CORONAVIRUS - CURRENT SITUATION AT OUR SPANISH IMMERSION SCHOOL
Do you want to stay up to date on:
- How our Spanish immersion school evolves and adapts during the coronavirus pandemic?
- In what way we keep adjusting our Spanish immersion programs in compliance with the coronavirus situation and health restrictions?
- What is it like studying in Heredia or at the beach right now?
Then keep checking this page regularly!
Samara Beach Campus and the Heredia City Campus are both operating with strict hygiene protocols.
Read more about the requirements etc. below or in the FAQs
CORONAVIRUS SITUATION IN COSTA RICA
Our schools are open!
As of June, 12th 2022:
The U.S. government announced that it will eliminate the requirement that U.S travelers present a negative COVID-19 test before departure. The measure is lifted for tourists from all countries going to the United States by air.
As of May, 10th 2022:
The Government of the Republic of Costa Rica eliminates the mandatory use of masks in enclosed spaces.
Intercultura respects the national norms and laws established by the Government, so officially the use of masks is not mandatory within the institution. This applies to teaching, administrative, cleaning, and security personnel, as well as to clients and the general public.
Cases in which the use of masks is mandatory within Intercultura's facilities:
- External or internal client presenting symptoms of flu, cough, runny nose, etc., associated with respiratory infections.
- If an external client requests to be attended by staff wearing a mask.
- In the event of a positive internal case of Covid19 and urgent collective safeguarding is required, while another source of infection is ruled out. The period of use will be subject to the process established by the Ministry of Health.
In the end, we respect that it is an individual decision whether to wear or not the mask and, above all, to maintain hand washing and sneezing protocol.
In the event that in the future the Ministry of Health modifies the guideline for the use of masks, we will be communicating the new procedures.
- All activities and businesses can function at full capacity without requiring proof of vaccination.
- Tourists will no longer need to fill out the health pass in order to enter the country.
- Tourists no longer need to provide proof of health insurance to enter the country.
For a return to or through the US:
Effective November 8, 2021, all non-immigrant, non-U.S. citizen air travelers to the United States will be required to be fully vaccinated and to provide proof of vaccination status prior to boarding an airplane to the United States.
U.S. citizens and Legal Permanent Residents (LPRs) who are eligible to travel but are not fully vaccinated will need to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken one (1) day before their flight. U.S citizens and LPRs who are fully vaccinated will need to present airlines with proof of vaccination and of a negative COVID-19 test taken three (3) days before their flight. ** All air passengers ages 2 or older, regardless of citizenship or vaccination status, must show a negative result of a COVID-19 viral test or documentation of recovery from COVID-19 before they board a flight to the United States. **
Both PCR and Antigen tests are available in Costa Rica. Most results are available within 24 hours. ** Intercultura staff will set up the appointment for students ** Persons receiving a positive COVID-19 test may receive a mandatory quarantine order for 10-14 days, depending on the severity of the infection. Intercultura will assist in setting up food and housing for this period; expenses must be covered by the student and will be reimbursed through their insurance.
Sources:
As of Sunday, November 1, tourists from anywhere in the world can visit Costa Rica.
The land borders with Panama and Nicaragua remain closed until April 5, 2021.
All visitors, regardless of vaccination status, must also complete an online Health Pass (Pase de Salud) 48 hours prior to travel to Costa Rica. The Health Pass can be found at https://salud.go.cr. Visitors will receive a QR code associated with their Health Pass.
Minors under 18 years of age and adult tourists fully vaccinated against COVID-19 with Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech, AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson, Sinovac, Sinopharm, and Covaxin vaccines are no longer required to show proof of travel insurance. In the case of visitors from the United States, the “COVID-19 vaccination record card” will be accepted. Foreigners will be able to enter COSTA RICA if they carry a vaccination certificate or card that contains at least the following information:
- Name of the person who received the vaccine
- Date of each dose
- Pharmaceutical company
Unvaccinated adult visitors traveling to Costa Rica will no longer be required to provide proof of a medical insurance policy to cover any COVID-19 related medical treatment or quarantine lodging while in Costa Rica.
