A man named Vega Carmona was expelled from the country on Friday by the Immigration Police after having served out his sentence for the crime of sexual abuse of minors and handicapped persons, the Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería (DGME) – immigration service – Press department reported.
According to the DGME, Vega Carmona also had his permanent resident of Costa Rica since 2000 canceled.
As reported, the foreigner had been held in the Central Region Apprehension Center since March 1, 2020, under immigration orders, waiting for the expulsion.
In addition, the man cannot enter country for a period of 25 years.
The expulsion was carried out at the Las Tablillas border post with Nicaragua, as the immigration agents handed over to their counterparts in his native country.
Classes in classrooms will not resume on April 13 as originally planned; all classrooms will remain closed indefinitely to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus in Costa Rica, announced the Ministry of Public Education (MEP).
The Minister of Education, Giselle Cruz,
The measure applies to both public and private schools.
“In a pandemic, there is an economic, emotional crisis, education almost passing into the background. At this moment, the important thing is health (…) Under the norms established by the Ministry of Health, we made our decision,” said the Minister of Education, Guiselle Cruz, who also announced that the school year for 2020 ends on December 23rd.
Students will continue with their lessons from home under the “Aprendo en Casa” program that the MEP will make available to students and teachers.
The teacher will choose how to proceed depending on whether the student has access to the Internet and computer, one of the two, or neither.
Teachers must report the program that will apply to their students to the school principal through open communication between teachers, principals, and supervisors.
The measure applies even to indigenous people who are from there, but who are outside the area for any reason. Photo: Alfonso Quesada
The indigenous of the territory known as Bajo Los Indios, in the South Pacific, decided to close all accesses to their territory to prevent the new coronavirus from arriving in the community located in the canton of Corredores, in Puntarenas.
The measure applies also to indigenous people in the community, but who are outside the area for any reason. Photo: Alfonso Quesada
All three routes of access will be blocked, mainly during Semana Santa (Easter Week).
Benito Montezuma, a member of the indigenous association in the area, said that the locals are quite concerned, especially since they have many older adults and that is the population most at risk from COVID-19.
Due to the holiday week, the residents decided that neither their own indigenous people, working or studying in another part of the country, will be allowed to enter the community.
“This has been communicated through family members that they will not be allowed to enter our territory for Semana Santa,” said Montezuma.
“Only allowed is the entry and exit of emergency, police and cargo vehicles with food. We are a very vulnerable population due to the way we live and that is why we made the decision to protect ourselves,” said the member of the area indigenous association.
He added: “Our indigenous population is very old and we many have chronic diseases.”
As of this Friday, there are 416 confirmed cases of the new coronavirus in Costa Rica. Of those, 13 are in intensive care.
Since the first case emerged, on March 6, two people, both 87 years of age, have died from the covid-19.
Although the Nicaraguan government currently reports only 5 positive cases, the true number of COVID-19 cases remains unknown. Testing, along with social distancing and contact tracing has been the cornerstone of the strategy for combatting the pandemic.
Thus, after only five days of the epidemic being declared a pandemic, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghereyesus, director-general of the World Health Organization (WHO) made an urgent call for all countries to consider diagnostic testing for coronavirus a major priority.
The use of the technique known as Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) for the diagnostic testing of COVID-19 has been key. Due to being a highly versatile technique invented some decades ago, some of even the poorest countries now have the capability to use this kind of diagnostic tool.
In Nicaragua, the Ministry of Health (MINSA) began employing techniques using PCR for detecting various pathogens beginning in the 1990s with the aid of international financing and has benefited from decades of collaboration with prestigious United States’ laboratories.
It is therefore beyond all reason that despite having the technical capacity to detect coronavirus, the government has opted to not implement systematic, comprehensive and timely diagnostic testing, which should have begun this past February when the virus appeared in the region.
The situation became even more grave when Nicaragua was left totally exposed as a result of the failure to establish containment measures such as closing borders, restricting the arrival of tourists from affected countries or establishing quarantines, such as other Central American governments have done.
Although the government recognizes only 5 positive cases, the true number of COVID-19 cases in Nicaragua remains unknown.
The scarcity of cases can only be explained by a lack of sufficient testing. It is deplorable that MINSA officials admitted 4 days ago that only some 200 tests have been carried out, when, at this stage they should have carried out at least 3,000 to 5,000 tests if one considers the testing capacity of even one modest laboratory.
Activating the national research system to address the epidemic would serve to improve
patient primary care and survival in Nicaragua, and the in urgent need of producing specialized protective equipment so that health professionals can safely confront the escalating surge of infection that could occur within a few weeks.
Hopes are that measures adopted by neighboring countries, such as closing borders, reducing international flights, and lower numbers of tourists has reduced the spreading of the virus toward Nicaragua, resulting in a delay of the COVID-19 impact.
As testing becomes more generalized and the number of confirmed cases increases, a clearer image of the rate at which the virus is spreading in Nicaragua will appear.
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to the press as White House Senior Advisor Kellyanne Conway looks on before boarding Air Force One on March 28, 2020, at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. Photo by Jim Watson-Pool/Getty Images
(OPINION) WASHINGTON, DC – For the first three years of his administration, US President Donald Trump focused on consolidating power. And yet, as the United States approached its greatest domestic peril in a century, he refused to use that power. Instead, as a deadly coronavirus was poised to invade the country, the president opted for denial and delay.
Trump is precisely the wrong person to lead the US at such a moment. Neither the brightest nor the most focused of presidents, he’s clearly out of his depth.
But toward the end of March, Trump’s science advisers presented him with evidence from a voluntary 15-day experiment indicating that where social distancing measures were taken seriously, the disease spread less rapidly than in places where such restrictions were not observed.
At the time, the number of COVID-19 infections was over 100,000 and deaths exceeded 1,000. Science advisers’ models indicated that if people behaved perfectly, 100,000-240,000 US residents would die, and Trump’s political advisers told him that polls showed the public wanted to extend social distancing. For once, he took the sensible approach, extending the federal government’s recommendation of social distancing for another 30 days, until the end of April.
