Nicaragua’s economy has been in free fall since 2018, with the current situation worsened by the onset of the Covid-19 Pandemic. President Daniel Ortega and his government have refused to acknowledge and react appropriately to the severity of the virus: healthcare workers were forbidden from wearing protective gear, schools remained open, and public events proceeded as usual. It is now estimated that the number of infected could rise to over 100,000, with over 600 deaths. Mr. Ortega retreated from public view over the past few months, making no public statements to address the pandemic. As the situation deteriorates, soaring unemployment and an increase in poverty could threaten Mr. Ortega’s reign.