|
|
|
|
Que Pasa Grecia
2021 Update 2
New in Que Pasa Grecia
Into the new year we do have a few new items on Que Pasa Grecia: a motorcycle, a commercial floor scrubber, a PC to TV converter, a Magic Bullet blender, and a sewing machine for sale. Also, we have a house for rent in Sarchi and a house for sale in Naranjo, and a B&B for sale or lease near Santa Gertrudis Norte. In addition, we have a recommendation in our Services & Resources section for a team doing foam padding replacement for furniture and autos.
COVID-19 News and Vaccines in Costa Rica
Over 150,000 COVID-19 injections have been administered—mostly to medical workers and folks 80 and over. It does appear that Costa Rica will soon begin calling the group of citizens and residents ages 58-79. However, don’t depend on your EBAIS calling you. From personal experience and word-of-mouth, I can say that the vaccine administration system through CAJA can be, and is, a bit chaotic. Call and follow up on your registration for the vaccine.
It’s Still Best to Be Registered to Receive the Vaccine
In order to be scheduled and called with a vaccination appointment when it’s your turn, you are supposed to be registered with your local EBAIS CAJA clinic. Some of you who use the CAJA regularly, are PROBABLY already registered. However, don’t assume that your local CAJA facility: 1) is where your vaccination will be administered; 2) that your phone number is known and filed with your local CAJA; or 3) don’t assume you will be called when it is your turn—be proactive.
Be Alert
It is clear that the new COVID-19 strains are significantly more contagious than their predecessor. In general, there appears to be some degree less efficacy of the vaccines against some of the new strains and there is mounting evidence that some strains are more lethal.
Right or wrong, the country is in the process of easing COVID-19 restrictions. This may be a bit premature. So, please be careful—social distance and wear your mask in public.
Remember, we may be done with COVID-19, but the continuing daily number of new cases in Costa Rica shows us that COVID-19 is not done with us.
Driving Restrictions Eased
Beginning 1 March, all daytime driving restrictions, including weekends, have been removed. The exception again—daily restrictions by license number in metro San Jose. The nighttime driving curfew has been reduced—it is now from 11pm-5am.
Visas/Driver’s License Reprieve for Perpetual Tourists
A last-minute extension to allow driving to be tied to expired visas is being implemented. There are a number of details still being worked out. The visa driving reprieve will be extended three months until 2 June for those tourists who entered the country between 18 December 2019 and 30 November 2020. Go to Outlier Legal’s website, outlierlegal.com, for up-to-date details.
In addition, Outlier Legal is preparing a petition to make the country’s visa program synchronized with driving privileges for extranjeros who have applied for residency. Thus, it would eliminate the need to leave the country every 90 days for visa renewals in order to validate driver’s licenses in Costa Rica while the residency application is being processed.
Students Are Big Victims of the IMF/Costa Rica Loan Agreement
Kids don't vote and so, as usual, schools are vulnerable to having vital resources withheld and being victimized by budget cuts to meet austerity commitments made to the International Monetary Fund, IMF, to obtain loans to fund government operations.
Meal lunch budgets were the first to be cut. Snacks instead of lunchs are now the mandate with the government recommending additional meal supplies and funding be augmented by parents - a virtual impossibility for impoverished parents without jobs who send their children to school for their primary or often only meal of the day.
Now, the government has proposed an across the board 40% school funding cut. Who knows where this will put Costa Rica's schools in their effort to education the nation's children if implemented. I am certain that the public schools in your neighborhood would be very appreciative of any support you can provide.
Note: 1 Jan. a New 1% Tax on Internet Services Imposed to Fund the Red Cross
“Ponerse de mala leche”
To get bent out of shape.
Thank you Isabel Arguello for your continuing contributions.
Isabel teaches Spanish and does translations.
Find out more about Isabel on the QuePasaGrecia website.
Stay safe, wear a mask (or two) and get vaccinated as soon as you can,
D. Davis, editor
Diane Cooner, webmaster
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