At long last, Trump, who just days earlier proclaimed that he would lift all restrictions and “reopen” the US economy by Easter (April 12) – which he couldn’t do because the business shutdowns had been ordered by state governors – seemed to be taking the pandemic seriously. Earlier, he had also dismissed the Democrats’ criticism of his handling of the crisis as “their new hoax.” He took over the daily news briefings when he noticed that Vice President Mike Pence, whom he had put in charge of the emergency task force, was winning praise for conducting the sessions. And then he bragged about the TV ratings. But his behavior remained uneven, and he continued his harsh attacks on reporters who pressed him on his slow response.
In denying responsibility for the appalling state of unreadiness the country was in, Trump sometimes claimed, falsely, that “nobody knew” there would be a pandemic or epidemic of this proportion (at another point he claimed that he had known all along a pandemic was coming). As usual, he blamed his predecessor, Barack Obama. In fact, as early as January, intelligence agencies had warned the Trump administration of the imminent approach of the coronavirus.
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to the press as White House Senior Advisor Kellyanne Conway looks on before boarding Air Force One on March 28, 2020, at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. Photo by Jim Watson-Pool/Getty Images
But despite persistent efforts over this period, administration officials were unable to get the president to focus on the looming crisis. To the public as well, he dismissed the coronavirus and the resulting disease, COVID-19, as less deadly than the seasonal flu. When he had reason to know better, on February 24, he assured the public that the coronavirus rampage “is very much under control in the USA.” Trump said on March 31 that he had been upbeat previously because he “wanted to give people hope,” but according to press reports he was just as dismissive of the problem privately as he was in public.
Trump is precisely the wrong person to lead the US at such a moment. Neither the brightest nor the most focused of presidents, he’s clearly out of his depth. His resistance to reality left doctors and nurses without sufficient personal protective equipment, and as a result, some have died. Moreover, the stunning lack of test kits left policymakers flying blind about where and how many infections were occurring. Trump’s bottomless need for praise led him to make preposterous claims, such as that the number of tests being performed in the US was “very much on par” with that of other countries.
This denial of reality affected the administration’s working relationships with state governors. Donald Trump listened too much and for too long to his economic advisers, who for weeks convinced him to put business interests ahead of the public’s health. And he refused to invoke the Korean War-era Defense Production Act, which allows a president to order a business to meet a national emergency, before finally relenting on March 27 and ordering General Motors to begin manufacturing desperately needed ventilators.
There were also signs of political favoritism, with certain governors – such as Trump’s fellow Republican, Ron DeSantis of Florida – receiving more federal assistance than Democratic governors, with whom Trump picked fights. The US federal system has been both an obstacle and a salvation in dealing with the coronavirus: it has led to policy confusion and has also been a smokescreen for Trump’s incompetence.
Donald Trump still refuses to nationalize the crisis, leaving the states to take different approaches and bid against one another for emergency equipment. The key to his approach may well lie in something he said when asked at a mid-March press conference if he took responsibility for the shortage of face masks. “No,” he said, “I don’t take responsibility at all.” In other words, let the governors take responsibility for any failures.
Such blame-shifting has become the norm for Trump and Republican leaders, Pence, for example, blamed China, as well as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. By late March, Republicans had begun arguing that the Democrats’ January impeachment of Trump had distracted him from the pandemic threat. But the timing doesn’t work: the impeachment episode was over by early February. Bill Clinton was legislatively active while he was being impeached.
We may never know what Donald Trump actually thinks about the pandemic. What we do know is that COVID-19 is taking an ever-increasing toll. By April 2, the death count in the US had climbed to more than 5,000, and the number of infections had risen to nearly 217,000. Worldwide, nearly one million people have been infected by the virus, about which much remains a mystery – including how long it will torment us.
On the economic front, US unemployment claims increased by a stunning 6.6 million in the week ending April 1 (a figure that includes only those who filed for benefits, which is increasingly difficult to do, because labor offices have been overwhelmed). A deep and long recession is all but certain.
Whenever the crisis has passed, there will be numerous studies of what happened and why. The hardest question to face, and one that will be long debated, is how many people died needlessly as a result of Donald Trump’s leadership.
Despite the recommendations of the different international health authorities in the face of the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic, the Government of Nicaragua continues without decreeing sanitary measures such as social isolation, closure of public places and borders, or suspension of the school year.
Quite to the contrary, the Daniel Ortega regime promotes calls for marches to inform the population about the spread of this virus, at the same time that it carries out social, cultural activities and even the massive events.
Such as the “Carazo Summer Carnival”, which invites the Nicaraguan population to be part of the event that began on Friday, April 3, with the Carnaval Verano de Amor (Summer Carnival of Love).
Comparsas (marching bands), beauty pageants to choose Miss Carazo 2020 and a lot of partying are the promises that will culminate in the La Boquita tourist center in the Diriamba district.
The activity has the backing of the Government and the Nicaraguan Tourism Institute.
Like good Ticos, where everything is left to the last minute, this Friday afternoon was no different, with a difference, the vehicular restrictions began at 5:00 pm.
Photo courtesy of Tomepalpinto.com
In the Central Valley, for the most part, minutes before the restrictions, with its new sanctions (¢107,000 colones fine, 6 points and seizure of vehicles/plates), it didn’t look any different than any other Friday.
Especially around supermarkets – malls and most other retailers had to close at 5 – with their own measures of not allowing too many people to be inside at any one time.
In case you haven’t heard it yet, every night starting tonight and continuing into Sunday, April 12, there is a complete vehicular restriction in place. And tomorrow and continuing into Wednesday, vehicles with even and odd plates face daytime 5 am to 5 pm restrictions.
Come Wednesday, April 8, the restrictions become even more severe, only two plates per daytime are allowed to circulate and then only to do a local supermarket or pharmacy run.
Best is to stay at home. if you need to go out, unless it is a medical emergency like taking someone to a hospital or clinic, if to a doctor appointment have proof handy, mind the restrictions.
A violation will not only hurt your pocketbook (fine), but will face driver-ed when you renew your license and will be walking, literally, until well into the following week, when the Cosevi offices re-open on Monday, April 13, to retrieve your plates or vehicle.
Rico’s Covid-19 Digest – A team of researchers from the Universities of Costa Rica has made a stunning discovery, Costa Rica is an island country.
Usually, when we talk about islands in our country the first ones that come to mind are Del Coco, Tortuga, San Lucas, and Chira. But did you know that the country has many islands? Surprising, right?
