Authorities in Costa Rica said on Tuesday that all state workers will need to be vaccinated against Covid-19, making it one of the first countries in Latin America to impose a coronavirus vaccination mandate.
Private companies across the country will also be able to mandate vaccination for their own employees, the health ministry said in a statement. No deadline was given for when employees must comply.
Some 300 000 people work in the public sector of the Central American nation of about 5 million, whose economy depends heavily on tourism. About 40% of the population has been fully vaccinated but big gaps remain, as almost 30% of Costa Ricans have not received even a single shot.
The Social Security Fund, which runs Costa Rica’s public hospital system, has since February required immunisation against Covid-19 for all its workers.
On Monday, the University of Costa Rica, the country’s biggest university, also announced a vaccination mandate.
The health authorities did not outline the consequences for employees who refuse to take a vaccine, saying “it will be the employer’s responsibility to take measures according to the country’s legislation and institutional regulations.
Source: Reuters
In other news – SK Khoza’s bae responds to the alleged breakup rumours
Mzansi is convinced that SK Khoza and his fiancé Ayanda Hlongwane have called it quits. The big giveaway was the fact that he removed any evidence of ever being involved with the dentist on Instagram.
She too has been spotted many times not wearing her engagement ring and subsequently removed the “fiancée to SK Khoza” as her Instagram bio. Learn more
