This Sunday, March 8 the National Emergency Commission (CNE) in Costa Rica declared an interinstitutional yellow alert due to the recent rapid cases of coronavirus (Covid-19).

The alert system used in Costa Rica for emergencies simply allows institutions to know how to proceed under particular circumstances.

GREEN ALTERT is issued when a specific phenomenon is expected to affect or endanger a community, region, or the country. This alert simply activates information and communication procedures in the public institutions and for the population. Emergency committees keep close monitoring of the situation.

YELLOW ALERT, is a precautionary state in which emergency mechanisms are on stand-by and prepared to assist, and involves heightened surveillance and monitoring for potential problems. It is issued when it is confirmed that the risk will have a significant affect on the general population.

The condition of yellow alert allows to coordinate and mobilize resources among different institutions and instructs the notification to the Emergency Operations Center twice a day, in this case starting Monday, March 9 at 7:30 a.m.

Emergency committees also must coordinate communication to the population.

The RED ALERT can only be triggered by the President in conjunction with the Board of Directors of the National Emergency Commission and the technical institution or organization specialized in the particular area causing the emergency. This calls for the activation of local, regional and national response mechanisms so that people affected by an emergency or, a natural disaster, get access to necessary resources, relief supplies, search and rescue operations, shelter, etc. and are reconnected via roads, basic services, infrastructure, housing and/or public buildings.