Photo from Whitneyswonderland.com
Now that I have your attention, stay at home!
Island or not (mostly not), in the face of the coronavirus covid-19 pandemic we need all to exercise social responsibility and stay at home.
That means no going to the mall (it will be closed starting at 5 pm Friday and continues to April 12).
No to the beaches (closed also).
No sitting in the park (yep, closed as well).
No taking in a movie (you guessed it, cines are closed).
No going out for dinner (restaurants can only offer home delivery).
The number of people infected with the coronavirus covid-19 in Costa Rica rose to 416 reported the Minister of Health this Friday, an increase of 20 cases compared to the previous day.
Minister Daniel Salas, during the usual mid-day conference, explained that among the sick there are 201 women and 215 men. Of the total, 385 are Costa Rican and the remaining 31 are foreigners.
By age, there are 400 adults (of which 27 are seniors) and 16 minors. Those affected reside in 54 of the 82 cantons of the seven provinces.
In addition, there are 11 people who have fully recovered (five more than reported on Thursday); the deaths remain at two.
Salas drew attention to the increase in people hospitalized and in serious condition, this Friday there are 23 people (11 in intensive care, of which only 4 are seniors, that is over 65) in different centers state hospitals.
Dr. Salas took the opportunity to remind people to stay at home, although the Executive Branch has not issued a ‘stay at home order’.
As of 5 pm today, Friday, the countrywide vehicular restrictions took effect. All vehicles, including motorcycles and 100% electric cars are restricted from circulation. Exempt are the transport of cargo, public transit such as buses and taxis, emergency vehicles. See the full restrictions here.
Friday afternoon, President Carlos Alvarado, announced that legislators approved in second debate and he signed into law the bills that increase the fines for violating the vehicular restrictions and the Health order to mandatory isolation.
As to the vehicle restrictions, the fines as now are ¢107,000 colones, plus six points, for each infraction and confiscation of the vehicle or license plates. The latter most common.
As to the Health order, the fine ranges from ¢450,000 to ¢2.3 million colones, depending on the severity of the case.
For his part, the Minister of Security, Michael Soto, posted a Tweet with a photo, with the director of the Policia de Transito and the Head of the Fuerza Publica (national police, and the many police that will be on duty starting tonight to enforce the vehicular restrictions.
The Peñas Blancas border post with Nicaragua has been a ghost town since the closing of the border on March 18
The immigration service – Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería (DGME) – in Costa Rica has confirmed that legal residents can leave the country without losing their residency status.
The Peñas Blancas border post with Nicaragua has been a ghost town since the closing of the border on March 18
However, as it stands now, non-citizens will not be allowed to re-enter the country until at least April 13.
“This restriction will last until Sunday, April 12 at 11:59 pm at which time an analysis of the situation will be carried out to determine if the measure ends at that time or extends for a longer time,” read the DGME website.
Last month, President Carlos Alvarado announced that residents leaving Costa Rica after the shut down of the borders on March 18, would lose their residency status and not be able to re-enter.
For the most part, it was believed that loss of status was temporary and once the national emergency due to the covid-19 was over, all would be back to normal.
The U.S. Embassy in San José has also confirmed with the Costa Rican government that “legal residents who depart Costa Rica … will not have to begin the residency process again.”
The measure and the President’s statement may have been geared towards a large Nicaraguan population that traditionally do their exodus from Costa Rica during Semana Santa and back, sometimes with friends and relatives, at the end of the holidays; and the fact that Nicaragua has yet to take the covid-19 seriously, not placing any restrictions of movements across the border and effectively leaving its people to fend for themselves for lack of government action.
About the only action by Nicaragua to limit movement across the border is to deploy its army on its southern border to detect and restrict the undocumented (illegals) to leave or enter its country.
Two prototypes of assisted breathing for patients with COVID-19 were subjected to clinical tests. Image courtesy of the UCR image.
The two prototypes of respirators designed by the University of Costa Rica (UCR) to assist people sick with COVID-19, have passed clinical tests and are almost ready to start production.
Two prototypes of assisted breathing for patients with COVID-19 were subjected to clinical tests. Image courtesy of the UCR image.
Both prototypes were subjected to tests this week with robotic models and other resources at the Health Simulation Center of the UCR School of Nursing. The purpose was to verify that these devices are safe, practical and that they meet their ventilatory capacity.
One of the devices is electric and the other is powered by compressed gas. The advantage they have is that both can be used non-invasively in patients.
“We are now close to manufacturing respirators. The idea is that both devices are completely safe and that we can incorporate as many improvements as possible,” said Ralph García, director of the UCR school of physics.
“The objective was to prove that all respiratory parameters were achieved with said devices, in accordance with established international standards,” said Jaime Caravaca, director of the Center for Health Simulation.
So far, many companies have shown interest in the production of respirators. For this, they hope to soon have the approval of the Costa Rican Social Security Fund (CCSS), to be able to continue with the process.
We may soon see the return fo the carreta for daily use and not only for parades
Rico’s DIGEST – Will the national emergency due to the coronavirus covid-19 and the mobility restrictions to stop the spread of the contagion lead to the return of “La Carreta” in Costa Rica?
We may soon see the return fo the carreta for daily use and not only for parades
The carreta or ox cart today is a symbol of Costa Rica culture. In its time it became a significant means of transportation for rural Costa Ricans after it was introduced to the area circa 1840.
Farmers used ox carts in order to transport valuable crops like coffee beans or sugar cane. The carreta was valued for its ability to maneuver over all types of hazardous terrain. In spite of the name, originally it was human beings, not oxen, who pulled the carretas until the loads became too heavy.
Inevitably, cars and other motorized vehicles have replaced the ox cart as transportation, in time ox carts taking on life as a celebrated form of artwork.
While I doubt we will see the carretas on the streets of the big city anytime soon, it could happen if the Semana Santa nationwide vehicular restrictions are expanded beyond April 12, they could make a comeback in the small towns and rural Costa Rica.
This came to me this morning when one of my neighbors here in Santa Ana, in a built-up urban area, decided to stroll the calle on a horse. Why not?
It was a significant means of transportation in Costa Rica not too long ago
I can see the Ruta 27 become a route for horses and the carretas interspersed with a few cars here and there.
