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Record one-day COVID-19 deaths in Costa Rica: 4 people

By
Rico
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(QCOSTARICA) This Monday, Costa Rica had the highest number of deaths in a single day from the coronavirus. Three men and a woman, aged between 43 and 81 years, died of COVID-19 while they were hospitalized.

The first death occurred at dawn, at the Hospital San Juan de Dios. It was a 43-year-old Costa Rican man, a resident of San José, who had been in intensive care since July 8, the same day that he was diagnosed with the disease.

The Ministry of Health indicated that the patient suffered from bronchial asthma and obesity, risk factors in case of COVID-19.

The second death of the day occurred seven hours later at the Calderón Guardia Hospital. The victim was another resident from San José, who was also in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

The 72-year-old man was admitted on July 9, when he was diagnosed with the new coronavirus. He suffered from high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity, as reported by Salud.

Five hours later, the Ministry reported two more deaths, this time, simultaneously. Both people died in the afternoon.

The accumulated number of deaths in the country is now 34.

One of the victims, the third death of the day, was an 81-year-old Costa Rican, a resident of the province of San José. The man had been hospitalized in the Specialized Patient Care Center with Covid-19 (Ceaco) since July 4.

The deceased was a smoker and suffered from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), both risk factors associated with the coronavirus

The fourth death was a 46-year-old foreign woman, who also resided in San José. She had been hospitalized at the San Juan de Dios Hospital since July 12 and suffered from lung cancer.

The day was atypical because never before had so many deaths been recorded in 24 hours, nor had more than one death been reported simultaneously.

In Costa Rica, 13 women and 21 men have died, according to records from the Ministry of Health, which also reports 8,036 confirmed cases of COVID-19.

The last 11 deaths associated with the disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus have been in the last eight days.

The most common characteristics are patients with risk factors, who die very soon after the disease is detected.

In the opinion of the Minister of Health, Daniel Salas, it could be that they sought care late, which is why he urged people with risk factors to go to medical centers for any symptoms, he even said, if they are not insured.

The record for deaths on Monday occurred while a small group of protesters that appeared in the vicinity of the Casa Presidencial in Zapote, with signs that the health emergency was a lie, the pandemic nonexistent.

During the noon presser from Casa Presidencial on Monday, Salas described as “irresponsible and few solidarity” messages that question the existence of the pandemic in Costa Rica.

Salas’ message was in response to posts on social networks that affirm that the pandemic has already ended and to the presence of the protesters close by.

“We know that there is a percentage of people who tend to think that this is not real, but that in the end, I know that most of us are committed to the life and health of people in the country and in the world,” he said.

Daniel Salas assured that he knows that there are groups that only want to destroy, but that they are a minority.

“There are going to be many people who are going to try to put doubt in the population, to put a feeling of instability, that this is not happening. We, from the point of view of the government and the Ministry of Health, have given the available information, we have been doing the best we can,” said Salas.

This is the detailed list of the other 28 fatalities linked to the virus, up to July 11:

  • July 11: a 41-year-old woman had high blood pressure and inflammation of her heart, called myocarditis.
  • July 10: a 45-year-old man, testing was post-Morten, a resident of Limón, who died at his home.
  • July 10: an 89-year-old woman who died in Ceaco.
  • July 8: a 79-year-old man, resident of the province of Alajuela. In addition to his age, he had a history of stroke.
  • July 8: a 61-year-old man; he had advanced liver disease, smoking, and an immunosuppressed state. He died in the Calderón Guardia.
  • July 6: a 92-year-old woman with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. She also had a history of stroke.
  • July 6: a 51-year-old man who died at his home in Cartago. Post mortem analysis allowed concluding that the victim had the virus.
  • July 6: an 81-year-old man suffering from diabetes, high blood pressure, anemia and a history of squamous cell carcinoma.
  • July 5: a 43-year-old foreign man with diabetes and high blood pressure.
  • July 4: A young man with post mortem detection of the disease. He arrived in shock at the San Juan de Dios Hospital, after being transferred by the Red Cross from a center in San José.
  • July 2: a 38-year-old foreign woman with diabetes and obesity.
  • July 1: a 71-year-old woman with diarrhea and abdominal pain. That day she would be notified of the positive test result, but died earlier.
  • June 30: an 89-year-old woman with high blood pressure and diabetes.
  • June 28: a 48-year-old woman with high blood pressure and diabetes.
  • June 27: an 87-year-old woman with no COVID-19 risk factors, other than age. She had other underlying conditions that were not mentioned.
  • June 27: a 78-year-old woman with high blood pressure and diabetes.
  • June 10: a 64-year-old woman with high blood pressure, diabetes, and liver disease.
  • June 8: a 26-year-old woman with asthma. She came to receive care at the Guatuso Clinic for bleeding, but died upon admission. The virus was found post mortem.
  • May 15: a 73-year-old man with high blood pressure and aortic heart disease.
  • May 15: a 58-year-old woman with high blood pressure and a type of cancer known as lymphoma.
  • May 13: a 75-year-old man with high blood pressure. He was anticoagulated due to cardiac surgery performed 17 years ago.
  • May 10: an 80-year-old foreign man with multiple risk factors.
  • April 20: a 54-year-old doctor considered a super-disseminator due to the large number of infections generated as a result of his case. The gynecologist had multiple risk factors.
  • April 19: a 69-year-old man with high blood pressure.
  • April 15: an 84-year-old man intubated in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in San Juan de Dios.
  • April 8: a 45-year-old man with no known risk factors. He acquired the virus on a trip to the United States.
  • March 20: an 87-year-old man with vascular problems.
  • March 18: an 87-year-old pediatrician, pensioner.

 

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Buses with standing passengers and crowded stops this Monday

By
Q Costa Rica
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(QCOSTARICA) This Monday buses with passengers traveling standing are reported despite the fact that no standing passengers allowed and 20% occupancy.

In addition, crowds of people waiting for buses were not observing social distancing at bus stops.

For this week, July 13 to July 17, the use of vehicles in areas under orange alert is limited to one day, based on the last number of the license plate; public transport to maintain a reduced capacity.

 

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‘It is cruel to say that this virus is invented’

By
Rico
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(QCOSTARICA) “Irresponsible and of no solidarity”. This is how Dr. Daniel Salas, Minister of Health, described the messages that question the existence of the COVID-19 pandemic, which today registers 8,036 cases in Costa Rica and 32 deaths.

During the Monday noon presser, Minister Salas spoke on the memes on social networks and the small group near Casa Presidencial in Zapote, with placards that affirm that the health emergency is a lie.

“It is painful to hear different messages that have been circulating on social networks, especially with the families who are suffering and there could be many more. Right now, we could have a lot more deaths if we hadn’t done things the way we have. It is painful to see messages indicating that there is no pandemic, that this is made-up to control.

“To tell the families of patients hospitalized in intensive care, or of those who are crying the deaths of those 31 people*, that this does not exist or that this virus was invented, it’s cruelty, it is a contempt for human life. I am very sorry that there are such messages and these types of demonstrations,” Salas said at a press conference.

“It seems very irresponsible, very little solidarity and an act to destabilize the country and the world. There are already a little more than 571,000 deceased people in the world and they could be much more if governments and people had not reacted by taking sanitary measures.

“We know that there is a percentage of people who tend to think that this is not real, but that in the end, I know that most of us are committed to the life and health of people in the country and in the world,” he said.

“There are going to be many people who are going to try to put doubt in the population, to put a feeling of instability, that this is (the virus) not happening. We from the point of view of the government and the Ministry of Health have given the available information, we have been doing the best we can.

“Constructive criticism is welcome. People are trying to say that this is not happening, that the handling is wrong. What do you propose? Talking is very easy but proposing solutions is very difficult,” said the minister.

Police authorities reported about 25 people outside the government house all morning and that by 1:00 pm, when the daily press conference takes place, they were still on the street.

*Death 32 was reported Monday afternoon after the press conference

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COVID-19 death toll rises to 32

By
Rico
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(QCOSTARICA) Costa Rica this afternoon recorded death number 32 of a COVID-19 patient, a 72-year-old man Costa Rican man, a resident of San José.

The death occurred at the Calderón Guardia Hospital where he had been hospitalized in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) since July 9, the same day that he was diagnosed with COVID-19.

The deceased suffered from high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity, risk factors associated with COVID-19.

