Costa Rica Traffic Safety Restrictions to prevent the spread of Covid-19

by Herb DeMars

 

The Costa Rica Government is doing its best to limit the spread of this virus – Covid-19.  Below is  a translation from Spanish to English of the new rules for restricting travel  for the next two weeks.  Semana Santa (Easter Week) is traditionally a time for family and fiesta.  Party time at the beaches.  This year with the Covid-19 problem the Government is trying to limit social exposure with these strict traffic rules.  In a normal year a lot of Costa Ricans leave the central valley and head to the beaches for giant get togethers.  With Covid-19 this is not acceptable so the Governments local and federally have brought in very strict rules to be in effect until the middle April.  The beaches are closed and liquor sales stopped in most areas.  We are doing our part and are quarantining at our farm in the mountains.  Stay safe everyone – Herb and Donna 

 

April 1, 2020

 

In the framework of Easter Government reinforces measures to contain the contagion by COVID-19

 

In the framework of Easter and in the face of the national emergency situation facing the country due to the pandemic caused by the disease COVID-19, the Government of the Republic made the decision to tighten the sanitary measures issued by the Ministry of Health  to contain the contagion.  This without restricting access to basic services.

 

The epidemiological characteristics of the disease require that the health system, the institutions and the entire population take radical measures to prevent the rapid transmission of cases and avoid the overload of the health services in the coming weeks, and that this will lead to an increase in  the mortality of the disease in Costa Rica.

 

This was announced by the President of the Republic, Carlos Alvarado Quesada, along with the Minister of Health, Daniel Salas and the President of the Costa Rican Social Security Fund (CCSS), Román Macaya, at a press conference this Wednesday, at noon.

 

Alvarado explained that it was established to apply a series of measures as of Friday, April 3 and until Tuesday, April 7 inclusive;  Subsequently, other measures will take effect from Wednesday, April 8 to Sunday, April 12.

 

From Friday 03 to Tuesday 07 April.  Vehicles will not be able to circulate after 5:00 p.m., with exceptions.  (See attached image) During the day, only authorized plates may circulate.  Likewise, the establishments will be closed with sanitary permits for public attention and long-distance public transport will be restricted.  Food delivery services will be maintained.

 

Extended night vehicle restriction from 5:00 p.m.  at 5:00 a.m.  (from Friday at 5:00 pm)

 

Daytime vehicle restriction from 5:00 a.m.  at 5:00 p.m.  (from Saturday at 5:00 am).  Vehicular traffic will not be allowed according to the final number of the respective license plate:

 

Reduction to the minimum of long-distance public transport, only two daily runs.  Restricted routes correspond to those that cover distances greater than 75 kilometers.  This was agreed in a dialogue between carriers and the MOPT

 

Closing establishments with sanitary operating permits and attention to face-to-face public.  Home services are allowed.

 

The taxi service is maintained.

 

From Wednesday 08 to Sunday April 12: For 5 days restrictions will apply to the movement of vehicles, exchange of services, and transit of people, under the state of national emergency.  This, in accordance with the provisions of article 34 of the Emergency and Risk Prevention Law, with respect to the power of the Executive Power to impose temporary restrictions during a national emergency.

 

Except in exceptional cases, the movement of vehicles and the transit of people are suspended.  Access to supermarkets, suppliers, grocery stores and health services and pharmacies will be guaranteed without time restriction, but the transfer by vehicle will be subject to the authorized plates for days.

 

All public transport is also suspended, except special transport for essential productive activities and taxi service.

 

Non-circulation of vehicles on public roads.  The list of exceptions will be communicated tomorrow.

 

All public transport is suspended, except special transport for essential productive activities.

 

Restriction to vehicular traffic with the following exceptions: access to supermarkets, pharmacies and health centers without time restrictions.

 

In case of going to the supermarket or pharmacy by vehicle, only the following may circulate:

 

These measures seek to prevent the transfer to recreational sites or that people leave the country using public transport services and thereby reduce the chances of contagion so as not to collapse health services.  The public sector will remain in telework mode and attending to the emergency during Easter and only the law holidays that correspond to Thursday and Friday will be given, to prevent them from vacationing

 

On April 13, the restrictions in force today will be resumed.

 

With respect to the application of the vehicle restriction during the night of this Tuesday and early Wednesday, 172 parties were reported for violating the sanitary provision issued by the Ministry of Health, 345 fines were also made for various cases.  And 9 drunk drivers were surprised, as reported by the Ministry of Public Safety. From Friday 03 to Tuesday 07 April.  Vehicles will not be able to circulate after 5:00 p.m., with exceptions.  (See attached image) During the day, only authorized plates may circulate.  Likewise, the establishments will be closed with sanitary permits for public attention and long-distance public transport will be restricted.  Food delivery services will be maintained.

 

Extended night vehicle restriction from 5:00 p.m.  at 5:00 a.m.  (from Friday at 5:00 pm)

 

Daytime vehicle restriction from 5:00 a.m.  at 5:00 p.m.  (from Saturday at 5:00 am).  Vehicular traffic will not be allowed according to the final number of the respective license plate:

 

Reduction to the minimum of long-distance public transport, only two daily runs.  Restricted routes correspond to those that cover distances greater than 75 kilometers.  This was agreed in a dialogue between carriers and the MOPT

 

Closing establishments with sanitary operating permits and attention to face-to-face public.  Home services are allowed.

 

The taxi service is maintained.

 

From Wednesday 08 to Sunday April 12: For 5 days restrictions will apply to the movement of vehicles, exchange of services, and transit of people, under the state of national emergency.  This, in accordance with the provisions of article 34 of the Emergency and Risk Prevention Law, with respect to the power of the Executive Power to impose temporary restrictions during a national emergency.

 

 

Except in exceptional cases, the movement of vehicles and the transit of people are suspended.  Access to supermarkets, suppliers, grocery stores and health services and pharmacies will be guaranteed without time restriction, but the transfer by vehicle will be subject to the authorized plates for days.

 

All public transport is also suspended, except special transport for essential productive activities and taxi service.

 

Non-circulation of vehicles on public roads.  The list of exceptions will be communicated tomorrow.

 

All public transport is suspended, except special transport for essential productive activities.

 

Restriction to vehicular traffic with the following exceptions: access to supermarkets, pharmacies and health centers without time restrictions.

 

In case of going to the supermarket or pharmacy by vehicle, only the following may circulate:

 

These measures seek to prevent the transfer to recreational sites or that people leave the country using public transport services and thereby reduce the chances of contagion so as not to collapse health services.  The public sector will remain in telework mode and attending to the emergency during Easter and only the law holidays that correspond to Thursday and Friday will be given, to prevent them from vacationing.

 

On April 13, the restrictions in force today will be resumed.

 

With respect to the application of the vehicle restriction during the night of this Tuesday and early Wednesday, 172 parties were reported for violating the sanitary provision issued by the Ministry of Health, 345 fines were also made for various cases.  And 9 drunk drivers were surprised, as reported by the Ministry of Public Safety.