There is (up to now) any restrictions of the carretas. They are practical. They have a beauty of them, not only visual but also auditory.
The carreta, for the most part, is only for show
So, in these times of change, this symbol of Costa Rican culture may become yet once again, a significant means of transportation in the country.
Los modelos eléctricos deben adaptarse a la restricción vehicular. Shutterstock/La República
Despite the fact that 100% electric cars are exempt from the vehicle restrictions of San Jose, they ARE NOT exempt from the new restrictions due to the Coronavirus.
100% electrical vehicles exempted from the daytime restrictions of downtown San Jose, will have to respect the vehicular restrictions for Semana Santa
The Semana Santa and nocturnal restrictions after will also apply to these zero-emission vehicles.
Starting today, Friday, April 3, at 5:00 pm, ALL vehicles that are not in the exemption list – electrical vehicles are not exempt – must stay off the road.
Starting at 5:00 am tomorrow and until 5:00 pm, only the vehicles with the corresponding last number place can circulate. At 5:00 pm Saturday and until 5:00 am Sunday, again ALL vehicles restricted.
From Wednesday 8 to April 12 public transport is also suspended.
Busch Beer is supplying beer for three months to anyone who adopts a dog during the Coronavirus crisis. This idea came from the company for those who give a home to a pet from the Midwest Animal Rescue in Minnesota, United States.
From Twitter
The first 500 people to adopt or pick up a dog will be rewarded with free beer.
Animal shelters across the US are making the hard decision to close their doors to the public because of the coronavirus pandemic. As more people are staying home, shelters and human societies are trying to place as many animals as quickly as possible.
Everyone could use a companion for the couch right now. So if you foster (or adopt) a dog from Midwest Animal Rescue, we’ll give you 3 months’ worth of Busch to enjoy by their side. Go to https://t.co/S58CM3Z6OM to learn more.
“Social distancing is best with a furry friend by your side and a cold beer in hand,” added the Busch spokesman. After completing the adoption or adoption process, you will receive a confirmation email from the animal shelter, which you will then need to send to Busch via Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram by April 25.
Maybe we can get the Cerveceria de Costa Rica, brewers of the Imperial, Pilsen, Bavaria, Rock Ice, Heineken (under license in Costa Rica), to do the same?
Doubts about which retail stores, commercial centers, and businesses may remain open, their hours and mode of operation and who may circulate the roads next week, have generated a lot of anxiety among the population, as authorities clamp down in its strategy to stop the spread of the covid-19 in Costa Rica.
Image for illustrative purposes
We’ve compiled a list of retail stores that may stay open during Samana Santa respecting the Health measures that apply from 5:00 pm Friday, April 3 to 11:59 pm Sunday, April 12.
Businesses that should not close are:
Home delivery services.
The institutions that, due to the nature of their functions, must remain open, such as the immigration, customs, phytosanitary services, land, sea, and air border posts, among others.
Public and private health (clinics, pharmacies, hospitals, laboratories, doctor’s offices, diagnostic radiology services, emergency services, among others), as well as veterinary services.
Supermarkets, bakeries, butchers, greengrocers, and pulperias (corner stores).
Businesses that must operate at 50% of their capacity:
Establishments for the sale of agricultural supplies.
Hygiene supply establishments.
Public or private banking services.
Funeral homes and/or chapels for funeral services.
Public and private establishments where there is the commercialization of agricultural, livestock, fishing and aquaculture products, such as fairs and markets.
The child care centers.
Attention centers for people in vulnerable conditions.
All those other establishments with sanitary operating permits that do not provide attention to the face-to-face public.
Starting at 5:00 pm today, Friday, April 3, the Ministry of Health ordered the closure of all other retail shops, including shopping centers and malls, in order to prevent and mitigate the risk of COVID-19 contagion during Easter, days when people are used to go out more.
Merchants who fail to comply with this measure may be closed by the Police and sanctions imposed.
Given the confusion, we answer some of the more frequently asked questions:
Does the vehicle restriction apply to bicycles and motorcycles?
– Yes, fo motorcycles, the restriction is based on the last number of the license plate (click here for help in that); No, bicycles are not restricted from circulation.
Can producers who bring their fruits and vegetables to fairs circulate any day?
– Yes, but the call is that they try to do it as little as possible and take the opportunity to stay at home for the holidays.
Can truckers or people who move construction supplies move?
– Yes, but they must demonstrate with relevant documentation such as a sales order for the product they are delivering or just delivered.
Can caregivers of terminally ill patients or the elderly travel in their private vehicle?
– Yes, but they must demonstrate their employment in the field.
What should the working document indicate for those who must work on the days that the extended restriction applies?
– Those persons who have to work during the restriction can do so without incurring sanctions as long as they have a letter from their employer. The Minister of Security, Micheal Soto, confirmed the confusion found during the nocturnal restrictions during the past week, calling on all authorities to accept the employer letter that must include information on the workplace, the employee’s address and their hours of work.
A handy guide prepared by La Nacion
Will there be public transport for Semana Santa?
– There will be public transportation between Saturday, April 4 and Tuesday, April 7. However, buses traveling on routes of more than 75 km are restricted to two trips a day (one going and one coming). Starting Wednesday, April 8, there will only be official taxi services – the red taxis and orange taxis of the airport, authorized cargo taxis, and transportation of employees authorized by the Public Transportation Council (CTP).
Can motorcyclists who make home deliveries circulate during the restricted days?
– Yes, as long as they demonstrate that they are carrying out said delivery activity. All other motorcycles are prohibited.
How can officers ensure that a driver goes to the supermarket or pharmacy (between Wednesday the 8th and Sunday the 12th, when he will only be able to move for those purposes and by license plate number)?
– The driver will have to give a convincing explanation to the official. For example, if you are detained far from your place of residence or in a sparsely populated area, the officer could fine you.
The objective is here for people to visit their nearest supermarket, grocery store, pulperia, bakery, butcher, etc. You can expect a fine if you live in Santa Ana and are shopping in Escazu or San Pedro, for example.
The criteria and experience of the traffic police will apply. Have the store receipt handy.
What if I have to take a family member to work and they stop me when I no longer have that family member?
– You could be fined as the supporting documents for the working hours cover only the person who is going to work.