 

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Hypertension, obesity and diabetes: The deadly combination of COVID-19

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Rico
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(QCOSTARICA) As Health authorities in Costa Rica have pointed, risk factors that are a deadly combination with COVID-19. Almost all the people who have died in the country (31 as of this Monday) from this virus had a “combo” of these diseases.

According to data from the Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social (CCSS), the most common factor in both deaths and confirmed patients is hypertension. Of the 30 dead (to Sunday), 16 suffered from high blood pressure and 9 of diabetes, the others had other illnesses such as lung problems, smoking, obesity, or cancer, even sometimes combined.

This Sunday, the entity revealed new data on patients confirmed with the virus and these are the most common comorbidities:

  • Hypertension (52).
  • Diabetes (40).
  • Obesity (27).
  • Smoking (26).
  • Asthma (19).
  • Dyslipidemia (12).
  • Cancer (9).
  • Active smoking (4).
  • Others (3).

In Costa Rica, 4 out of 10 people over the age of 20 have high blood pressure. The heart is the organ that suffers the most from this problem, since it is exposed to coronary heart disease and heart failure. Hypertension can also damage the kidneys, eyesight, and the brain, due to altered blood pressure levels.

Health authorities have insisted on the need to care for seniors and people with risk factors because they are more likely to die if infected with the coronavirus COVID-19.

On Sunday, 365 new confirmed cases were reported, for an accumulated total of 7,596 cases in 80 of the 82 cantons of the country.

Monday morning, the Ministry of Health reported death number 31 due to COVID-19.

This past week (July 6 to July 11), 11 deaths have been reported. The most recent, this Monday morning, a 43-year-old Costa Rican man, who died at the San Juan de Dios hospital, in the intensive care unit since July 8, the day same day he was confirmed with COVID-19. The deceased suffered from bronchial asthma and obesity.

On Sunday, the Ministry of Health reported a record number of hospitalized, 140, of which 27 (this morning 26) being treated in the Intensive Care Units (ICU), with an age range of 0 to 82 years.

In addition, two children confirmed positive for COVID-19 are in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), in delicate condition, at the Children’s Hospital in San Jose.

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Cosevi suspends return of seized plates and vehicles

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Rico
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(QCOSTARICA) This week is not a good week, if there is every any, to have your license plates and/or vehicles seized for violating the vehicular restrictions.

Due to the strict vehicular restrictions this week by COVID-19, the Consejo de Seguridad Vial (Cosevi) announced the temporary suspension of services for the return of seized plates and vehicles.

The institution explained that the measure will apply between this Monday, July 13 and next Friday, July 17 for all offices (central and regional) in the country.

“The decision to suspend this service, one that requires a physical presence of users in our facilities, has the sole purpose of controlling and reducing the exponential increase in the spread of the coronavirus,” said Edwin Herrera, executive director of Cosevi.

Users can call 2522-0815 or the email platform-servicesj@csv.go.cr for inquiries.

This situation occurs at times when the Cosevi is overwhelmed by the number of plates seized.

On Sunday, July 12, from 5:00 am to 5:00 pm, 120 drivers lost their license plates for violating the vehicular restriction, in addition to a fine of ¢110,000 colones and six points on their driver’s license.

For the night time restrictions, from 5:00 pm Sunday to 5:00 am Monday, 135 drivers were stopped for violating the restriction.

In addition, 1,112 traffic fines issued for other violations, such as not having the vehicular inspection (Riteve) or circulation permit (Marchamo) current, expired driver’s license; and 11 drivers for drunk driving.

Cantons and districts under orange alert the vehicular restriction for Monday, July 13 to Friday, July 17,  between 5:00 am and 7:00 pm will permit only:

  • Monday, vehicles with license plates ending in 1 and 2
  • Tuesday, vehicles with license plates ending in 3 and 4
  • Wednesday, vehicles with license plates ending in 5 and 6
  • Thursday, vehicles with license plates ending in 7 and 8
  • Friday, vehicles with license plates ending in 9 and 0

The night time restriction (7:00 pm to 5:00 am) is total, for all vehicles.

For the weekend, from 5:00 am to 5:00 pm:

  • Saturday, July 18 only odd-numbered ending plates (1,3,5,7,9)
  • Sunday, July 19, even number ending (0,2,4,6,8) plates.

The night time restriction (5:00 pm to 5:00 am) is total, for all vehicles.

 

 

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Another COVID-19 patient dies: number reaches 31

By
Rico
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(QCOSTARICA) Health authorities reported on Monday death number 31 by COVID-19 in the country: A 43-year-old Costa Rican man, a resident of San José, who died at the San Juan de Dios Hospital.

The patient had been hospitalized in the Intensive Care Unit since July 8, the same day that he was diagnosed with COVID-19.

The deceased suffered from bronchial asthma and obesity, risk factors associated with COVID-19.

A total of 19 men and 12 women, with an age range of 26 to 92 years, have died by COVID-19 in Costa Rica.

Yesterday, Mario Ruiz, medical manager of the Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social (CCSS) was clear that it is imperative to decrease the number of infections because if this is not achieved, health services could collapse and the number of deaths would skyrocket.

This is the eleventh death in the last eight days.

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Apart we can soon be together again

By
Rico
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Tourists will have no problem with the restriction as long as they have their reservation voucher. Photo: Courtesy of Lagarta Logde.

Rico’s DIGEST – Here we are, Monday, July 13, at the start of a week with the toughest restrictions of this pandemic. Not the entire country is affected. The area with Costa Rica’s largest population is under the “hammer”, an orange alert that has literally shut down commerce and forces people to stay home.

Outside most of the greater metropolitan area, the yellow alert allows the continuing of phase 3 of the government’s reopening program.

Both, the orange and yellow alerts are in place to combat the spread of the coronavirus, flatten the curve, moving to the “dance” portion of the recovery, as explained a few weeks back by President Carlos Alvarado.

What is open and not in the areas under orange alert this week? From San Ramon to Paraiso (Cartago) and Aserrí to Pococí, only open are supermarkets, grocery stores, pulperias (corner stores) and pharmacies.

Butchers, bakeries, fruit & vegetable vendors, home delivery (food, drug store, vet, hardware store), funeral homes, health care centers, and few others.

Basically, anything business that is not related to groceries and medicine is closed, including banks. Yes, banks.

The hammer on movement is through a 24-hour vehicular restriction. Buses and taxis are permitted to operate, at reduced capacity. All other vehicles (if not on the list of exemptions, we all know those now) are permitted to circulate from 5:00 am to 7:00 pm based on the last digit of the license plate.

Typically, the measure is on plates restricted, reducing traffic restricting 2 plates of 20% of the vehicles.

For this week it is plates permitted, that is only 20% of the vehicles can be on the road during the day: Monday (today) only vehicles with plates ending in 1 & 2 can circulate; Tuesday 3 and 4, Wednesday plates 5 & 6, Thursday 7 & 9 and Friday 9 & 0.

Apart we can soon be together again. The responsibility is of each one of us, no matter if you believe the virus not to be real, it is a hoax, it doesn’t exist or that you believe it has been blown way out of proportion.

I, like most of you, have not been touched closely by the virus. I cannot say I have close friends who have or are ill from the virus or have died. But I have seen enough from the different reports, talking to my network of contacts, some of who, at the beginning called it a ploy of the new world order and other stuff, are now wearing masks (even before the mandatory on June 27) and staying at home, both here in Costa Rica and abroad.

 

 

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COVID-19 Costa Rica: 365 new cases, hospitaliztions hits new record, 140

By
Rico
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(QCOSTARICA) The number of new cases of COVID-19 in Costa Rica continues to be in the hundreds daily, on Sunday the Ministry of Health reporting 365 new cases, for an accumulated total of 7,596.

The number of patients in hospital continues to climb as well, straining health services, with 140 patients, 27 of whom are being cared for in the intensive care unit (ICU). Both record numbers.

The Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social (CCSS) reported it is continuing with its expansion plan to enable 43 new ICU and 57 intermediate care beds.

“What we want to make clear is that the increase in cases rapidly impacts hospital capacity and that is why lowering the speed of infections is a real need.

“Let us remember that the idea is to try to maintain the normal functioning of regional and peripheral hospitals as far as we are supplied by Cecao (Specialized Care Center of Covid-19) and national hospitals,” said Mario Ruiz, medical manager of the CCSS.

