Central America faces rise in COVID-19 cases

In Costa Rica, public health concerns are colliding with constitutional guarantees for the upcoming February 6 presidential and congressional elections.

Electoral authorities are encouraging those infected with coronavirus to skip voting in the national elections as the rapid spread of the omicron variant throughout Latin America leads some countries to tighten restrictions while others try to wait it out.

Costa Rica's daily infection totals have already been exceeding the country's records for the pandemic. So far, the government's restrictions have been limited to making soccer clubs play without fans and trying to take more cars off the road.

Two other Central American countries, Panama, and Honduras that alongside Costa Rica saw cases more than double during the past week, have not imposed any restrictions.

Still, the effects of omicron are emerging as governments in the region struggle to keep up with the testing.