Will the ferry services that operate in the peninsular area be enabled?
– Starting Wednesday, April 8, there will be one service per day per direction, only for cargo transport and official vehicles.
Can greengrocers, butchers, grocery stores or bakeries that operate independently of a supermarket open?
– Yes, they are considered supply businesses.
What about the supermarkets and pharmacies that are inside shopping malls?
– Given that malls are ordered closed, the supermarkets, pharmacies and banks inside malls may reach an agreement with the mall administration so that they can remain open, even though the other premises are closed.
The official exemptions to closures by the Ministry of Health
Will veterinary clinics, pharmacies and private centers that provide services such as dental and others be open?
– Yes.
Will the town fairs or farmer’s markets where agricultural or livestock products are sold open next week?
– Yes, they can operate, maintaining their capacity at 50% and complying with the Health recommendations.
Can public and private banking services operate?
– They can operate maintaining their capacity at 50%. Most will be open until Wednesday, April 8 and the closed on Thursday, April 9 and Good Friday, April 10, being legal holidays.
Can self-service restaurants work?
– No. Only for home delivery.
Can greengrocers, butchers, pulperias (corner stores) or bakeries that operate independently of a supermarket open?
– Yes, they are considered supply businesses.
Will gas stations be open?
– Yes, some apply voluntary closures in full others only partially in response to traffic volume due to the vehicular restrictions. It would be fair to say that most will not likely operate on a 24 hour basis, closing nightly while maintaining service during the day.
If I have to go to a medical appointment or a health emergency, can I go in my vehicle?
– Yes, you must demonstrate such an appointment. In an emergency to a clinic or hospital, you should, if stopped, explain the emergency and request an escort if warranted.
Thursday afternoon, the Ministry of Health updated the list of Health provisions related to the temporary closure of establishments that have Health operating permits.
It was included that “car rental” establishments may open only for the purpose of providing assistance services to already rented vehicles, as well as receive returning vehicles.
In addition, hotels can stay open only to:
Foreign tourists who are already in the country.
Flight crews or special services cases.
Long-stay tourists or residents of the hotel.
Provide services to the Public Administration for the attention of the crisis by national emergency.
Provide services to embassies.
The closures and vehicular restrictions are countrywide.
The vehicular restrictions announced for Semana Santa that goes into effect at 5:00 pm Friday, April 3 and continues until 11:59 pm on Sunday, April 12, left many scratching the heads.
The strict vehicular restriction measures were established because many drivers do not want to listen.
On Wednesday, President Carlos Alvarado read out the restrictions for this day and that day, and at this hour, or that, and if, but, ok, when can I drive my car or motorcycle? And when not? Especially that fine will be ¢107,000 colones, 6 points and/or have your vehicle and/or license plate confiscated?
Pablo Paniagua and his simple to use app to the rescue.
“I made this app to know the days when you can drive your vehicle, using only the last digit of your license plate. This app is only a guide and always consult official sources to decide whether or not you can drive your vehicle. If possible, stay home :),” says Paniagua on his design-challenged app that can be found at https://quedeseencasa.anvil.app/.
Either version is simple to use: just type or click on the last digit of you vehicle’s license plate and the app will tell you on what days and times you can and cannot drive your vehicle.
Hint, you cannot drive, unless you are exempt (see here the full list of exemptions), between 5:00 pm and 5:00 am on any night starting on Friday.
The entanglement comes during the day, because you can only drive depending on the last number of the license plate and for the period between April 8 and April 12, only to go to the local supermarket, bakery, butcher, corner store (pulperia) or pharmacy.
And in case you have any doubt, the vehicular restriction for the Semana Santa period is countrywide. On Monday, April 13, only the nocturnal restrictions from 10 pm to 5 am weekdays and 8 pm and 5 am on weekends apply to all parts of the country; the daytime weekday restrictions only to San Jose.
Although President Alvarado made a valiant effort to explain it well, many got a headache just listening to it.
It should be remembered that the Government took these measures in the face of the emergency in the country due to the COVID-19, but above all because Semana Santa is a traditional time in Costa Rica for many to head to the beaches, mountains and resorts or hang out at the mall, parks, and so on.
Why most countries have issued “stay at home” orders or put their country on “lockdown”, the heads leading this crisis decided to hit Costa Ricans where it hurts them most, restrict their ability to drive somewhere, anywhere.
PS: bookmark the page larestriccion.com for easy reference. Or print out the following chart and stick it to the dash or your car or do a screen save on your mobile.
They say that when we overcome the coronavirus pandemic nothing will be the same as before.
Parishioners responded to the call of their priest to send in their photos
Well, there are many already changing and one of these is Catholic priest Víctor Jiménez, known as Father Toto and who is in charge of the Nuestra Señora de Fátima (Our Lady of Fatima) parish, in Hatillo 3.
The priest had a really good idea to liven up Mass last Sunday, March 29, filling the pews with photos of parishioners to feel a little company with the people who used to go to mass, while he officiated and broadcast on the church’s official Facebook profile.
Catholic priest Víctor Jiménez, known as Father Toto
Days earlier, he had invited the faithful to send their photos and the response was very great.
That exercise was only for this 29 because the priest intends to vary the idea from one Sunday to another.
The Ministry of Health reported this Thursday, April 2, that the number of covid-19 cases in Costa Rica increased to 396, that is, 21 more than on Wednesday.
Two of the new cases were confirmed in private laboratories.
According to the report by Health Minister Dr. Daniel Salas, 17 of the infected remain hospitalized and of these, of which 11 are in intensive care units. Their ages range from 36 to 69 years.
Salas drew attention that the number of people in a delicate condition has been increasing in recent days. In fact, last Wednesday there were nine severe cases.
“We do not want Costa Rica to drift off course … the number of people in ICU (intensive care unit) has been increasing, “said the minister.
“Assuming an irresponsible attitude can mean that this increases rapidly and we are going to saturate health services especially in intensive care,” he added.
Among the infected, there 382 adults (of which 26 are seniors) and 14 minors; they are 192 women and 204 men.
During the mid-day briefing, the minister expressed concern over asymptomatic patients, since there may be a large number of people who do not have symptoms but who may be infected.