‘Don’t listen to charlatans’

Health authorities insisted, once again, that there is no medicine to prevent or cure the new coronavirus, which produces COVID-19.

The clarification arises at a time when products are irresponsibly being advertised on social networks, such as disinfectants, sprays or medications for other pathologies.

Infectologist and former Minister of Health, María Luisa Avila, alerted the current authorities about the commercialization of unauthorized medicines in the country and that, rather, it could put people who consume them at risk.

“Ingesting disinfectant does not cure COVID, neither does Lysol. That could poison people, and there has been a spike in calls to the Poison Center.

“For COVID-19 there is no specific treatment, do not listen to charlatans who offer things that could rather put people’s health at risk,” Ruiz said.

The hammer

On Monday, July 13, Costa Rica enters a phase of one of the strictest measures to date to combat the coronavirus pandemic.

On Friday, July 10, authorities announced the measures that would be in place for nine days, from July 11 to July 19; however, the strictest measures start tomorrow, Monday.

For areas under orange alert, the entire greater metropolitan area and several other areas in the country will have a total, 24 hour, vehicular restriction. Only vehicles with plates ending in 1 & 2 can circulate Monday, 3 & 4 on Tuesday, 5 & 6 on Wednesday, 7 & 8 on Thursday and 9 & 0 on Friday, from 5:00 am to 7:00 pm; come the weekend, July 18 only vehicles ending odd numbers and July 19 with even numbers, from 5:00 am to 5:00 pm.

From Monday to Friday, only permitted open will be supermarkets, grocery stores, pulperias – all food-related and pharmacies.

Closed to July 19 are all retail stores. Banks will be closed all week (July 13 to 18), permitted to re-open on Saturday, July 18.

For areas under yellow alert, phase 3 of the reopening program will continue.

Note

 

 

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Deaths associated with covid-19 reach 30

By
Rico
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(QCOSTARICA) A 50-year-old man had high blood pressure, chronic kidney disease, and secondary hyperparathyroidism, and a 47-year-old man, also suffering from high blood pressure, were victims 29 and 30 of COVID-19 in Costa Rica.

With these two deaths, the total deaths for the week from Sunday, July 5 to today, Sunday, July 12, is 9.

The Ministry of Health confirmed at the Sunday press conference the death number 30, a Costa Rican, hospitalized at the San Juan de Dios in San Jose, since July 4.

Earlier in the morning, the Ministry of Health reported the death of a foreigner, death number 29, without detailing nationality, occurring Saturday evening.

 

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Indonesian politician’s anti-virus veil policy draws fire

By
Q Costa Rica
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(AFP) LABUIHAN LOMBOK, Indonesia – An Indonesian politician is under fire for ordering female civil servants to wear face veils once a week in what he defended as a bid to guard against the coronavirus.

But critics said the loose covering known as the niqab did not offer sufficient protection and it was another attempt to impose conservative dress codes on women in the world’s biggest Muslim-majority nation.

Mohammad Suhaili Fadhil Thohir, the head of Central Lombok regency, next to the holiday island of Bali, said he made the order after government employees complained about wearing face masks during office calisthenics held outside every Friday — Islam’s holy day.

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Where is the COVID-19 headed? Risk points to nursing homes, prisons, and coffee pickers

By
Rico
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(QCOSTARICA) “May God protect us if we get a positive case of COVID-19! It would be a slaughter”. That is the fear of Maritza Jiménez Calvo, administrator of the Nursing Home in Palmar Sur de Osa, who is very clear that the virus is the greatest risk facing elderly care centers at this time, since its population is vulnerable by age and other diseases.

Nursing homes, known as long-stay centers, and daycare centers are targeted by health teams as they host one of the groups at highest risk for COVID-19.

But the threat is greater. A report by La Nacion states that the severe acute respiratory syndrome type 2 coronavirus, or SARS-CoV-2, would cause chaos if it manages to penetrate the nursing homes, the 20 prisons with almost 16,000 inmates and the 35,000 plus coffee pickers of the next coffee harvest that begins in a few weeks.

The warning is made by Guiselle Guzmán Saborío, head of the Collective Health Area, of the Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social (CCSS), who believes it necessary, in these moments of community transmission, to focus on the most vulnerable populations.

“What are we going to do when we do not have the capacity to follow this virus transmission route? Focus on nursing homes, daycare centers, correctional facilities. In densely populated groups with a high prevalence of chronic diseases. If I am reaching the capacity edge, I prioritize vulnerable populations and places with a higher risk of mortality,” she said.

The worry of nursing homes is based on international data. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) half of the deaths in Europe occurred in nursing homes. The data was confirmed in June by the long term care website LTCcovid.com in a report from 26 countries: almost half (47%) of coronavirus deaths are tied to long-term care facilities.

In the United States, data compiled by the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) from 35 states, in May 2020, showed that nursing home residents accounted for 34.6% of the deaths recorded in that country.

The CCSS teams, therefore, have spent several weeks working on testing seniors in nursing homes and their caregivers.

In Costa Rica there are 76 nursing homes, known as long-stay centers, providing housing for 24,000 seniors. In addition, there are 56 day-care centers that serve 1,500 people over 65 years of age.

The red de cuidos – care network – takes care of 15,000 seniors and 15 shelters are looking out for the needs of another 1,000 in a condition of abandonment, according to records from the National Council of the Elderly (Conapam).

In April, a resident of the Carlos María Ulloa Home in Goicoechea was infected with the virus, but he was treated as a priority and the 198 residents were immediately tested, which ruled out more cases.

In another nursing home, in Heredia, the spread that started when a nurse infected two seniors caught in time. The residents live in separate houses, which made it easier to control and prevent other elderly people from becoming infected.

So far, the majority of those killed by coronaviruses are older than 65 years. Of the 28 who died in a four-month pandemic, 58% are seniors.

In Costa Rica, 35% of the population is made up of seniors.

Demographer and curator Luis Rosero Bixby advises health teams to be alert to an eventual and even more intense spread in the metropolitan area, in San José.

In this area, he said, areas with precarios and cuarterías – shantytowns and flophouses – are especially sensitive, where the inhabitants have no chance of maintaining physical distancing recommended.

According to 2017 data from the Housing Development Foundation (Fuprovi), in Costa Rica there are 400 precarios.

The San Jose district of Pavas, in of the most populous areas in the country, with some 88,000 inhabitants, and one of the areas with the highest number of shantytowns, 17.

In that district, on the west side of San Jose, 12.5% ​​of its population lives in zinc and cardboard housing, crowded together and with few basic services, such as electricity and water and solid waste collection.

Pavas is one of the areas with massive testing in the past week, followed by canton of Alajuelita, in the south of San José.

Dr. Guzmán also points to the coffee pickers. The next grain harvest will begin in August in the so-called lower parts, such as the cantons of Coto Brus, Pérez Zeledón and Turrialba in the south part of the country. This is where she predicts that the spread of the virus will also head.

The arrival and circulation of the migrant population for the next coffee harvest season could become a new focus of contagion in rural areas. Photo: Mayela López

In areas of medium height, such as Valle Central and Valle Occidental, harvesting intensifies between October and December; while in higher lands, such as Los Santos, the season usually starts in November and runs until March or April, according to the Costa Rican Coffee Institute (Icafé).

On the radar is also the indigenous population, ethnic groups such as Bribri and Cabécar, for whom the so-called “whites”, says Guzmán, become the source of contagion.

In Costa Rica, there are 24 indigenous territories with more than 100,000 inhabitants, according to the 2011 census.

The impact is not expected to be great there, in view of its natural confinement. However, several health teams have traveled to these territories to review the health condition of their inhabitants.

Dr. Guiselle Guzmán confirmed that the interest is to identify, stop, and contain simultaneous outbreaks in many places after it was recognized that the installed capacity is insufficient to follow up on contacts.

“I don’t know how to answer this. I do not have all the information to evaluate it,” the specialist replied when asked if the health teams dealt late with situations that have been for years, such as the marginality of the cross-border population, or the precarios and cuarterias of the capital.

“Yes, that has always been there, but since this has been so new (the pandemic) we did not know where it was going to move. At one point, it was thought that everything would be as in the first cases, but the risk that came was not visualized because we did not see how fast it would reach the (marginal) population.

“Whether the actions were timely or not, I don’t know. What happened is that it was not visualized that it would hit so fast. Everything unleashed from one moment to the next. The virus moved faster than the measures,” admitted Guzmán.

