Costa Rica: Officials extend current COVID-19 restrictions through at least July 11 /update 38

Event

Authorities in Costa Rica have extended existing movement and business restrictions nationwide through at least July 12 due to high levels of COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations.

Under the current directives, the use of private vehicles is restricted nationwide on certain days of the week depending on the last number of a vehicle's license plate and according to the following schedule:

Effective June 14-27, authorities are enforcing a system where vehicles ending in two license plate numbers a day cannot circulate, between Mondays and Fridays, according to the following schedule:

Mondays: vehicles with a license plate ending in 1 and 2 cannot circulate
Tuesdays: vehicles with a license plate ending in 3 and 4 cannot circulate
Wednesdays: vehicles with a license plate ending in 5 and 6 cannot circulate
Thursdays: vehicles with a license plate ending in 7 and 8 cannot circulate
Fridays: vehicles with a license plate ending in 9 and 0 cannot circulate
Saturdays: vehicles with a license plate ending in 2, 4, 6, 8, and 0 cannot circulate
Sundays: vehicles with a license plate ending in 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 cannot circulate

Effective June 28, authorities will return to a system banning the use of half of private vehicles each day, according to the following schedule:

June 28: vehicles with a license plate ending in even numbers can circulate (i.e., 2, 4, 6, 8, 0)
June 29: vehicles with a license plate ending in odd numbers can circulate (i.e., 1, 3, 5, 7, 9)
June 30: vehicles with even license plates can circulate
July 1: vehicles with odd license plates can circulate
July 2: vehicles with even license plates can circulate
July 3: vehicles with odd license plates can circulate
July 4: vehicles with even license plates can circulate
July 5: vehicles with odd license plates can circulate
July 6: vehicles with even license plates can circulate
July 7: vehicles with odd license plates can circulate
July 8: vehicles with even license plates can circulate
July 9: vehicles with odd license plates can circulate
July 10: vehicles with even license plates can circulate
July 11: vehicles with odd license plates can circulate

Officials have also extended current business restrictions until at least July 11: bars can operate at 25 percent capacity, event venues can host a maximum of 30 people, and business and academic events must be limited to 150 people. Hotels with more than 100 rooms can operate at 75 percent capacity and places of worship cannot allow more than 200 people. National parks can open at 50 percent capacity. Restaurants, grocery stores, and all other businesses allowed to operate may continue doing so at 50 percent capacity.

Motorists are banned from using private transport 21:00-05:00. Businesses are only able to operate 05:00-21:00 daily. Beaches can open daily 05:00-18:00. All individuals must wear protective facemasks that cover the nose and mouth while in indoor public areas or using public transportation. Mass gathering events remain banned.

Authorities continue to categorize individual cantons depending on local COVID-19 transmission risk using a four-tier color-coded system. The specific tiers are low risk (green), moderate risk (yellow), high risk (orange), and extreme risk (red). Since June 4, all cantons nationwide remain at the high-risk (orange) level.

International Travel Restrictions
Costa Rica's international travel restrictions have remained unchanged since late April. All travelers, including nonresident foreign nationals, are allowed to enter Costa Rica by air regardless of their country of origin. Foreign travelers are no longer required to provide a negative result from a COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test prior to entering the country. However, they must still complete the required health affidavit (Health Pass) and have sufficient insurance to cover lodging and health expenses.

The nation's land borders have also reopened for nonresident foreign nationals. Visitors must complete the government Health Pass and have sufficient insurance to cover any potential health expenses. Travelers entering Costa Rica, including residents, are no longer required to undergo a self-quarantine period upon arrival. The country's maritime borders remain mostly closed to visitors, although certain private boats are allowed to enter.

Authorities could reimpose, extend, further ease, or otherwise amend any restrictions with little-to-no notice, depending on disease activity over the coming weeks.