September Restrictions and More Updates

I attended the COVID-Updates Press Conference today where the Minister Daniel Salas confirmed that the daytime vehicle restriction will be lifted on Saturdays and Sundays, but not only that, we also had the opportunity to asked him directly about vaccines for residents. Keep reading to get the official details from Casa Presidencial.

Driving Restrictions

The following are the restrictions for the month of September, if you wish to see August’s calendar click here to read our previous update.

 The daytime vehicle restriction will be eliminated on Saturdays and Sundays, that is, vehicle circulation will not be restricted between 5:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m.

The restriction of two plates on week days and the generalized night restriction from 10:00 p.m to 5:00 a.m  will remain.

Dr. Salas, Minister of Health explained that this decision is based on an analysis conducted by the Universidad de Costa Rica (University of Costa Rica, UCR) that concluded that the strict application of the protocols, the advance of vaccination along with the nocturnal sanitary vehicle restriction have a greater impact on reducing contagion levels.

Important Information for Foreigners in Costa Rica

During the conference other colleagues asked him if the government considered the rise in cases, and hospitalization statistics when drafting the changes that they announced today, to which Dr. Salas replied that they did. Another critical question asked was if they have considered requesting a negative PCR test to tourists when they visit the country and he explained that such tests have not proven to actually work in this case. Salas said that due to the test being applied 72 hours before, and many people not showing any symptoms, the test does not guarantee people do not have the virus, or that they might become infected -within 72 hours.

Then it was our turn to ask a question and we did not want to waste the opportunity to advocate for the community, I explained to Dr. Salas that we know the general guideline from CAJA (Caja Costarricense del Seguro Social) was that residents with DIMEX should be able to get their vaccines. However, I continued, we have been told that numerous people have different experiences and some have been denied their vaccines. Another issue is that many do not speak Spanish. “What can we do in those cases?” was my question to him, to which he specified:

“This past Tuesday, the National Vaccination Committee analyzed this topic precisely, people with a regular residency status, with DIMEX but it happens that they cannot receive their vaccine because they either have to register in EDUS (CAJA’s app), or they are asked for a bill (usually at local EBAIS in order to register you have to provide proof of your address with an invoice or bill that shows it) but they are required to have their DIMEX up to date. So this Committee instructed CAJA that they must vaccine them (those with valid DIMEX) even if that means to do some changes like adding residents into an alternative data base.”

He further explained that the only thing that residents need to get their vaccine is a valid DIMEX, and in the case of refugees they just need their “refugee application”. In addition, he added that concerning language barriers what he can advised is to go with an Interpreter so that they can help with simultaneous-translation.

This means that we finally have confirmation, directly from Dr. Salas, that if you are a resident with regular status and your DIMEX is valid you have the right to a vaccine. The same goes for refugees, please do let us know if there are cases where you are still denied so that we can follow-up.

Pilot Plan at the National Stadium

In order to review specific protocols and assess if in the future sports, activities with a greater presence of the public can be done in open spaces, the Sports and Recreation Minister said that they have created this plan of four events where a maximum attendance of 3,000 people at a distance of 1.8 meters, will be allowed.

These events are: the matches of the Senior Men’s Soccer Team on September 5th and 8th, as well as the friendly games of the Women’s U-20 Soccer Team on September 16 and 19.. All of them will be held in the National Stadium, since it has the best conditions because is one of the open spaces with the greatest capacity and with a specific protocol to carry out these supervised trial events.

Based on the strict review of the application of the protocols and their results in these four events, the authorities will evaluate the potential increase in public attendance in activities at open and semi-open spaces such as artistic, recreational and sports activities.

Bars at 50% Maximum Capacity Starting in October

It was also announced that the maximum capacity in bars would be increased from 25% (current capacity) to 50% as of October 1st. With this modification, September will be the last month in which the owners of bars will be able to function as sodas, restaurants or cafeterias.

This measure came into effect a year ago, at the time when the bars were closed, to allow the operation of these establishments with a modification of their service. This change responds to the fact that starting in October bars will have the same capacity as restaurants and similar services.

During the conference, the leaders emphasized that the new and current measures are under permanent review and will remain subject to the evolution of the pandemic in the country.

What Stays the Same During September.

1. Establishments with a sanitary operating license may operate from Monday to Sunday between 5:00 am and 10:00 pm, complying with a distance of 1.8 meters, respecting social bubbles, mandatory use of a mask and the application of the specific protocol. Home deliveries are enabled 24 hours a day.
2.  Hotels with more than 100 rooms will continue with a capacity of 75% of their maximum capacity.
3.  The capacity of places of worship, academic and business activities, as well as establishments with a sanitary operating license for artistic activities; in closed spaces they hold a capacity of up to 500 people with a distance of 1.8 meters, respecting social bubbles, mandatory use of a mask and the application of the specific protocol. Likewise, the social event rooms will continue with a capacity of up to 100 people, complying with a distance of 1.8 meters, respecting social bubbles, mandatory use of a mask and the application of the specific protocol.
4.  The restriction of buses without standing people is maintained. The trains will be able to operate with 26 people standing, according to the INCOFER protocol.
5. The beaches will have hours from 5:00 am to 8:00 pm throughout the country.
6.  Public institutions remain in teleworking mode under the basic operating plan, except for regional offices for customer service and institutions involved in emergency care.