No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeNewsCosta RicaCosta Rica up to 177 known coronavirus cases; new driving restrictions begin...

Costa Rica up to 177 known coronavirus cases; new driving restrictions begin tonight

Costa Rica has confirmed 177 cases of the novel coronavirus, the Health Ministry announced Tuesday afternoon.

The figure marks a 19-person increase over the same time Monday. Six people are currently hospitalized with COVID-19, while eight additional people suspected of having the coronavirus are hospitalized. Four people with confirmed cases are in intensive care.

The individuals in intensive care are aged 36, 38, 49 and 54, according to Román Macaya, president of Costa Rica’s Social Security System (CCSS, or Caja). Two of them have no known additional risk factors.

The 177 cases comprise 159 Costa Ricans and 18 foreigners across 33 cantons in all seven of the country’s provinces.

Costa Rica coronavirus cases
Tico Times graph.

Below is a map of cantons with confirmed COVID-19 cases. Click on a blue marker for more information:

Macaya said Costa Rica’s public health system will soon have at least 700 ventilators, many of which are being delivered to the Caja over the coming weeks.

Later this week, CCSS is expected to open a medical center specializing in COVID-19 at the National Rehabilitation Center (CENARE) in San José.

If you believe you may have contracted COVID-19 or have questions regarding the coronavirus, contact Costa Rican health authorities by dialing 1322.

Costa Rica coronavirus cases by canton
Via the Health Ministry.

Nationwide vehicle restriction begins tonight

A nationwide vehicle restriction between the hours of 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. begins tonight.

The majority of vehicles will not be permitted on Costa Rica’s roads between those nighttime hours starting Tuesday. Public Security Minister Michael Soto provided a long list of exceptions, which include:

  • Transport of cargo/merchandise
  • Public transportation, including buses and taxis
  • Vehicles that provide delivery (food, medications, etc.) to houses
  • People driving to/from work corresponding to those nighttime hours
  • Trash collection and construction vehicles
  • Official law enforcement and ambulance vehicles
  • When driving to a hospital or pharmacy for a health emergency

The full list of exceptions, published Tuesday afternoon by the Public Security Ministry (MSP), is below:

Driving restriction exceptions
Via MSP.

Drivers who do not abide by the restriction will be fined about $40.

This is a developing story and is being updated. 

Trending Now

Costa Rica Rescues Endangered Amphibians and Turtles in Store Bust

The Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ), through its Specialized Section Against Environmental Crimes, carried out an operation at a store in Vázquez de Coronado, San...

Starbucks Expands in Guanacaste with New Store Opening in Tamarindo

Starbucks continues to strengthen its presence in Costa Rica with the opening of its second store in the province of Guanacaste, specifically in Tamarindo....

Flying Around Costa Rica is Easier Than Ever Thanks to Sansa Airlines

The airline recently added two new aircraft to its fleet, bringing their total to twelve. That increase allows SANSA to boost service to smaller...

Dominical to Quepos: The Costa Rican Road That Took 30 Years to Finish

The original Pan-American Highway heading south from San José once took a dramatic and daunting route. It passed through the old capital of Cartago...

Costa Rica Overturns Management Plan for Gandoca-Manzanillo Refuge

Costa Rica’s Constitutional Court has ruled that the General Management Plan for the Gandoca-Manzanillo Mixed Wildlife Refuge is unconstitutional. The decision annuls both the...

Algal Bloom Detected in Costa Rica’s Gulf of Nicoya

A noticeable change in watercolor has been reported across several zones of the Gulf of Nicoya and coastal areas adjacent to the Nicoya Peninsula....
spot_img
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica