Coronavirus: Kiwi tourist stranded in Costa Rica and $8000 out of pocket

A Kiwi man stranded in South America says he isn't sure how he will get home because of the coronavirus pandemic, after spending $8000 on flights.

Seth Reid spoke to Stuff while stranded in Costa Rica, desperately trying to find a route back to New Zealand as airlines across the world cancel flights and countries close borders. 

The Christchurch man was on a solo, eight-week trip around Latin America, after recovering from cancer in December.

He had booked an early return flight to New Zealand last week when he and his family were starting to worry about Covid-19.

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But then his flight from Buenos Aires was cancelled, as well as his connecting flights from Costa Rica. 

"All flights from here to Buenos Aires are gone now and not likely to come back for at least until the end of the month.

"I know I could have come home faster but I started making preparations well before anyone was saying. It all changed in literal days," he said.

Reid can speak conversational Spanish and has a local friend trying to help him sort out accommodation.

But he is not sure how he will fare if he has to stay indefinitely. 

"It's very scary and I don't know what is going to happen next," he said.

"I have no job at the moment and wil be relying on my dad...it's going to be hard."

He is also due for a blood test soon, as well as cancer check-ups.

"I don't know what is going to happen next and the idea of being sick here scares me."

More than 80,000 Kiwis could be left stranded overseas.

The Government on Thursday told New Zealanders travelling to consider returning home immediately.

What you need to know

Covid-19 is a respiratory disease caused by a recently discovered coronavirus. It spreads via droplets from the nose or mouth expelled when a person with the disease coughs, sneezes or exhales. To avoid infection, people should stay at least a metre away from someone who has, or may have, the virus.

The viral incubation period, that is time between catching the virus and showing symptoms, ranges between 1-14 days.

The most common symptoms are fever, tiredness and dry cough. Some patients may have aches and pains, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat or diarrhoea. Some people become infected but don't develop symptoms or become unwell. 

From what we know thus far, about four in five people recover without needing special treatment. About one in six become seriously ill and develop difficulty breathing. About one in 50 die.

Key information: Sign up to get Stuff's daily coronavirus situation report email newsletter. It's a quick summary of the essential updates from New Zealand and around the world on Covid-19.