The Ministry of Health has issued a statement regarding mass gatherings, which could jeopardize the resumption of the 2020 National Circuit and a possible normal start to the 2021 competitions.

Yesterday, the Ministry of Health issued an official statement regarding temporary administrative measures for managing mass gatherings due to the COVID-19 health alert.

The statement addresses the issue of rescheduling events with large crowds that also promote travel from various parts of the country and abroad, and quotes the following verbatim:

“Without prejudice to the provisions of Article 7 of Decree 42221-S, no activity may be rescheduled before January 2021.

After this month, the rescheduling will be done under strict regulations of gradual and progressive capacity as follows:

- Rescheduled events from January 2021 will only be able to have a maximum capacity of 50%.

- Rescheduled events from February 2021 will only be able to have a maximum capacity of 75%.

- Rescheduled events, starting in March 2021, will be able to have a 100% capacity.

In all cases, the capacity percentage will be defined in accordance with the capacity established in the respective operating permit or health authorization granted to each establishment or activity. Furthermore, in all cases, the health measures issued by the Ministry of Health must be followed, and the possibility of rescheduling must take into account that the aforementioned assumptions do not confer acquired rights for the owners, producers, and any other party involved in the regulated activity should another health provision be issued pursuant to the exception stipulated in Article 7 of this Decree.
It is therefore understood that if the COVID-19 health emergency situation persists, the rescheduling of mass gathering activities may not be authorized.”

Taking this pronunciation literally and based on our sporting discipline which is surfing, we could understand that the National Surf Circuit, being considered a mass gathering event requiring the movement of people from different parts of the country and outside of it, could therefore be declared void in 2020.

The Costa Rican Surfing Federation has not yet commented on the matter; however, President Randall Chaves told us the following:

“Any activity with more than 20 people is classified as a mass event. However, in the protocol we submitted to the Ministry of Health, we stated that we will hold events without an audience and close the areas where the activity takes place. Even so, access to the beaches is a maritime-terrestrial zone and is free for the transit of people. We have seen the document submitted by the Ministry of Health and will await their pronouncement based on our area of ​​responsibility, since, as I mentioned before, the protocol we submitted covers the scope of our authority.”

The 2020 National Surf Circuit has held two of the seven scheduled dates, and at the moment there is uncertainty about what action will be taken to proclaim new national champions.

In the coming days, the Costa Rican Surfing Federation may issue a statement regarding these new guidelines and the return to competitions.

You can read the full statement from the Ministry of Health here: https://www.ministeriodesalud.go.cr/sobre_ministerio/prensa/docs/medidas_administrativas_temporales_actividades_concentracion_masiva_v05_f3_01082020.pdf

Photos: Alfredo Barquero

Written by: Enrique Hernández

General Management: Marco Montero