“The epidemiological link has already been considered,” said Salas./
Salas also warned that as with other pandemics such as influenza (another virus with similarities to the coronavirus) there may be a second wave, depending on the number of people who became susceptible and did not become ill in the first wave.
“As the virus continues to circulate there may be a second or a third (wave), what is expected is that the first one is the strongest and lasts longer, and will saturate the health systems,” he said.
Rico’s Digest – Was it an April Fools headline? “COSTA RICA CON MAS CONTAGIOS QUE CHINA” (COSTA RICA WITH MORE INFECTED THAN CHINA).
The headline in Wednesday’s edition of the self-billed “most sold newspaper in Costa Rica”.
Due to my self-imposed isolation, I did not go out to get the print edition of the self-billed “most sold newspaper in Costa Rica”.
I did try to find the story in the online edition and nothing, not even the headline, only an image of the print edition.
The Extra is very popular with many in Costa Rica. For decades it one of the first print newspapers to hit the streets. I remember when I used to work nights in downtown San Jose, every taxi driver, night vendor, etc had a copy of the Extra in their hands.
The stories, for the most part, are gore and guts. Facts are sometimes sprinkled in with, I won’t go as far as to say, made-up stuff, but there I said it.
But, to Instill fear through disinformation, is the worst of the worst. What the extra does is not only unethical and unprofessional is simply criminal. Even a crime. I should be.
On Tuesday, March 28, at 10:20 pm, Air Canada said see you soon to Costa Rica, in yet another nostalgic farewell at the Juan Santamaría International (SJO) or San Jose airport.
Image for illustrative purposes.
That day was the last flight, for now, by the airline, as it also suspended operations in the country due to the new coronavirus, until further notice.
With a Costa Rican flag, the crew of the flight on the San Jose – Toronto route said goodbye to Pura Vida.
On March 24, Air Canada had made it’s last San Jose – Montreal flight and on March 25, it stopped flying on the Liberia-Toronto-Montreal route.
Supermarkets, suppliers, bakeries, butchers, greengrocers and grocery stores will be able to function normally. Image for illustrative purposes.
The Minister of Health, Daniel Salas, on Wednesday night, signed the resolution that dictates which establishments with health permits are exempt from closing, from April 3 to 12 to avoid contagion of covid-19 in the country.
Supermarkets, suppliers, bakeries, butchers, greengrocers, and pulperias (grocery stores) will be able to function normally.
“It is resolved to order the temporary closure of all establishments with Health operating permits classified as public meeting places, starting on Friday, April 3, 2020, at 5:00 pm and until Sunday, April 12 at 11:59 pm”, says the document.
The establishments that should not close are:
Home services.
Public institutions that, due to the nature of their functions, must remain open, such as the immigration, customs, phytosanitary services, land, sea, and air border posts, among others.
Public and private health, ie clinics, pharmacies, hospitals, laboratories, doctor’s offices, diagnostic radiology services, emergency services, among others, as well as veterinary clinics.
Supermarkets, suppliers, bakeries, butchers, greengrocers and corner grocery stores (pulperias).
Establishments selling agricultural supplies, with a reduction in their maximum normal occupation capacity to fifty percent (50%).
Hygiene supply establishments, with a reduction in their maximum normal occupancy capacity to fifty percent (50%).
Public or private banking services, with a reduction of its maximum normal occupation capacity to fifty percent (50%).
Funeral homes and/or veiling chapels, with a reduction of its maximum normal occupancy capacity to fifty percent (50%).
Public and private establishments where there is the commercialization of agricultural, livestock, fishing and aquaculture products, such as fairs and markets, with a reduction in their maximum normal occupation capacity to fifty percent (50%).
The child care centers and development network.
Centers of attention for people in vulnerable conditions.
All those other establishments with Health operating permits that do not provide attention to the face-to-face public.
“The health authorities, both of the Ministry of Health and of the Police Bodies of the country whose condition has been delegated to them, are instructed to issue a Health Order to those establishments that do not comply with this provision, ordering the immediate closure of said establishments and the processing of the collection of the resulting fines as appropriate,” dictated Resolution DM-RM-0852-2020.
What MUST NOW CLOSE, some of which until now have been allowed to operate some specificities, are:
Theaters
Movie theaters (Cines)
Restaurants, sodas, food courts, cafes (they can only provide home delivery)
The Ministry of Health highlighted that this decision is made because commercial establishments are places where people come who need to acquire goods and/or services, which generates a risk to their health and that of the workers of said establishments due to the possibility of contagion of the virus.
The entity added that, for the Semana Santa (Easter Week) holiday, the period from April 3 to April 12, it is highly possible that people will seek out recreation areas and social contact, which represents a risk extremely dangerous in the spread of covid-19.
“Therefore, in order that an uncontrolled increase in the growth curve of cases due to said disease is generated, it is urgent and necessary to reinforce vehicle restriction measures and, thus, reduce people’s exposure to the transmission of said disease,” said the document. Click here for the vehicular restrictions and exemptions for Semana Santa.
The present sanitary measures are issued with the objective of preventing and mitigating the risk or damage to public health and addressing the state of national emergency given by Executive Decree No. 42227-MP-S of March 16, 2020 and seeking the well-being of all people who reside in Costa Rican territory on a regular basis before the effects of the covid-19.
A motorcyclist, identified by his last name Espinoza, was detained by police violating the sanitary vehicle restriction and found not having a license, no vehicle inspection and had an arrest warrant for him.
The arrest occurred in the vicinity of the traffic lights of the Alajuela Courts, on March 31 at about 11 pm, one hour after the vehicular restrictions were in effect.
“The subject was detained and the traffic authorities issued him tickets for not having a driver’s license, not having the vehicle technical inspection, not carrying safety implements and having violated the sanitary restriction issued by the Ministry of Health,” read the statement by the Ministry of Public Security.
The sanctions for violating the vehicular restrictions are no longer a joke, so listen up, unless you really need to be driving, stay home. Go out if and only it is absolutely necessary.
The sanctions for violating the restrictions will, by the weekend, be ¢107,000 colones and 6 points on your driver’s license, which means when it comes time to renew you will have to have to do the driver-ed thing.
A violation can also result in your car or license plate being seized. The latter is most likely, for one, the Transito doesn’t have enough tow trucks, and two, no space to put all the vehicles. So, taking the plates is the most common. The process is not worth it. Stay home.