Costa Rica will welcome tourists who obtain any qualifying travel insurance policy, even if the policy was not purchased through the National Insurance Institute (INS).
Previously, tourists were obligated to purchase a policy through INS. Local chambers and international groups alike criticized the limitation.
International tourists entering the country will be allowed to do so with a travel insurance policy that meets the following requirements:
- The policy is valid throughout their scheduled visit to Costa Rica.
- It covers medical expenses in Costa Rica related to COVID-19 of at least $50,000.*
- It includes a minimum coverage of $2,000 for accommodation expenses related to COVID-19.
Some of the measures ICT will require of tourists who purchase foreign travel policies:
- The Costa Rica Tourism Board will receive a request from the tourist. That request must include:
- A signed declaration indicating the policy meets the requirements.
- Proof from the insurance company indicating the policy covers the tourist(s).
- Tourists will receive a response to their request within 24 hours on workdays, or 48 hours on weekends/holidays.
- If the policy does not meet the requirements, the tourist will be notified. They will have 24 hours to correct the issue, or they can purchase a plan that has been pre-approved by the General Insurance Superintendency.
- If the policy meets requirements and is approved, ICT will send the tourist a QR code that must be shown to Costa Rican immigration authorities at the airport. The relevant documents from Step 1 must also be submitted as part of the digital Health Pass that is required for all travelers.
What we at Intercultura Costa Rica Spanish Schools do:
We inform our clients on this website or on our social media on a regular basis about the actual situation in Costa Rica.
We ask everyone for help and participation in order to navigate this situation together, for the good of everyone.
We have implemented every measure and precaution to create a safe environment.
- All personnel must wear a mask if they have to attend to the public.
- Facilities are cleaned and disinfected 4 times a day.
- There are gel alcohol dispensers in every part of the school.
We ask everyone to wash their hands as outlined by the Ministerio de Salud regularly, and for at least 20 seconds.
Regularly and thoroughly clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with soap and water.
Why? Washing your hands with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand rub kills viruses that may be on your hands.
Maintain at least 1-meter (3 feet) distance between yourself and anyone who is coughing or sneezing.
Why? When someone coughs or sneezes, they spray small liquid droplets from their nose or mouth which may contain virus. If you are too close, you can breathe in the droplets, including the COVID-19 virus if the person coughing has the disease.
Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth.
Why? Hands touch many surfaces and can pick up viruses. Once contaminated, hands can transfer the virus to your eyes, nose or mouth. From there, the virus can enter your body and can make you sick.
Make sure you, and the people around you, follow good respiratory hygiene. This means covering your mouth and nose with your bent elbow or tissue when you cough or sneeze. Then dispose of the used tissue immediately.
Why? Droplets spread virus. By following good respiratory hygiene, you protect the people around you from viruses such as cold, flu and COVID-19.
Stay home if you feel unwell. If you have a fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical attention and call in advance. Follow the directions of your local health authority.
Why? National and local authorities will have the most up to date information on the situation in your area. Calling in advance will allow your health care provider to quickly direct you to the right health facility. This will also protect you and help prevent spread of viruses and other infections.
Keep up to date on the latest COVID-19 hotspots (cities or local areas where COVID-19 is spreading widely). If possible, avoid traveling to places – especially if you are an older person or have diabetes, heart or lung disease.
Why? You have a higher chance of catching COVID-19 in one of these areas.
Costa Rica does not require a negative coronavirus test to enter or exit the country. However, many foreign countries (e.g. the United States, Canada) do still require a negative test if flying into or transiting through those nations.
More than 100 private labs across Costa Rica offer PCR and/or antigen coronavirus tests. Click here for a list. Note that antigen tests are accepted by the U.S. but are not valid for entry to many countries, including Canada.