Costa Rica During The Coronavirus
My family has chosen to self-isolate in the jungle of Costa Rica during the Coronavirus pandemic of 2020 also known as COVID-19. “Costa Rica has now confirmed 621 cases of COVID-19 in the country. ” My family has had little to no physical contact with the outside world since March 17, 2020.
The government once again has extended the last orders that were put into place on April 8, 2020. The new date is April 30, 2020, in hopes to slow the speed of the disease. Borders will remain closed and driving restrictions will stay in place at this time. The country I was once able to have the privilege of travel though freely has once again restricted my public and personal transportation. Over the holiday weekend, based off of my license plate number our driving was restricted. I was not allowed to drive on the roads while public transportation stopped. I’m now restricted to certain hours on certain days of the week. During these hours I can only go to the supermarket, pharmacy, or health centers.
Citizens are allowed in with quarantine measures. At this moment I would not be allowed back in on a tourist visa until at least April 30th. The last flight leaving Costa Rica back to the United States during April 2020 is now full. Airlines, including Delta and United, are currently planning to resume operations in early May out of San Jose airport once the travel ban is lifted. They are selling tickets for these flights however they warn that due to the medical state of emergency, these flights could be delayed or canceled in a moment’s notice.
Our Status In Costa Rica During The Coronavirus
Our US Passports have not expired. My daughter and my passports hold Costa Rica 90-day visa stamps reading “3 ENE 2020”. Our visa stamps valid until April 2, 2020, are now expired. The government has extended the expired date until “May 17, 2020”. My husband’s Visa will expire on June 14, 2020. At this moment in time, we are all here legally.
We have a running vehicle full of gas that we can’t drive, fresh food is starting to run low, but I have dry beans and rice, running water, power, and propane to cook with. On the last supply run the store shelves were full of fresh food, produce, can foods, personal hygiene and cleaning product. Limits to some of these items had been restricted to three per household.
My family is healthy if that changes for any reason. I have access to both public and private healthcare. We will pay for out of my pocket for this care. We have used these services over the last five years and been very impressed. At this time, if I or a family member gets sick with the Coronavirus the government has offered free treatment. I’m over an hour away from any medical care provider or facility, either private or public. Although healthcare is further away and will take longer to get help, I feel I can get any treatment needed here.
I Feel Safe Right Now
The first rain of the season came last night brings new life to me and the dried-out jungle. I feel safe and my needs are met. I continue to grow in my relationship with my God as I self-isolated with little to no physical contact with other people. My family continues with their daily online routine of work and school. My life does not look much different than it did before the world crises.
Costa Rica has been my home for five years. I’m a little scared while being extremely homesick because I miss my parents and children who are all stateside. My doctors in the US and Costa Rica have both informed me for months that I’m at high risk for COVID-19 and its unsafe me to travel at this moment in time.
Doctors, Embassy, and Lawyers
I have made informed decisions to self-isolates with my family in the jungles of Costa Rica. This decision was not made lightly. I consulted with both my US and Costa Rica Doctors who all advised me to stay here. We have reviewed and assessed the information and advisement of both the United States and Costa Rican Embassies. Consideration was also given to the legal information we have received from Outlier Law Services. I have no plans of moving back to the United States at this time. I’m in hopes that my visa will be extended, or I’m allowed to exit and re-enter with a new 90-day visa stamp to the country that I called home.
I miss my days on sandy beaches and spending time with my friends. We will continue to spend today in self-isolation away from others, but most importantly it is a new day. I’m healthy and happy as I sit on my porch with the love of my life breathing in the fresh air of the flowers that are blooming around us. We watch the branches of the tree sway in the breeze while the morning sun shines on their new budding leaves displaying the brilliance of bright colors of green, yellow and red. I witness that even in times of darkness there is new life.
Stay safe everyone!