Now, if you do have to go out, here are what you should know, the times and dates of the restrictions and the exception. At the bottom is a handy color chart to break it all down.
vehicles may not circulate from 5:00 pm to 5:00 am with exceptions (see image below). During the day, from 5:00 am to 5:00 pm, only authorized plates may circulate.
From Friday, April 3 to Tuesday, April 7 there will be an extended night vehicle restriction from 5:00 pm at 5:00 am
Daytime vehicle restriction will be from 5:00 am to 5:00 pm (from Saturday at 5:00 am). Vehicular traffic will not be allowed according to the final number of the respective license plate:
– Saturday, April 4: vehicles whose license plate ends at 0, 2, 4, 6 and 8
– Sunday, April 5: vehicles whose license plate ends 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9.
– Monday, April 6: vehicles whose license plate ends at 0, 2, 4, 6 and 8.
– Tuesday, April 7: vehicles whose license plate ends 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9.
From Wednesday, April 8 to Sunday, April 12 there will be an absolute vehicle restriction. Circulation of vehicles for going to the grocery store, pharmacy, to a medical center, to and from work (better have proof of working hours handy) as follows:
– Wednesday, April 8: vehicles whose license plate ends in 0 and 1.
– Thursday, April 9: vehicles whose license plate ends in 2 and 3.
– Friday, April 10: vehicles whose license plate ends at 4 and 5.
– Saturday, April 1: vehicles whose license plate ends at 6 and 7.
– Sunday, April 12: vehicles whose license plate ends at 8 and 9.
The normal vehicular restrictions will resume on Monday, April 13: daytime from 7 am to 7 pm based on the last plate number, and all vehicles from 10 pm to 5 am weekdays and 8 pm to 5 am weekends.
IMPORTANT: The vehicular restrictions for Semana Santa are COUNTRYWIDE. The nocturnal vehicular restrictions are COUNTRYWIDE. The daytime vehicular restrictions for Thursday and Friday this week and then from Monday, April 13 is only for San Jose.
The exemptions:
Not related to you driving, but important to note in the event you want (or have to) take public transportation.
All public transport, buses, tour buses, etc is suspended from April 8 to 12.
There will be a reduction in the minimum of long-distance public transport. Buses operating on routes that cover 75 km or more will be restricted to two trips daily – one coming and one going.
Taxi service will be maintained.
Uber, Didi and other transport app services will be subject to vehicular restrictions.
Closing of establishments with health permits and face-to-face attention to the public. That pretty well covers retail stores, malls, banks, etc.
As expected, Legislators on Wednesday approved the two bills presented by the Executive Branch to stiffen fines for drivers who violate the vehicular restrictions and persons who violate the quarantine order of the Ministry of Health, in the battle against the coronavirus covid-19 in Costa Rica.
Legislators have been holding legislative sessions in the Museo de los Niños auditorium to maintain social distancing
In the face of the national emergency, the two bills are being fast-tracked, the final approval by legislators expected Friday morning, then sent to Casa Presidencial for the signature of President Carlos Alvarado and to La Gaceta for immediate publication for entry into force.
Vehicular Restrictions
The sanctions for violating the vehicular restrictions increase the current fine of ¢23,000 colones to ¢107,768 (¢110,000 when costs are included).
In addition to the monetary sanction, the Policia de Transito (traffic police) is authorized to confiscate the vehicle and/or license plates.
Drivers will also see 6 points on their license.
Health Order
Sanctions for violating the quarantine ordered by the Ministry of Health will be from one to five base salaries.
The most severe fine will be 5 base salaries (¢2.2 million currently) to the person who, despite already having a positive diagnosis, violates the quarantine order measure, in which they should not leave their home at all.
A fine of three base salaries (¢ 1.3 million) for those who, with a Health order of isolation (stay home) due to being suspected of having the disease, violated the measure.
Lastly, a fine of one base salary (¢450,000) for those who violate a Health order to stay home though they are not suspected of being infected, for example, Costa Ricans and residents returning to the country are issued an order to stay home.
The legislators have been holding legislative sessions this week in the Museo de los Niños auditorium to maintain social distancing.
In the Wednesday afternoon covid-19 briefing, President Carlos Alvarado, before passing over to the Minister of Health, Dr. Daniel Salas, announced a series of strict measures that will be applied for the Semana Santa, starting with this weekend.
President Carlos Alvarado (left) and Health Minister Daniel Salas (right) in the daily covid-19 briefing
The President was emphatic that the measures will for necessities such as going to the supermarket, the pharmacy, clinics and hospitals and continue working, though he streeted to work from home a much as possible.
The restrictions are aimed at curbing people from leaving their homes, taking the holiday week to vacation, reducing the propagation and the number of infection of the coronavirus.
The message is clear, stay home, go out only if necessary. “We don’t want come afte Semana Santa a surge of cases because people didn’t pay attention,” said Minister Salas.
Before I get to the lates covid-19 infected numbers, get your mind sharp for the following measures, that in Costa Rican style, can be confusing.
For this weekend, from Friday, April 3 to Tuesday, April 7, the countrywide nocturnal vehicular restrictions will start at 5 pm and continue to 5 am.
Establishments with health permits and attention to the public will be closed. That’s like just about everything, with the exception of supermarkets, pulperias y supers (corner stores) and pharmacies.Food services will be able to maintain home service or “express” as it is called in Costa Rica, allowing sodas and restaurants to have a way to earn some income.
Long-distance public transport, as in busies, of routes of 75 km or more, will be restricted to only two trips daily. That is, only one bus each way to the coastal areas from San Jose, for example. This to avoid the movement of people to beaches and resorts where there may be conglomerations. Remember the beaches continue closed.
In addition, establishments with sanitary and customer service permits will be closed.
From Saturday, April 4 to Tuesday, April 7, the daytime vehicle restriction will be maintained from 5 am at 5 pm according to last number of the vehicle’s license place:Saturday, April 4: vehicles whose license plate ends at 0, 2, 4, 6 and 8.
Sunday, April 5: vehicles whose license plate ends 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9.
Monday, April 6: vehicles whose license plate ends at 0, 2, 4, 6 and 8.
Tuesday, April 7: vehicles whose license plate ends 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9.