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Fuerza y Luz will suspend public attention in branches from Monday

By
Q Costa Rica
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[HQ] As of Monday, July 13, the Compañía Nacional de Fuerza y Luz (CNFL), light and power utility, branches will remain closed to the public, all services be exclusively virtually, due to the new health restrictions.

The available communication channels are through WhatsApp 8319 5273, by phone 800 Energía (800-363 7442), by email 800energía@cnfl.go.cr, or website www.cnfl.go.cr.

Likewise, non-critical scheduled works are suspended in the cantons under Orange Alert

These measures will continue until the end of the provision decreed by the health authorities

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28th victim of COVID-19 in Costa Rica reported

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Rico
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(QCOSTARICA) A 41-year-old woman, a foreigner in Costa Rica, died this morning victim of COVID-19, confirmed the Ministry of Health. She is casualty number 28.

The death occurred at the San Juan de Dios hospital, where she had been hospitalized since July 10 and was diagnosed with COVID-19 that same day.

The deceased had arterial hypertension and inflammation in her heart, called myocarditis, a risk factor for the coronavirus.

The deaths is now 12 women and 16 men, with an age range of 26 to 92 years.

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Find out here how banks will operate to July 19

By
Rico
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(QCOSTARICA) In response to the provisions of the Ministry of Health, from Monday, July 13 to Friday, July 17, due to the increase in cases of COVID-19, state and private banks announced the closure of some branches and reduced operating hours in others.

ATM’s and online banking will be working as usual

Basically, all bank branches of both state and private banks located in the orange alert will remain closed to the public.

ATMs and online banking of all banks will remain available to customers without any variation.

There is some confusion in the public, believing that banks are also closed this weekend and next, in particular the state banks such as the Banco Nacional (BNCR), Banco de Costa Rica (BCR) and Banco Popular (BP).

 

Many of the state bank branches are closed on weekends, open are branches located in malls. However, all malls and commercial centers in the orange alert are closed this weekend and next.

As to the private banks, some are open and others closed. For example, BAC Credomatic branches not in malls are open this weekend and next but will be closed during the week

At Scotiabank and Banco Cathay ALL their branches are closed from today, Saturday, July 11, to Saturday, July 17.

BAC Credomatic says it will open normal hours this weekend and next at all branches, save those located in malls, ie Multiplaza Escazu, Oxygeno, City Mall, etc

Davidienda announced that all branches in orange alert areas will be open on weekends, closed Monday to Friday; and branches in yellow alert areas will operate normal hours.

For other banks, check with the bank’s website.

Bank branches in areas under yellow alert, for the most part, are open, but hours of operation may differ from the usual.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Not even “Beto” will lend you, as usury law affects fast loans

By
Rico
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(QCOSTARICA) The entry into force of the reform that established a cap interest rate on loans and credits generated changes in the fast loans sector, including quick lenders such as “Beto” and “Instacredit”.

The decision by these major lenders and others in the Costa Rican financial market is to comply with the reform of Ley 7472 (Promoción de la competencia y defensa efectiva del consumidor), which establishes, among others, that the Banco Central (Central Bank) will set a cap on lending rates in the country.

Last Friday, July 3, the Central Bank capped loans at 37.69%, in colones, and 30.36%, in dollars, and 7.44% for loans in other currencies (ie Euros), 7.44%.

For example, with the maximum interest rate set at 37.69%, Beto suspended loans to new customers.

Beto – formerly known as “Beto lo presta” (Beto will lend you) offering fast personal loans, with little paperwork to low and middle-income populations, has been in the Costa Rica market for the last 10 years and more than 550,000 loans during that time.

The company, part of the Grupo Gente, also has operations in El Salvador, Guatemala and Nicaragua, under brands such as Multimoney and Kuiki.

Before the new cap went into effect, Beto promoted loans of up to ¢8 million colones or US$15,000 up to 60 months, without any type of guarantee or guarantor, approved in less than 24 hours, at a monthly interest rate of 3.25% in colones (equivalent to 39% per year), in addition to a formalization fee of 10%. Beto also offered no-interest credit for up to 24 months at some 300 “affiliated” merchants.

Beto has adjusted its rates to meet the guidelines of the usury law, 3.14% monthly in Colones, and 2.53% monthly for dollar loans, no mention of the 10% processing costs. However, the company is not lending at this time.

A feature of Beto was the “re-presto”, allowing customers to easily take out new loans as they developed a payment history.

“This law obliges us to review the segmentation of future clients and there will undoubtedly be segments that unfortunately we will have to stop attending to due to their risk and associated costs, and that cannot be covered with the rate cap imposed by the law.

“For new clients, we are making the necessary changes both in systems and contractual to adjust and abide by the law, in this way we will restart very soon,” said Alberto Dobles, Beto’s general manager in Costa Rica.

For its part, Instacredit, a company that offers approved loans in 20 minutes and 0 % formalization fees, says it has made adjustments to its structure.

“It (the new law) forces financial institutions to reinvent themselves and seek new product alternatives and solutions that adapt to the new regulatory framework,” said the company in a statement. “In the last 12 months, Instacredit has been making a series of adjustments to its structure, aimed at adjusting the business model to the new reality in Costa Rica, in order to guarantee the business’ survival.”

Instacredit has some 20 years in the Costa Rica personal loans market, with some 1,000 employees and 46 offices, and international operations in countries such as Mexico, Nicaragua, and Panama, part of the Financiero Contigo.

 

 

 

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Banco Scotiabank to cancel credit cards of 20,000 clients to meet interest rate cap

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Scotiabank confirmed that the decision is based on the arrival of the usury law in Costa Rica

(QCOSTATICA) Scotiabank Costa Rica announced this week it will cancel, over the course of the next six months, credit cards to some 20,000 clients to comply with the new interest rate caps, imposed in the usuary law recently enacted.

Scotiabank confirmed that the decision is based on the arrival of the usury law in Costa Rica

Likewise, the bank explained that it will make changes to their credit card loyalty programs; but he did not detail what the variations will be.

“A fraction of the population, due to new reforms and additions to the (usury) law, will seek informal financing alternatives, and banks will have to be disruptive to offer the market solutions tailored to this new reality,” the financial institution reported.

Scotiabank is one of the last private banks to reveal the measures applied to comply with the reform of Ley 7472 (Promoción de la competencia y defensa efectiva del consumidor), which establishes, among others, that the Banco Central (Central Bank) will set maximum rates at which it is possible to lend in the country.

Last Friday, July 3, the Central Bank set for all types of credits (except microcredits), the maximum rates at 37.69%, in colones, and 30.36%, in dollars. For microcredits, it established them at 53.18% and 42.99%, respectively. For credits in other currencies (ie Euros), 7.44%.

“We continue to closely monitor the scope of the reforms and additions to the law and, in some respects, pending the regulation to have even more clarity on the next steps,” Scotiabank told the Q.

BAC Credomatic, one of the largest card issuers in the country, will cut 187,526 credit cards to 79,789 customers, whose operations become deficient for the company.

 

 

 

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‘Post mortem’ test confirms Costa Rica’s victim 27 of covid-19

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This is the fourth death that is detected through a post mortem test

(QCOSTARICA) The Ministry of Health announced on Friday night that, as a result of a sample taken in the Judicial morgue, the death number 27 of a COVID-19 patient was detected.

This is the fourth death that is detected through a post mortem test

This is a 45-year-old man from the Limón province of Costa Rica.

Health reported that, according to the police report, the death occurred this Thursday in his home. The diagnosis showed that the patient had severe acute respiratory infection. The Ministry noted that it does not have the details of risk factors or the date of onset of symptoms of the deceased.

This is the fourth death that is detected post mortem testing. The first case was on June 8, a 26-year-old woman who suffered from asthma.

The second last Saturday, that of a young man who arrived at hospital in shock, transferred by the Red Cross from a flophouse in downtown San Jose.

The third was a 51-year-old man who died at his home on July 2, in Cartago, but the virus was detected on Monday.

The deceased this Friday is the second victim of the COVID-19 who dies at home. In addition, it is the sixth death this week associated with the pandemic.

The previous death was recorded about 10 hours prior, an 89-year-old woman, a resident of the province of San José, whose death occurred at the COVID-19 Care Center (Ceaco), where she had been hospitalized since Monday, July 6, a day after she tested positive for the new coronavirus.

