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Puntarenas Province complies with the requests of the Government of Costa Rica in the face of the global COVID-19 pandemic.

With only two confirmed cases in the canton of Coto Brus, this is how the province of Puntarenas is responding to the national emergency caused by the coronavirus.

By fully complying with the requests of the Ministry of Health, the province, geographically mostly coastal, assumes its responsibility for the well-being of its people and the country in general.

Today, a total closure of the country's beaches was ordered; however, according to Diego Calvo, father of Costa Rican surfer Leonardo Calvo, this request had already been complied with a few days ago.

The Calvo family lives in Boca Barranca, a place belonging to the canton of El Roble, Puntarenas, and in this note we will continue to report more about the situation in the coastal areas during the COVID-19 quarantine.

How have measures been taken in response to the coronavirus in Puntarenas?

The people of the canton are complying with the regulations issued by the authorities; in Puntarenas, the response has been excellent. The province is a popular tourist destination, however, very few tourists have been seen, and many restaurants and businesses have closed. In Boca Barranca, a well-known surfing spot, people are no longer going, thus respecting the health regulations.

What measures have been taken in your family to comply with the prevention measures?

In my family we are closely following the daily reports, but beyond listening, it's about raising awareness and avoiding going out, staying home, cleaning, paying attention to personal hygiene, and waiting for everyone to comply with the orders.

How have you been managing with the work you normally did?

It's quite difficult. I own a seafood business, and I have clients in Jacó Beach, Herradura Beach, and some places in San José, and they've all canceled orders. So I've been out of work for practically a week, and who knows how much longer it will be like this, since the economy is being hit hard. We also have a hotel here in Boca Barranca, and it's closed too, following the guidelines and hoping things improve.

What message would you give to the people in the area to encourage them to continue following hygiene standards?

I urge everyone to become aware of the magnitude of the problem we are experiencing, to realize that we need to make changes in our lives, that we need to take care of ourselves and the people we love. One way to do this is by following the guidelines, practicing good hygiene, and staying home. And although it can sometimes be frustrating, there's a very important point here that I think is the mental aspect. We need to try to influence how we perceive things. Whether you're a believer or not, the important thing is to try to have faith and believe that all of this will change. We Costa Ricans tend to be dramatic, but we need to remain calm, not despair, stay united as families, share our experiences, and fight together. Good things can come from bad situations, and even if we don't see it that way, I'm sure that something good will come out of this, and we will move forward with great hope.

Written by: Enrique Hernández

General Management: Marco Montero