"Social Distancing" and the Coronavirus

We are ending our second week of “social distancing” in an attempt to isolate and slow down the spread of the Coronavirus which has suddenly consumed everyone’s attention for most of the month. By now it is obvious this is a serious pandemic which we have no vaccine and no defenses against except isolation and tracking our exposure patterns.

The measures taken by Costa Rica and governments around the world have left expats in a curious dilemma; should we leave the country and return to the home country and face the virus in our homeland, or should we hunker down here and hope for a quick resolution for the virus? The borders are closed, both coming and going. People are facing mandatory quarantines from wherever they arrive.

We had a trip to Florida planned this month however the flights are cancelled to and from. We couldn’t return home if we decided that travel was safe and smart and, being cooped up in a commercial jet with fifty or a hundred other people doesn’t seem safe or smart. The US State Department has advised all travelling Americans to return to the states if possible. They also said to stay isolated and not make any unnecessary trips. We decided to stay put and ride this out in Costa Rica.

Our daily routine is very simple—early morning coffee, tidy up the house, walk the dog, feed the cats, breakfast and a lite lunch, most days we swim a few laps at the pool (usually by ourselves but rarely with more than three others), about once a week we drive to Puriscal to shop for groceries and supplies, then dinner and early retirement. Throughout the day we spend time reading (Kindle or the news) or checking social media. Its probably not much different that what our friends are doing at home except we are having no shortages to deal with—like toilet paper.

As of today, there were 231 cases in Costa Rica with two deaths. There have been no cases reported in or near Puriscal, so we feel very sheltered.

I hope that feeling continues. Pura Vida friends and be safe.