and 7 p.m.:
- Saturdays: Vehicles with license plates ending in even numbers cannot drive.
- Sundays: Vehicles with license plates ending in odd numbers cannot drive.
A total vehicular restriction — with a few exceptions — will be enforced nationwide every Saturday and Sunday night from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. the following morning.
Thankful to live in Costa Rica with common sense national leadership! ~CD
¡Pura Vida!
Emergency Appeal for “Giving Tuesday”
Hogar de Vida (Home of Life), a Christian children’s home for abused and orphaned young children here in Atenas gains much of its budget each year from the visit of “mission teams” who pay to come work with and for the children year around with most coming during the northern summer months (now). The Coronavirus has stopped all team visits this year through at least August with the borders closed and groups afraid to travel, thus there is a financial emergency at both the home here in Atenas, Costa Rica and the similar home in Guatemala. Go to this link and consider giving online to help the children here in Costa Rica or the ones in Guatemala if you choose:
For Hogar de Vida
And God Bless You!
¡Pura Vida!
Partial easing of restrictions
Costa Rica will begin easing some coronavirus measures starting May 1, President Carlos Alvarado and Health Minister Daniel Salas announced Monday afternoon.
Theaters, gyms and athletic centers — which have been closed since March 18 — will be permitted to reopen during the week. But some of the country’s most impactful restrictions, including a ban on arriving tourists, will continue.~Tico Times
Read these linked articles in English on the Tico Times website:
Costa Rica begins easing some coronavirus measures
Costa Rica likely to extend border restrictions; beaches remain closed
Coronavirus in Costa Rica: The country’s projections and long-term plan
How has Costa Rica contained the coronavirus? (The U.S. could learn something here and the long-term plan above, but your president is too proud to learn from anybody.)
¡Pura Vida!
Costa Rica COVID19 Slowing?
We began this week yesterday with positive information on the spread of COVID19 in Costa Rica showing no significant increase with a total of about 600! Read multiple articles at https://ticotimes.net/ or for the specific articles I think interesting, click the titles below. I think it particularly interesting how the traffic is kept down by limiting 
which days you can drive your car based on the last digit of your license tag. And police are giving tickets for those who “cheat” on what really means a restriction from driving on just two days a week! Not bad! But us walkers can walk on any day! 🙂
Costa Rica begins new week without significant jump in COVID-19 cases
Costa Rica installs air base on border with Nicaragua to reinforce coronavirus surveillance
Costa Rica announces health measures and vehicular restrictions to continue all month
“The measure of intelligence is the ability to change.”
―
¡Pura Vida!
From Bandanna to Homemade Mask
A week ago I showed you how I looked like a cowboy bank robber in my bandanna which I’ve been wearing when out in the public for “necessities” like groceries, etc. Well, an enterprising local Tica seamstress, whom I’ve used for other purposes, is now making masks according to an online medically-approved pattern and a bunch of us in Roca Verde got some at only mil quinientos colones each or about $2.60 each in dollars. Washable and with a choice of several colors and fabric designs! 🙂 Those white medical masks are simply not available here.
Costa Ricans are a “can do” people and this local seamstress rose to the occasion! I hope it will help her little local business. And you may ask, “Why are you going to so much trouble when Costa Rica has only 500 cases of COVID19 and only 2 cases in Atenas?” Well, duh? It is because we as a country and a town are taking all the medically recommended precautions and have basically “shut down” everything that we are not ravaged by the pandemic like the U.S and we did it early. The government here is helping the businesses and tourism hurt by this and in another couple of months (hopefully) we just might be back to “normal” without thousands of people dead like in some other countries.
“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
~Benjamin Franklin
![20200411_102619[1]-A](https://www.charliedoggett.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/20200411_1026191-A.jpg)
¡Pura Vida!