As reported by the Ministry of Health, her age was the main risk factor.

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“Hammer” time, Costa Rica’s GAM under ‘orange’ alert

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(QCOSTARICA) The number of COVD-19 infections in the last few days has been staggering, 1,359 new cases in just three days, resulting in the Ministry of Health losing the ability to monitor and follow-up contacts and issue sanitary orders.

Friday’s press conference at Casa Presidencial

As of today, Friday, Costa Rica has a total of 6,845 cumulative cases since March 6, when the first of COVID-19 was confirmed, of which 4,709 are active cases, 2,110 recovered and 26 deaths.

The Ministry of Health considers the Greater Metropolitan Area (GAM) as the country’s epicenter of the pandemic, dropping the “hammer” with an orange alert that aims to minimize the mobilization of people until July 19 with a 24-hour restriction from Monday to Friday and from 5 pm to 5 am on weekends.

The new restrictions to circulation and commerce will be for the next nine days, from Saturday, July 11 to Sunday, July 19, in the GAM and other regions of the country. The remaining areas will continue under the yellow alert conditions.

Minister of Health, Daniel Salas

The measure is part of a plan with which the health authorities intend to recover the trace of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, stop contagions, and avoid the collapse of health services.

In addition to setting a record number of infections, a new record of hospitalizations, 128, was set, of which17 are in intensive care, another high.

The highlights of the measures in the GAM include:

• Total vehicle restriction and total closure of establishments for five days, from Monday 13 to Friday 17 July, both inside and outside the GAM.

• On weekends (Saturday 11 and Sunday 12, Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 July) a vehicle restriction will apply throughout the country from 5:00 am to 5:00 pm for access to establishments authorized by the Ministry of Health according to the yellow or orange alert type.

The Minister of Health stressed that we all have a mission to carry out preventive measures and avoid mobilization with the aim of recovering the trail of infections.

The cantons and districts in each of the 7 provinces under orange alert are:

 

San José Province

  • In the GAM, the cantons of San José, Escazú, Desamparados, Aserrí, Mora, Goicoechea, Santa Ana, Alajuelita, Vásquez de Coronado, Tibás, Moravia, Montes de Oca and Curridabat.
  • Outside the GAM, the canton of Puriscal

Alajuela Province

  • In the GAM, the cantons of Alajuela, Poás, Atenas, Grecia, Sarchí, Palmares, Naranjo, San Ramón and Zarcero.
  • Outside GAM: Upala, Guatuso, Los Chiles, Southeast Sector of the Fortuna District of San Carlos (Tres Esquinas, Los Ángeles, Sonafluca, La Perla, San Isidro, El Tanque, San Jorge, Santa Cecilia); and La Vega and Bonanza in the Florence district of the San Carlos Canton.

Cartago Province

  • GAM: Cartago, Paraíso, La Unión, Alvarado, Oreamuno and El Guarco.

Heredia  Province

  • GAM: Heredia, Barva, Santo Domingo, Santa Bárbara, San Rafael, San Isidro, Belén, Flores and San Pablo.

Guanacaste Province

  • Bagaces, Liberia, Carrillo and Cañas.

Limon province

  • Pococí, Talamanca and Guácimo.

Puntarenas Province

  • Golfito, Garabito, Puntarenas (except the districts of Cobano, Lepanto, Monteverde, Isla Chira, Isla Caballo, Isla San Lucas, Isla del Coco and Isla Venado) and Corredores.

Weekend restrictions (Saturday 11, Sunday 12, Saturday 18 and Sunday, July 19)

 

  • Vehicle circulation – From 5:00 am to 5:00 pm for authorized establishments. Except for the list of exceptions, plates that cannot circulate: Saturdays: 0, 2, 4, 6 and 8 and Sunday: 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9
  • Establishments enabled on weekends in Orange alert cantons: supermarkets, pharmacies, medical centers, grocery stores, suppliers, bakeries, butchers, greengrocers, home service, home food service, agricultural, veterinary and hygiene supplies, banks, funeral homes, farmers’ fairs with fringe differentiated for older adults from 5:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.
  • Establishments enabled on weekends in cantons on yellow alert: Beauty salons, places of worship, beaches from 5:00 am to 9:30 am, hotels, restaurants, shops, museums, cinemas and theaters at 50% capacity, farmer fairs with a differentiated strip for older adults from 5:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., among others.

Weekday restrictions: (Monday, July 13 to Friday, July 17)

In the orange alert cantons:

  • 24-hour total vehicle restriction, for access to supermarkets, pharmacies and health centers. Only the following plates may circulate, from 5:00 am to 7:00 pm: Monday: 1 and 2, Tuesday: 3 and 4, Wednesday: 5 and 6, Thursday: 7 and 8, and Friday: 9 and 0.

    That is, only two plates can circulate and only for local shopping needs

  • Public transportation (buses and taxis and special service vehicles for employees) may operate up to 20%.
  • The only establishments enabled to operate:
    1. Essential productive activities (Agriculture, fisheries and food industry, medical devices and their parts, production of chemical substances and pharmaceutical products, information and communication technology services and contact center operations that support essential activities Inside and outside of the country). The foregoing includes the supply chains of materials, services, products and equipment essential for such activities.

    2. Supermarkets, suppliers, grocery stores and mini-supermarkets, only those corresponding to the section for the sale of food, beverages, groceries, cleaning and hygiene supplies, and basic needs.

    3. Bakeries, butchers and greengrocers.

    4. Pharmacies and medical centers.

    5. Home service (exclusive for food, pharmacy, veterinary, hardware and locksmith).

    6. Agricultural, veterinary and hygiene supplies.

    7. Funeral homes.

    8. Centers of the network of child care and development and Centers of care for people in vulnerable conditions.

    9. Hotels that provide accommodation services to Public Administration officials or public service providers (banking, transportation of values, communications, electricity) or are people who are working in the distribution service of merchandise or food items and first need, medicines, agricultural or veterinary supplies.

    10. Farmer’s fairs, with a differentiated strip for older adults from 5:00 am to 8:30 am.

  • The list of exceptions to the vehicle restriction is reduced to essential productive activities, establishments authorized by the Ministry of Health and basic services. Complete list is here.
  • Public institutions must maximize telework and maintain in person exclusively those essential operational services, as well as those required for emergency care. The rest of public servants should apply accumulated vacations or advance of vacations.

“The objective of the closure measures is to recover the traces of the infections, that is not going to be achieved immediately, but what we are looking for is to have that vital tracking for health management again. In this objective, we all have a mission: preventive measures and avoid mobilization, ”said Daniel Salas, Minister of Health.

Alexander Solis, president of the commission for national emergencies

Alexander Solís, president of the CNE, indicated at the press conference that “for the success of these measures, it is necessary to unite efforts, so that, as a whole, the community, local governments, private companies and institutions reinforce the plans to reduce risk and compliance with measures. ”

For her part, Minister Pilar Garrido Gonzalo stressed that “epidemiological indicators show that we must carry out a forceful closure measure to protect life, health and the productive fabric. We will apply the hammer now, to mitigate the net economic impact of the pandemic”.

In the rest of the country (cantons on yellow alert), the phase 3 restrictions will continue:

  • Vehicle circulation will be from 5:00 am to 7:00 pm, with ordinary license plate distribution and a complete list of exceptions (all productive activities and work centers).
  • Establishments with sanitary operating permits may open regularly from 5:00 am to 7:00 pm, depending on the current reopening phases.
  • The operation of places of worship of a maximum of 75 people,
  • beaches from 5:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.,
  • hotels, restaurants, shops, museums, cinemas and theaters are maintained at 50%,
  • farmer fairs with a differentiated strip for older adults from 5:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., among others
  • Public transport is maintained on a regular basis, taxis and special transport for workers and tourism.

Vehicle restriction differentiated border areas

The differentiated vehicle restriction is maintained, due to the border area, from Monday to Sunday from 5:00 pm to 5:00 am in the cantons of: La Cruz, Upala, Guatuso, Los Chiles, San Carlos: Aguas Zarcas, Cutris, Pital, Pocosol and Venice. In addition, the Southeast Sector of the Fortuna District of San Carlos (Tres Esquinas, Los Ángeles, Sonafluca, La Perla, San Isidro, El Tanque, San Jorge, Santa Cecilia); and La Vega and Bonanza in the Florence district, Districts of Plains of Gaspar and Curuña of the canton of Sarapiquí, Pacuarito and Reventazón districts of the canton of Siquirres, The districts of La Rita, Roxana.

