The fear of the coronavirus, both warranted and excessive, has an impact on day to day life in Costa Rica at this point.
The Government has put forth a number of restrictions to stop the spread of COVID-19. 15 concerts scheduled for this month have been cancelled. Expomovil has been postponed. No one with a cough will be allowed in a movie theater. Closed door sports games have been cancelled.
Children are not typically an at risk group so schools will remain open. Some universities however will offer telecommuting and online classes. Others ask students who have travelled to stay home for a week and those with respiratory symptoms to stay home for five days.
The Catholic church was asked to not offer communion by hand and to not shake hands as is usually done as a sign of peace. This is to limit contact between people and lessen the chance of spreading the virus.
These emergency measures will be maintained for at least two to three weeks.
