COSTA RICA

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The following information has been collected and collated by convergence consulting in collaboration with our in-country Global Alliance Partner.  Please let us know if you have additional questions by emailing us at COVID-19@cc-global.com.

1.      Does your country’s health authority have guidelines or requirements for when COVID-19 cases are classified work-related and reported as a workplace illness?

COVID-19 is not currently classified as a work-related illness; however, on April 20, 2020, Executive Order 42317 was signed which states that workers are required to “report any contagion risk situation identified in the workplace.”

Specific details about this reporting requirement can be found at: http://www.pgrweb.go.cr/scij/Busqueda/Normativa/Normas/nrm_texto_completo.aspx?param1=NRTC&nValor1=1&nValor2=91095&nValor3=120196&strTipM=TC

Also, on May 12, the Ministry of Health published Guideline LS-CS-009 for owners and managers of workplaces, which states that “if a worker is ill, they shall report to their supervisor right away and head to the company doctor’s office (or their corresponding health center, in case the workplace does not have a doctor’s office), in order to receive instructions as to how to proceed”.  It also states that “when a worker is suspected of having contracted COVID-19, general guidelines for the management of cases classified as; ‘suspected, probable or confirmed’, should be followed”.

General guidelines for the workplace regarding the pandemic, including employers’ responsibility to address suspected cases, can be found here: https://www.ministeriodesalud.go.cr/sobre_ministerio/prensa/docs/lineamiento_general_propietarios_administradores_centros_trabajo_12052020.pdf

2.      Is there information on the timing of “return to work” and the process for a worker to return, i.e. examination by a physician, or a negative COVID test?

There is no specific information on the timing of “return to work.”

However, the Ministry of Health issued guidelines for the vigilance of suspected, probable and confirmed cases, which also indicate when and how a case is considered to be recovered, and so could potentially return to work.  In general terms, an asymptomatic patient without risk factors will be discharged on day 17 since the first appearance of symptoms and after two tests with negative results in a 24-hour period.  The discharge date will be postponed four additional days if the test on day 17 results positive, provided the test on day 21 results negative.  If the second test is positive, the discharge date will be postponed to day 28, when a new test will be performed.

For patients with immunosuppression or who have been hospitalized, a clinical assessment and two negative tests within 48 hours are required for discharge.

For additional information and details about the above guidelines, visit: https://www.ministeriodesalud.go.cr/sobre_ministerio/prensa/docs/lineamientos_nacionales_vigilancion_infeccion_coronavirus_v12_24042020.pdf

3.      Does your country’s health authority have COVID-19 mitigation guidelines for the public and/or for business?  If so, please list them below and how long they will be in place. 

The following restrictions are in place from April 13 – May 30, 2020

Transportation

  • Traveling by car is banned between 10pm and 5am (as of May 13, since a restriction between 8pm and 5am was in place prior to that date).  Additionally, a car travel ban is in place on some days based on the last digit of the car’s license plate number.  Non-essential car travel is banned on weekends.

  • Public transportation buses and trains are not allowed to have standing passengers and may operate between 4am and 11pm.

  • Ferries may operate two trips per day.

  • All international passenger travel is banned.

Consumer services

  • Allowed to operate from 5am to 7pm at 50% capacity.  Only delivery, take-out and drive-through services are allowed on weekends.

  • Bars, night clubs, theaters and cinemas remain closed.

Public services

  • Expected to operate with 20% of their personnel on site and whoever else is essential to provide basic services.  Workers aged 65 or with health conditions that make them susceptible to COVID-19 are exempted from their duties.

Education

4.      Which governmental authority issued these guidelines, and are they voluntary or mandatory?

All guidelines are issued by the Ministry of Health.  They are all mandatory.

5.      Do these mitigation measures have any consequence, such as, if a person does not abide by these measures must they pay a fine or go to jail?

Monetary fines have been put in place for violations regarding transportation and operation of businesses.  Individuals who violate mandatory quarantine or attempt to leave the country after testing positive for COVID-19 are subject to prosecution.

6.      Has your country adopted any laws or regulations related to COVID-19?

Yes.  A total of 51 new laws have been implemented to support and make legally viable the guidelines and restrictions mentioned above, as well as to make monetary aid available for vulnerable citizens.

The data presented here is not a complete analysis of all COVID-19 information; however, our in-country Partner will provide updates as and when considered appropriate and as relevant data becomes available.  If you have any additional questions, or request for country information, please email us at COVID-19@cc-global.com with additional inquiries.

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Convergence

convergence is an environmental, health, safety and social management consultancy that specializes in multi-country (international) projects and programs.  We are able to meet our clients’ needs on a global scale while recognizing the important regional differences that our clients face in conducting business. Our country health and safety legal compliance tools for offices, retail and service sectors, known as CORE, are the foremost resource of its kind.