On March 6, 2020, Costa Rica confirmed their first case of COVID-19. Here is what you need to know about the Costa Rica coronavirus situation.
Costa Rica COVID-19 Confirmed Cases
As of May 17, 2022, Costa Rica has 877,533 cases of COVID-19 (130,122 of those are Por Nexo). Por Nexo is a case without a test if a person living in the same household of someone else who has tested positive starts experiencing symptoms.
- 2034 new cases today, 226 of those are Por Nexo
- 8472 fatalities
- 5135 fatalities were men and 3337 were woman, ages 0 – 105
- 307 people hospitalized, 38 of those in ICU ages 00-89
- 21,026 active cases
- 848,035 recovered
- 100,574, foreigners and 776,959 Costa Ricans
- Population of roughly 5.09 million people
Costa Rica COVID-19 Vaccinations
Costa Rica is currently vaccinating with Pfizer-BioNTech and AstraZeneca. They have begun third and fourth shots for front line workers and senior citizens. They recently opened their vaccinations to anyone in the country. Please check the Costa Rican Seguro Social to see their vaccination statistics.
Border Opening and Closing
Costa Rica closed their borders on March 18, 2020. On November 1, 2020, Costa Rica opened to all countries in the world via air. On April 5, 2021, Costa Rica opened the land borders to Nicaragua and Panama.
Please read our Costa Rica COVID-19 Travel for more important tourist information.
Costa Rica Coronavirus Requirements to Enter the Country for Tourists
As of April 1, 2022, Costa Rica does not require any type of COVID-19 specific requirement to enter the country anymore. No negative test, no quarantine, no travel insurance nor health pass.
However, tourists must follow all sanitary measures for the airport and in the country such as hand washing and temperature taking.
Costa Rica DOES NOT require a negative COVID-19 test or quarantine. **The insurance requirement has been removed on April 1, 2022 (unvaccinated tourists will not need to purchase the insurance anymore) and the health pass has not been mandatory since April 1.
Costa Rica COVID Restrictions and Updates
QR Code Transition Period
All activities and events may operate at 100% WITHOUT proof of vaccination (QR code) as of April 1, 2022.
Costa Rica COVID-19 Timeline
The first confirmed COVID-19 case in Costa Rica was on March 6, 2020. Costa Rica declared a state of emergency on March 16, 2020. The first COVID-19 fatality was on March 18th, 2020.
Where to Get Information About Coronavirus in Costa Rica
Please check the Ministerio de Salud’s (ministry of health) website for the latest up to date information about coronavirus in Costa Rica. They have also created a website specifically for COVID-19 in Costa Rica (covid19.go.cr). For news updates and reports in English, check Tico TImes.
We also update this post frequently to reflect new major changes and statistics.
Do You Need to Wear a Mask in Costa Rica?
As of April 11, 2022, wearing face masks indoors and in public spaces is not a mandatory requirement anymore under the new president’s administration. Face masks will still be in place for health officials. However, some places may still require them and people can still wear them if they wish.
What It’s Been Like Where We Live (Tamarindo area)
Tamarindo is normal. Tourists everywhere, everything’s open, no social distancing. It is how it is used to be pre-COVID.
For Those Who Plan to Visit…
If you plan to travel to Costa Rica, please check the recommendations for international travel of your home country. Be respectful of all laws, regulations and rules Costa Rica has put in place whether you agree with it or not as you are a guest in the country.
Please check our Costa Rica COVID travel post for more details on COVID testing, entry requirements, etc.
If you had to reschedule your trip but not sure for when, the following posts will help you decide.
Wherever you are in the world, let’s all do our part to stay safe and healthy. Have fun but be a responsible traveler.
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