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Link to the Epidemiological Data form required for travel to Costa Rica

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(QTRAVEL) Until August 1. 2020, entry requirements permit only Costa Rican citizens, Costa Rican residents who departed Costa Rica PRIOR to March 24, those whose residency is in process who departed Costa Rica PRIOR to March 24, minor children of Costa Rican citizens, and foreign diplomats will be able to enter Costa Rica.

Fill out the form available in English and Español here.

This restriction applies to land, sea, and air arrivals. Aircrews will not be subject to this restriction, and a separate protocol has been negotiated for commercial truck drivers at land borders.

Health Minister Salas stated that as of August 1, only foreigners from countries that have “controlled the spread of the coronavirus” will be allowed to enter Costa Rica. This policy has not yet been adopted; nor did he specify which countries these would be

  • Any foreigner resident in Costa Rica who left Costa Rica on March 24 or later – or who will leave shortly – will not be allowed to return to Costa Rica while border restrictions are in effect. Entering the country illegally will leade to an automatic loss of their legal resident status, but they will not have to begin the residency process again once the emergency is lifted.
  • Tourist stays in Costa Rica are normally limited to 90 days, but under the current COVID border restrictions, any foreigner who entered Costa Rica after December 17, 2019, for tourism purposes has been granted an automatic extension of stay until November 18, 2020.
  • Driving privileges for tourists who entered Costa Rica after December 17 have also been extended.
  • Currently, only the airport in San Jose – the Juan Santamaria International airport (SJO) –  is receiving international flights, and has protocols in place to deal with suspected COVID cases.
  • Puerto Caldera, the main commercial port on the Pacific side of Costa Rica, has also established a protocol for suspected COVID-19 cases

Quarantine Information:

  • Anyone arriving in Costa Rica from another country must self-quarantine for 14 days. Any arrival displaying COVID-related symptoms is being tested at the airport and the Ministry of Health is following up with all quarantining individuals.
  • The Ministry of Health has established definitions of risk for COVID-19 infection and guidance for the prevention of the spread of the virus that reflect World Health Organization guidelines.
  • An “Epidemiological Form” must be completed before departure for Costa Rica.

Second wave

Costa Rica is experiencing a second wave of COVID-19 cases and has imposed “Orange Alerts” for various districts and cantones based on outbreaks, which carry stricter restrictions. For a full list and map of districts see here.

As of June 27, masks are required in many public places, including public transport, restaurants, banks, and theaters and as of July 2 masks are required in retail stores.

The Ministry of Health’s website and social media pages Facebook and Twitter are the “official” source for all coronavirus COVID-19 in Costa Rica. All the foregoing are in Spanish.

The Q has undertaken to bring you the most relevant, up-to-date, and reliable information on the pandemic in English. Do not be misinformed by unreputable sources, social media posts, and hearsay.

 

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Costa Rica adds 26th death associated with covid-19

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(QCOSTARICA) An 89-year-old woman, a resident in the province of San José, died this morning, Friday, July 10, with COVID-19. With this death, Costa Rica how has 26 deaths associated with the virus.

The woman died at the Covid-19 Care Center (Ceaco). She had been hospitalized since Monday, July 6, one day after receiving a positive diagnosis of the coronavirus.

As reported by the Ministry of Health, her age was a risk factor for complications and the death of COVID-19.

It is the fifth death this week associated with the pandemic virus.

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Alvarado to the press: “They use me to speak things that are insipid”

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(QCOSTARICA) Costa Rica’s President, Carlos Alvarado, accused the press on Thursday of “using him” to talk about boring things and, therefore, he cannot concentrate, according to him, on dealing with the health crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

This is how the President responded to go off on a tangent to questions from members of the press who pointed out to him on Thursday that since the end of last year the means to consult him on different topics have been reduced.

Since the end of last year, Alvarado put aside his weekly attention to the press and the President only answers questions that are preselected by his advisers and journalists from the Casa Presidencial, mostly from media related to or aligned with his administration.

From Monday to Friday, the press is permitted to ask questions in person before the cameras to the government panel. However, if you watch enough of these pressers, you will notice a recurring pattern: the same faces day and day out, and questions only related to topics discussed prior to the questioning.

The Q, for example, has repeatedly asked for a personal presence at a press conference, although no denial has been given, no invitation has been extended either.

Another example, the President has been for months without referring to the concerns of the business and economic sector because they do not see that his government has a clear route in economic matters, to the high unemployment rate that reached 15.7%, and above all from the opposition’s demand that his administration make efficient use of public spending and make budget cuts.

“I want to focus more on responding to the press and I do not hide the fact that I like to talk about these underlying issues, but I also often find myself talking about issues like the ones I criticized yesterday and I think that is not constructive. I say this frankly, sometimes I feel like they use me to talk about things that are insipid. If the questions are deep and we are going to build on things very well, but if it is to build an agenda that is not in the best interest of Costa Rica, I see a rivalry in my time, I have a lot to do,” said Alvarado.

A year ago Alvarado, a writer, journalist and political scientist, also questioned the press about his news agenda.

At that time he complained about having to answer questions about a reality that he considered “bizarre.”

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Time to change the message!

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Experts say people have to identify with the message

(QCOSTARICA) “The pandemic is not killing us but the quality of information they give us,” say experts urging the Government of Carlos Alvarado to change its communication strategy with which it is attacking COVID-19, as the increase in cases in recent weeks shows that the current message has worn out and no longer effective.

Experts say people have to identify with the message, appeal to people’s emotions, speaking clearly and simply

The current word has entered through one ear and out through the other. That is, it has not stuck.

This alarming figure of 649 cases registered this Thursday, for a grand total of 6485 infections since the first case on March 6, was a figure that the Ministry of Health had projected for between July 20 and 21 if people paid attention and obeyed the sanitary measures. And if people did not pay attention, as has happened, that high figure was projected for between July 13 and 14.

They fell short. Disobedience allowed that figure to be reached 4 days ahead of the government’s worst scenario projection.

It is very clear that people in Costa Rica are not paying attention and the Government must change the message, it must impact.

We can all agree that the daily press conference, that has been held since the coronavirus first came to the country, captured the attention of the population, but that has been changing.

“People have turned off their common sense, they do not see the pandemic as it really is but they see it as they want to see it … This also means that the sense of justice, which is what makes a person value something, doesn’t work either. Many people are not giving value to their own life, less to that of others and right now it is urgent that we work together, in society, we must put aside selfishness.

“To change this, you have to make an impact on people, it is necessary for the government to change the message on the subject, the people who are in charge of communication have to be better sellers, change the model of the conference, give it an air of coolness, appeal to love, feelings, touch the deepest fibers of people, aim for intelligence,” said Mauricio Corrales, a personal motivator.

One example is the daily count by the Minister of Health, Daniel Salas. The passion in his message, as it once was, is gone; he is now seen as reading from a script. The monotonic message is continued by most of the other ministers who come and go from the daily pressers.

When President Carlos Alvarado joins the presser we came to expect an important message, lately, it has been more rhetoric, the same please, the same call, the message over and over. Nothing new. Then he dashes off before answering questions from the press.

Perhaps they all take a cue from a more passionate voice, that of the director of Health Surveillance, Rodrigo Marin, as an example his Tweet on Thursday, “Es alarmante o PARAMOS LA FIESTA Ok NOS LLEVA PUTAS.” – Translation: “It’s alarming, WE STOP PARTYING OR WE’RE F***”.

The message has to change

Publicist Jeancarlo Porras told La Teja he agrees with Corrales and says that an informative strategy is urgent.

“I feel like what they have done is like trying to scare people and it has not been about educating people. It has been said ad nauseam that you have to wash your hands, that you have to maintain physical distance, that you have to stay home, among other things, but many people do not even know that it is really a pandemic and there has not been an information campaign that explains it.

“There is so much ignorance that there is in a large part of the population that many refuse to get on the same bus as people who work in a hospital or realize that a neighbor got COVID-19 and they even want to stone their house, all this is due to lack of information,” said Porras.

The daily press conferences have become monotonous, the same message is being delivered over and over in a way that average Costa Ricans donot identify with. In the photo, Michael Soto, Minister of Security, the Minister of Health, Daniel Salas in the middle and to his left, Roman Macaya, the president of the CCSS

For his part, the publicist and marketer Luis Céspedes assure that the authorities have been late to implement a real communication campaign to combat the coronavirus.

