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       - Photo via Guanacaste International Airport - |
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Published on Thursday,
December 2, 2021
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff The Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the
United States Department of State announced
the upgrade in the recommendation for travel
to Costa Rica from level 4 to level 3.
The CDC has issued a "Level 3 Travel Health Notice" for Costa Rica indicating a high level of covid-19 in the country. "Your risk of contracting covid-19 and developing severe symptoms may be lower if you are fully vaccinated with an FDA authorized vaccine," the CDC said. The organization also recommends for U.S. citizens, before planning any travel, to review the CDC's specific recommendations for vaccinated and unvaccinated travelers. As well as visiting the U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica webpage for more information on covid-19 in Costa Rica. According to the Tourism Institute, the improvement in the alert level for U.S. citizens to travel to the country brings positive news to the sector. "There is no doubt that this is the result of the good numbers in the management of the pandemic carried out by Costa Rica," said Gustavo Segura, former Minister of Tourism. The improvement in the CDC recommendation is due to the fact that Costa Rica went from having a "very high" level of covid infections to only the "high level" category. The State Department classifies level 4 countries as not recommended for travel. But in level 3, U.S. citizens are recommended to reconsider their trip to Costa Rica due to covid-19. According to the institute, the U.S. is the main market for tourists to the country. This year, from January to October, authorities recorded 647,765 U.S. citizens visited Costa Rica. Just this year, almost one million tourists have visited Costa Rica. All international tourists are permitted to enter Costa Rica by air, land and sea. Tourists must meet the visa requirements, when applicable, as well as the requirements established in the framework of the pandemic. The government of Costa Rica does not require tourists entering by air, land or sea to present a negative covid-19 test, nor quarantine upon arrival. Tourists visiting Costa Rica are requested to abide by the sanitary protocols in place when participating in tourist activities throughout the country. Tourists who are fully vaccinated against covid-19 and individuals aged 18 and younger (even if unvaccinated) can enter the country without travel policy insurance. The only requirement is that the last dose of the vaccine must have been applied at least 14 days before arrival in Costa Rica. The list of authorized vaccines includes AstraZeneca, Janssen, Moderna, Pfizer, Sinovac, Sinopharm and Covaxin. Vaccinated tourists must attach their vaccination certificate to the online Health Pass within 72 hours of arriving in the country. In the case of unvaccinated individuals ages 18 and older or with unauthorized vaccines must purchase a travel policy that is valid for at least 5 days and covers accommodation and medical expenses in the event of covid-19 infection. Tourists can select any international insurance company that meets the following requirements: 1. Valid during the entire stay in Costa Rica (coverage dates). 2. $50,000 for medical expenses, including covid-19 infection. 3. $2,000 for lodging expenses in the event of covid-19 quarantine. Travelers must ask their insurance company for a certified letter in English or Spanish. This certificate must specify that the policy covers covid-19 and must be uploaded to the online Health Pass within 72 hours before arrival in the country, to be reviewed and approved by Costa Rican authorities. Tourists should review the requirements mentioned above before planning their trip to their respective country's embassy or consulate in Costa Rica. ------------------------------- What have you heard about expats getting infected with covid in Costa Rica? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com             |
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