As of May 11 Costa Rica has a total of 801 confirmed cases of Coronavirus, 277 of them are still active, 517 recovered, and 7 deceased. As the government continues to implement sanitary measures to prevent an uncontrolled global outbreak, it also announced changes for the sanitary restrictions that are in place.
The Government of Costa Rica has announced the plan to gradually re-engage economic activities and begin the road back to “normalcy”.
“We need to retake economic activities, but we need to do so with very strict sanitary measures” , explained the Ministry of Health Daniel Salas, “…we need to continue showing the world that we have discipline and committment to continue beating this pandemic”, continued Salas.
“We will reopen economic activities subject to a strict surveillance of sanitary protocols. We will extend the vehicular restriction first. We will open for national tourism, hotels, national parks, commerce, restaurants, theaters and movie theaters. A second phase will involve reopening to international tourism and massive events”, explained the Minister of Planning, Pilar Garrido.
Important:
*No one that has any cold like symptoms should leave their house
*People that have risk factors (diabetes, high blood pressure, senior citizens, depressed immune system, etc.) must avoid at all cost public places.
*People from different “social bubbles” (families or people that live together), must maintain social distance.
*Never touch your face in public places without properly washing your hands first.
Recommended:
In public places avoid: singing, yelling, or talking in a high pitch voice ( Reduce the potential spread of saliva)
Use of facemasks in public places, specially on public transportation.
Take the temperature of people that walk into a place of public gathering.
Restriction Changes:
Weekdays: (Monday through Friday): starting May 15 the new vehicle restriction will be from 10 p.m. through 5 a.m. Current Monday to Friday plates restrictions will continue to apply. (That means you are free to drive from 5am-10pm)
Weekends: (Saturday and Sunday) Restriction will continue to be from 7 p.m. through 5 a.m. Current plate restrictions continue to apply.
Other Changes:
Beaches WILL OPEN from 5 a.m. to 8 a.m. Monday through Friday starting May 16 and through May 31.
Businesses such as restaurants, stores and commercial centers can reopen from 5 a.m. throug 10 p.m. maintaining sanitary restrictions.
Theaters and movie theaters must implement digital reservations and ticket sales and implement social distancing within the theater.
12 National parks will reopen doors starting May 18th to a 50% of their maximum capacity. These are: Irazu Volcano, Guayabo National Monument, Poas Volcano, Braulio Carrillo Park, Carara, Corcovado, Cahuita (visitors cannot stay at the beach), Arenal Volcano, Rincon de la Vieja, Tapanti National Park and Los Quetzales National Park.
The rest of the national parks will reopen June 1st.
The practice of recreational sports with no physical or direct contact can resume normally.
The practice of high performance contact sports can resume without public (behind closed doors).
Hotels can reopen to a maximum 50% of their capacity.
Surfers can train from 5 a.m. through 8 a.m. Monday through Friday.
All massive and public events remain suspended. Bars, dance clubs, casinos, event venues, the National Theater and the Melico Salazar Theater remain closed.
The Government made emphasis on the fact that in the event that there is a new rise on the number of cases the restrictions will be changed back and new measures will be taken accordingly.
Source: The Costa Rica Star.