“The Government’s message has been more than anything preventive, but it is time to generate a true awareness among the population” Luis Céspedes, publicist

Costa Rica had the advantage in that it already knew that COVID-19 was coming, that when the virus was raging in China, it should have started to educate with handwashing, physical distancing, it could have taken advantage of that, the schools had not yet closed to teach children and young people how to cope with the disease.

“At this point (in the pandemic) there is still no effective communication strategy because let me tell you what it is to watch every day, while eating rice and beans, a conference with bad news that is aimed at a population in Costa Rica full of psychosis, hungry because people are being fired every day, whose wages are being cut, nothing to help raise awareness at all, rather what it creates is a state of tension. Diay! The pandemic is not killing us but the quality of information they give us,” he assured.

Céspedes says that although it is too late, the government can still modify its strategy to improve the message.

“I would do a campaign in two stages, one that I would call ‘This is reality’, in which in very simple language I would explain where the country is at the moment and a second phase with announcements, television and radio spots, posts in social networks and newspaper ads with iconic images that allow different sectors of the country to feel identified with the message.

“How do you think a common person feels, who works in the fields when he sees Minister Salas and the president of the Caja, Román Macaya, all tied up and in fine suits, giving them a message? I assure you that they do not feel identified with them,” said the specialist.

Céspedes says that the best way to communicate is to appeal to people’s emotions, speaking clearly and simply, but above all, making people identify with the message they receive.

 

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Man who disrespected quarantine to go to banks is sentenced to pay ¢1 million in medical supplies

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[HQ] A resident of Desamparados had the stubborn streak of disrespecting the mandatory quarantine prescribed for him, was fined ¢1,000,000 colones.

In a statement to the press, the Prosecutor’s Office for Desamparados said the man on Thursday accepted an abbreviated process to avoid a full trial, where he admitted that on four occasions he left his home to go do his banking.

The cabezón (stubborn headed), whose identity was not disclosed, promised to buy medical supplies to the value of the ¢1M and deliver them this Friday to the Desamparados Health Unite, where they will be used by medical personnel.

“This process will provide this institution with triple-layer surgical masks, gel alcohol, liquid alcohol and face protection masks. At today’s hearing it was agreed that the accused will allocate ¢250,000 for each type of product, for a total of ¢1,000,000,” the Prosecutor’s Office reported.

The man also promised not to commit more crimes, maintain a fixed address and register with the Office of Social Adaptation – probation office – for a minimum period of two years.

According to the Prosecutor’s Office for Desamparados, this case began on May 4, when the man returned to the country from the United States, for which the Ministry of Health ordered him to be quarantined for 14 days.

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Reactive and non-proactive measures to deal with the health emergency will be announced Friday

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(QCOSTARICA) Despite the fact that at the noon presser President Carlos Alvarado assured that he would announce the new restrictions to face the peak of COVID-19 cases, late Thursday night it was announced that it would be on Friday.

This Thursday the Ministry of Health reported on 649 new cases of COVID-19, the highest number since last March 6 for a total of 6,485 patients.

President Carlos Alvarado said Thursday afternoon he and his team would analyze new measures and they would be announced by the evening, to take effect on Friday.

Alvarado singled out implementing reactive and non-proactive measures to deal with the health emergency, but he did not want to refer to the issue.

“Since the morning (of this Thursday) there has been a session and we will have the measures at night to deal with this circumstance, which will be communicated to the public,” said the president after the press conference at noon.

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These 7 districts with the most active cases of COVID-19 in Costa Rica

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(QCOSTARICA) Seven districts of the Greater Metropolitan Area (GAM) have more than 100 active cases of COVID-19.

Pavas and La Uruca accumulate the greatest number of these infections; they total 559.

Currently, Pavas – one of the more populous areas in Costa Rica –  is the “epicenter” of the virus at the district level, 369 people are reported with the new coronavirus and in La Uruca the figure is 190.

These are the districts that exceed one hundred people with the active virus:

  • Pavas (San José province): 392 accumulated cases, 369 active and one deceased.
  • Uruca (San José province): 228 accumulated cases, 190 active and one deceased.
  • San Francisco (Heredia province): 144 accumulated cases, 128 active and one deceased.
  • Hatillo (San José province): 145 cumulative cases and 114 active cases.
  • Hospital (San José province): 122 accumulated, 114 active and one deceased.
  • San Felipe (Alajuelita province): 121 cases accumulated and 103 active.
  • Merced (San José, San José province): 115 cases accumulated, 100 active and 1 deceased.

The World Health Organization (WHO) decreed community transmission in Costa Rica.

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Rodrigo Marin: “O paramos la fiesta o nos lleva p…”

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(QCOSTARICA) The director of Health Surveillance, Rodrigo Marín, wrote a forceful phrase on his social networks this Thursday after the exponential increase in cases caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

“I am extremely sad with the number of reported cases, the number of hospitalized, and the number of ICU patients today. It is alarming ‘O paramos la fiesta o nos lleva putas’,” Marín published on Twitter.

Translation: “It’s alarming, WE STOP PARTYING OR WE’RE F***”.

More direct and to the point he could not be.

Today, July 9. the Ministry of Health reported 649 new cases of COVID-19, the highest number since March 6, raising the accumulated total of infections to 6,485.

The Minister of Health, Daniel Salas, also reported the highest ever number of patients in hospital, 120. of which 14 are in intensive care.

For its part, the World Health Organization (WHO) decreed that Costa Rica is in phase 4 of the COVID-19 pandemic, which is the stage of transmission or community contagion.

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Coronavirus: Costa Rica, from example to deterioration

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(QCOSTARICA) Costa Rica, which in March, April and May became one of the Latin American champions in combating the coronavirus with Uruguay and Paraguay, began to give way rapidly in June in a deterioration that worsened in July and predicted implacable sanitary turbulence for the next three months, August, September, and October.

The crisis in Costa Rica was exacerbated by the irregular migration of cheap Nicaraguan labor, the flexibilization of human mobility, and partying.

The president of the Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social (CCSS), Román Macaya, warned that, being a border with Nicaragua, in the north, and with Panama, in the south, Costa Rica is between two countries with “an intensity” of cases “much higher” than the national one.

“Especially from Nicaragua we are receiving a lot of migrants that have been positive,” he added.

Nicaragua, which refused to adopt a quarantine, this week reported, officially (July 9),  91 deaths and 2,846 patients, but Nicaraguan independent medical sources assured that there are more than 7,000 positive cases and with more than 2,000 deaths.

Panama, which imposed rigorous rules, as of July 9, registered 839 deaths in 42, 216 infected.

Costa Rica rose from 55 new cases on June 7, to 119 on the 19th, and to 190 on the 30th, to start on July 1 with 294; July 55 with 375, and July 9th with 649 new cases, and 25 deaths since March.

“This is not a game. It is real life, it is not a simulation,” insists Costa Rica’s Minister of Health, Daniel Salas.

The country went from a few cases daily to an impending medical services collapse due to the growing demand.

Supported by one of the strongest state structures of social security and health in Latin America, which began to build almost 80 years ago and consolidated in 1948 by abolishing the army, Costa Rica took three months (March 6 to June 6) to reach 1,263 cases, this week it did that in 3 days.

Costa Rica and Paraguay were, along with Uruguay, among the least affected by the emergency in Latin America until the beginning of June.

Uruguay went from 847 infections and 12 deaths on June 13 to 977infections and 29 deaths on July 9, to confirm themselves as the Latin American nation with the highest resistance to the virus.

Paraguay added 1,261 cases, with 11 deceased on June 13 and on the 24th of that month it grew to 1,242 and 13 deaths, but its situation changed due to an outbreak in prisons and on July 9 reported 2,638 cases and 20 deaths.

A study by the (state) University of Costa Rica (UCR) released this week stated that Costa Rica is the second country with the highest rate of infections in Latin America, with 1.97 per infected.

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IMF: Latin America Will Suffer Worst Economic Crisis in Its History

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Q Costa Rica
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(QREPORTS) The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has lowered its growth prospects for Latin America and the Caribbean by predicting that economic activity will fall by 9.4% this year due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

To help these governments, the IMF approved an additional 5.5 billion USD loan to 17 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, plus flexible credit lines for Chile and Peru, and renewed access for Colombia, expanding precautionary lending in the region to 107 billion USD.