Thankful I Live in Costa Rica
Costa Rica Coronavirus Updates from TICO TIMES online English newspaper:
- Costa Rica plans to invest $880 million to face coronavirus impact — 09 April 2020
- News briefs: Costa Rica receives donation of hydroxychloroquine — 09 April 2020
- Costa Rica registers third death due to coronavirus — 08 April 2020
- Costa Rica surpasses 500 known coronavirus cases — 08 April 2020
- Costa Rica’s national parks will remain closed until May — 08 April 2020
- U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica limits services due to COVID-19 crisis — 07 April 2020
- Finding the latest Costa Rica flight information — 07 April 2020
AND
The following opinion article was copied from the Live in Costa Rica Blog: (Stats not as up-to-date as Tico Times articles above, but expresses much of my sentiment.)
Day by day, I am thankful for living in an underdeveloped country like Costa Rica.
- Where after one week since the outbreak of the first case of coronavirus already the schools mechanical engineering and physics at the University of Costa Rica have prototypes of ventilators they produced;
- where the Clodorito Picado Institute, thanks to many years of development and production of antidotes for venomous snake bites, is now conducting experimental trials with plasma from patients who have already recovered;
- where the National Institute of Apprenticeships INA (a type of trade school) is using its facilities to make robes, sheets, towels, and other hospital supplies;
- where in a matter of days one hospital has been retrofitted with cutting edge technology in order to increase the number of hospital beds;
- where a Costa Rican woman, living in Germany, invented an APP to make paperwork easier, so that senior citizens can get help from the comfort of their homes;
- where the Costa Rican government (CCSS) chartered a plane to bring medical supplies all the way from China.
- where only two patients have died from this epidemic in the whole country;
- where nobody is denied medical care, even foreigners and tourists;
- where supermarkets make their products available for the most needy like senior citizens with special schedules;
- where health care workers, and law enforcement have sacrificed their vacations to help; and where our farmers work incessantly to fill the shelves of our grocery stories and cupboards demonstrating that indeed we are self-sufficient.
We produce milk, rice, meat, vegetables, beans, fruit, cereal and everything else we need. Basic services are accessible to everyone.
We even send medicine to the most needy by mail. Even without an army, our police force maintains order. Even in the most remote corners of our country small medical clinics (EBAIS) and schools can be found to serve the population.
Today a number of infected people in the US, Spain, Italy, for example, cannot afford to purchase a test to see if they test positive for coronavirus.
Today I ask myself , Really, how UNDERDEVELOPED is our country versus those who say they are developed? Today I feel proud of my country and its people.. ? ?? ~Christopher Howard
Retired in Costa Rica
¡Pura Vida!
Moving furniture
When you are forced to stay home I guess it is normal to change things in your house as well as to play on the computer! 🙂
For the 5 years I’ve been in this house I’ve always had my breakfast table at the left or NW corner of my terrace (best mountains vista) and the two rockers at the other end, nearer the driveway, SE corner. Since I’ve gone to sitting in the refinished rockers a little more now, I decided to move them to the left with a better view of the mountains beyond Atenas. Next I will ask my gardener to replace that old-looking plant in the frog pot. Of course I’m old-looking too, but don’t replace me just yet! 🙂
Rearranged Porch or Terrace
You will notice on the photos title I used “porch” which is what I grew up calling it in south Arkansas, while later, by my Tennessee days, I called it a “deck” and now here in Costa Rica it is called a “terrace” or la terraza en español, maybe because most floors are made of tile here? And I evolve with my surroundings! 🙂
Coming eyeball to eyeball with a hummingbird on my terrace is as exciting to me as any celebrity I’ve met . . .
¡Pura Vida!
Dental Emergencies Only
Monday I returned to my dentist to see if the infection was gone so they can finish my root canal, stuffing it with something they get from a tropical tree. Unfortunately it still had infection though improved a lot and not painful, but I need more antibiotics and time. I wait 2 more weeks for it to be completed. Patience!
And when I arrived I witnessed this new sign (feature photo) taped to the front door that they now accept only emergencies, but they assured me that my infection is included in what the government accepts as “emergencies.” So I do get to go back in 2 weeks for what I hope is the last time! 🙂
Everything is different now with Coronavirus! The whole world is in a state of change!
They must often change, who would be constant in happiness or wisdom.
~Confucius
¡Pura Vida!
And if the virus caused you to cancel your Costa Rica vacation, try this very short 1 minute “Virtual Vacation” video clip. ¡Pura vida!