For April 8 to 12, there will be an absolute vehicle restriction except for access to supermarkets and pharmacies and other exceptions. Circulation of vehicles will be only permitted as follows:Wednesday, April 8: vehicles whose license plate ends in 0 and 1.
Thursday, April 9: vehicles whose license plate ends in 2 and 3.
Friday, April 10: vehicles whose license plate ends at 4 and 5.
Saturday, April 1: vehicles whose license plate ends at 6 and 7.
Sunday, April 12: vehicles whose license plate ends at 8 and 9.
The normal vehicular restrictions will resume on Monday, April 13: daytime from 7 am to 7 pm based on the last plate number; and all vehicles from 10 pm to 5 am weekdays and 8 pm to 5 am weekends.
From Wednesday, April 8 to Sunday 12, all public transport is suspended, except for essential productive activities and taxis.
One of the exceptions to the tightened vehicular restriction is for people who have to get oa and from work. Like in the nocturnal restrictions, people should be prepared to demonstrate their work hours. Other exceptions are emergency vehicles, government vehicles authorized to circulate.
All the other exceptions to the vehicular restrictions and opening and closing of businesses will be announced on Thursday, April 2.
The vehicular restrictions include motorcycles.
“These restrictions are for vehicular traffic, because that is the one that, within the framework of legality, we can restrict,” said the President.
“They are done are to protect people from being infected and spreading the infection, so as not to saturate health services,’ he added.
Keeping on the subject of vehicular restrictions, Legislators are expected to approve and, in time for the president to sign the bill into law before the weekend, the increase in traffic fines from ¢23,000 colones to ¢107,000 for vehicles violating the restrictions.
“We will have time to vacation and return to our normal life, now is not that time,” stressed Alexánder Solís, president of the Comisión Nacional de Emergencias (CNE).
Covid-19 in Costa Rica
Minister Salas reported that as of today there are 375 confirmed cases of covid-19 in the country, 28 more than the day before; They are 181 are women and 194 men, of which 346 are Costa Ricans and 29 foreigners. Four patients have recovered so far, and only two deaths.
Nineteen patients are in hospital, nine of which are in intensive care. The cases are spread out through 53 of the 82 cantons, in all seven provinces.
Stay home. Go out only if necessary, and then practice good hygiene and maintain social distancing.
Stay tuned to the Q for all the latest news and information on the covid-19 in Costa Rica.
The Minister of Health, Daniel Salas announced Tuesday that three new private laboratories have been authorized to carry out the COVID-19 test in the country.
The three new are: Echandi Laboratories, Hospital La Católica and Hospital CIMA.
Last week, LABIN laboratories, Hospital Clínica Bíblica, Laboratorio Páez, Laboratorios San José and Hospital Metropolitano, were authorized, bringing the total to eight.
Similarly, the State hospitals, San Juan de Dios, Mexico, Nacional de Niños, the INCIENSA, the Laboratorio Clínico and Blood Bank of the University of Costa Rica that perform the COVID-19 test at a public level.
As of March 30, there 347 people have tested positive for COVID-19: 167 women and 180 men, of which 320 are Costa Ricans 27 foreigners, with an age range between one year and 87.
The positive cases are registered in 52 of the 82 cantons of the seven provinces. By age there are 333 adults (24 of whom are seniors) and 14 minors.
15 people positive for COVID-19 are hospitalized, 8 of them in intensive care, the latter aged between 36 and 69.
The minor was driving this vehicle when he was caught by Air Surveillance officers.
An act of total irresponsibility. Officials of the Air Surveillance unit of the Fuerza Publica (national police), in the area of the Tobia Bolaños airport in Pavas, noticed a vehicle driven by a minor that turned to be 10 years old.
The officers of the Air Surveillance police got a surprise whey found a 10-year-old behind the wheel of a car in which traveling was the boy’s father and grandfather
Inside the vehicle were the boy’s father and grandfather who apparently were using the boy as their driver.
When questioned for the senseless act, the father, surnamed Rocha, and the grandfather, surnamed Valverde, told the officers they had nothing to say.
The Policia de Transito (traffic police) and the Patronato Nacional de la Infancia (PANI) – child welfare agency – were called in to for the respective processes, reported Diario Extra.
The Ministry of Foreign Relations confirmed on Tuesday that Silvia Deyanira Meléndez Baldí, 24, a Costa Rican living in the US, died due to COVID-19.
The Salt Lake Tribunal confirmed that the Tuca died on Saturday. She worked as a receptionist at a medical imaging company and resided in Salt Lake County, Utah.
Silvia lived with her family and all the closest members have been infected, that is, her parents – Marcos and Silvia – and her brothers, Marcos and Xandel, reported La Teja.
The information from The Salt Lake Tribune says that seven people live in the Meléndez Baldí house and that, so far, five have tested positive and that it was her father who first showed symptoms, about two weeks ago.
“When I spoke to the doctor, he asked me or someone in my family had symptoms, we are supposed to (assume) that we are positive,” said Marcos Meléndez, Silvia’s father, in a telephone interview with the media on Sunday.
Silvia Deyanira and her mother, Silvia Baldí, 49, were hospitalized on March 20 with serious respiratory problems. The virus hit the daughter hardest.
Silivia suffered from diabetes and had undergone a heart operation two years earlier.
The Tico, wanted for murder is now in the custody of the OIJ
A Costa Rica man, identified by his last name Jimenez, was detained by the Immigration Police when he was trying to leave the country, despite being suspected of murder.
The Tico, wanted for murder is now in the custody of the OIJ
The man was arrested on Monday at the Juan Santamaría airport when he tried to board a plane as if nothing, but authorities consulted the OIJ criminal database system and learned of the arrest warrant, reported La Teja.
Up north, in the immigration offices of Los Chiles de Alajuela, at the border crossing with Nicaragua, a foreigner with the last name Briceño, also was arrested on an outstanding warrant dating back to 2016
The Centro Nacional de Rehabilitación (Cenare), located in La Uruca, today became the Centro Especializado de Atención de Pacientes con COVID-19 (CEACO), readied in a record 11 days.
The following are some of the faces that made it all happen.
From Wednesday 8 to April 12 public transport is also suspended.
Two of the new cases were confirmed in private laboratories.