The World Bank forecasts for the region show a 9% drop in Gross Domestic Product (GDP). ECLAC has indicated that the pandemic in 2020 will cause the greatest economic crisis that Latin America and the Caribbean has experienced in its history for as long as statistical records are available. During the so-called “debt crisis,” the region’s GDP contracted by 2.5% in 1983, and during the international financial crisis in 2009, the contraction was 1.8%.

There has been a significant drop in the working population in the region. The impact has been particularly strong in Colombia, Mexico, and Peru, although the National Audit Institutions of the other countries in the region are still waiting to update these figures.

Peru

Peru has been the country that has seen its economy most-affected by the pandemic. This year, it is estimated that the drop in the economy will be about 14%, well above the average for the region.

The reasons for the sharp drop include the decline in exports of raw materials – especially copper; the strict lockdown has considerably affected consumption and led to a series of mass layoffs; and informal work is extremely prevalent in the Peruvian labor market, reaching 70% of the employed population, a huge figure even at the regional level.

México

In Mexico, the IMF forecasts a 10.5% drop in economic activity. The impacts of COVID-19 have been aggravated by the fall in oil prices, volatility in international financial markets, disruptions in global value chains, and the deterioration of trust among businesses, as evidenced by the drop in investment before the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Mexican central bank is expected to further cut interest rates to absorb the demand shock caused by the crisis and preserve the functioning of financial markets.

Argentina

Argentina’s GDP is expected to contract by about 10% in 2020 as the risks become more acute. The country’s growth was overturned by the extension of the quarantine in Buenos Aires and its metropolitan area. The country has experienced a fall in external demand and the deterioration in commodity prices, which will more than offset the support provided by the fiscal program, which remains constrained by the scarcity of financing options. Uncertainties related to the debt restructuring process continue to undermine confidence in Argentina.

Brazil

The IMF expects Brazil’s real GDP to decline by 9% and rebound by 3.6% in 2021. The authorities have responded to the pandemic with decisive interest rate cuts and significant fiscal and monetary stimulus programs that include direct cash transfers to the most vulnerable population. The IMF believes that the withdrawal of this stimulus would affect growth in 2021, as the Brazilian economy had not yet recovered from the aftermath of the 2015-16 recession when the COVID-19 crisis emerged.

Consequently, an accommodative monetary policy will be essential to support the cyclical recovery, and a resumption of the government’s fiscal and structural reform program is crucial to preserve fiscal sustainability and foster potential growth and investor confidence.

Chile

For Chile, the multilateral organization projects that economic activity will contract by 7.5% this year, and rebound by 5% next year. After the good results of the first quarter, economic activity is expected to contract sharply in the second quarter, due to strict social distancing measures, and, to a lesser extent, the weakening of external demand. A rebound in activity is expected for the beginning of the third quarter and should continue in 2021, thanks to the unprecedented measures taken in the fiscal, monetary, and financial areas.

The unemployment rate in Chile reaches 11%, and this would rise to 26% in the population between 15 and 26 years old. Female employment also fell to 38.

Colombia

Colombia acted early to limit the spread of the virus, but economic disruptions related to the global quarantine – such as falling oil prices – are expected to trigger the Andean country’s first recession in two decades.

The IMF anticipates that Colombia’s GDP will contract by 7.8% in 2020, but should grow by 4% by 2021. The Banco de la República has cut monetary policy rates and supported market liquidity, and the fiscal rule has been suspended for two years to provide sufficient flexibility to deal with the health and economic crises. Colombia faces a sharp drop in employment, reaching unemployment rates of 24% in the country’s principal cities.

Central America and the Caribbean

Central America and the Caribbean will experience a deep recession in 2020 with gradual recovery starting in 2021. The strongest impacts of the trade contraction will be felt in Panama, El Salvador, and Nicaragua. The collapse of tourism will particularly affect Costa Rica.

Countries of the Northern Triangle and Nicaragua will be affected by the decline in remittance inflows. A mitigating factor is that the fall in oil prices has improved the terms of trade in Central America.

The Caribbean economies have succeeded in flattening the contagion curve of the COVID-19 pandemic, but tourism has come to a standstill, and key markets where tourists come from are falling into a deeper recession. So the region is likely to experience a very dramatic and prolonged contraction in economic activity.

Article originally appeared at Panampost.com.

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Coronavirus in Costa Rica: 649 new cases in 24 hrs, the largest increase

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Rico
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Maintaining social distancing and wearing a mask

(QCOSTARICA) The Ministry of Health reported this Thursday the greatest increase in confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 649 new infections.

Thus, the country exceeded its projections and reached 6,485 confirmed cases that according to the models prepared by the University of Costa Rica (UCR) in conjunction with the Ministry of Health, would not occur until July 20 or 21.

This projection was made with the premise that a good part of the population applied the health recommendations in the face of the pandemic.

Whereas, if ignored, this scenario would arrive between July 13 and 14.

However, that reality arrived between four and five days earlier than projected in the most critical scenario.

Similarly, the country reached the highest number of hospitalized by the virus, with 120 people, 14 of which are in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

President Carlos Alvarado announced that these numbers will force some activities to be closed to flatten the growth of the curve.

“The number is worrying that it anticipates the projections. Since the morning there has been a session with the Emergency Operation Committee (COE). We will discuss the measures tonight to face this circumstance. They will then be communicated to the public in a timely manner,” said the president.

The accelerated increase in contacts caused Health authorities to lose track of the epidemiological links of all the new confirmed cases.

That was one of the reasons why Health Minister Daniel Salas declared a precautionary community transmission in the Greater Metropolitan Area (GAM) on July 2.

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During first months of the pandemic AyA only read 3,000 of 370,000 water meters in the GAM

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Rico
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(QCOSTARICA) During the first months of the pandemic (March and April), the 62 officials of the AyA (water utility) charged with reading water meters only did of large companies, that is, about 3,000 meters.

For the rest, some 370,000 meters in the Greater Metropolitan Area (GAM), were not read and the utility billed customers based on their average consumption of the last 12 months, on the order issued by the AyA General Management: stop checking the meters during the months of pandemic.

This led to errors in billing for May, an error the utility admitted to after thousands of complaints were filed by users and questioned by the Regulatory Authority (Aresep), forcing the utility to adjust all billings and correct the errors.

For customers who paid the inflated May billing, the overpayment will be applied to future bills. Customers who are prepared to take the time and effort for a cash refund, one will be given.

The reading of meters was resumed on May 14, after strong criticism of the institution, including forcing people, in the middle of a pandemic, to make long lines for in-person complaints.

“The population was affected at the most vulnerable time, in the midst of a pandemic (…) I come from the private sector and in a company, everyone would be fired,” said legislator Zoila Volio, referring to the fact that those who made the “mistake” are still working in the AyA.

Volio, an independent legislator, questions whether the decision to suspend the reading of meters was the best, taking into account that the people who carry out this work do so alone and do not require interaction with other employees or customers.

“Don’t be so cheeky, because a meter is being read by one person, not a group of people. So do not tell me that they were sent home to protect themselves from COVID,” added the legislator, who calls for the immediate resignation of AyA president Yamileth Astorga and general manager Manuel Salas.

Costa Rica President Carlos Alvarado announced that he would take action for this problem, however – almost a month after the events occurred – Alvarado refuses to say what he will do and when.

The AyA announced that all billing would be corrected starting on June 22. If you are one of those whose billing was not adjusted – at least not to where you believe is the right amount for your use –  do not pay it, challenge it.

One, once a complaint is filed, in person or by phone, collection on that bill is suspended until such time a decision is made. If you did pay the May billing, watch closely for June and July billing to see if credit was applied. Find your billing, payments and credits online here.

During the pandemic, there is no suspension of water service. Your unpaid May bill will not affect water to your faucet, but, if it goes unchallenged, you will have to pay it at some time in the future to maintain the flow of water.

If you did challenge it, you cannot pay the June and subsequent bills online without paying the May. You need to pay the newer bills (without paying the May) at the supermarket, pharmacy, etc, for example.

Read more:

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Lack of government proposals in economic matters frustrate business sector

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Q Costa Rica
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Lack of government proposals in economic matters frustrate the business sector.

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27 March 2026 - At The Banks - Source: BCCR

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