No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeNewsCosta RicaCosta Rica reaches 22 confirmed cases of coronavirus

Costa Rica reaches 22 confirmed cases of coronavirus

Costa Rica has 22 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus, the Health Ministry reported Wednesday afternoon. The figure marks a nine-person increase over yesterday’s tally.

The national reference lab, located at INCIENSA, has ruled out 118 suspected cases after those samples tested negative. The lab has a capacity for 90 tests per day.

The Health Ministry will no longer report suspected cases of COVID-19, the agency’s director, Daniel Salas, said Wednesday.

The patients with confirmed cases range from 10 to 73 years old. Nineteen of the 22 are Costa Ricans; the remaining three are U.S. citizens. The patients contain two elderly adults and two children, Salas said.

The following cantons have presented confirmed COVID-19 cases:

  • Alajuela
  • Escazú (San José province)
  • Desamparados (San José province)
  • San José
  • San Pablo (Heredia province)
  • Grecia (Alajuela province)
  • Tibás (San José province)
  • Heredia
  • Santa Cruz (Guanacaste province)

The World Health Organization on Wednesday declared COVID-19 a pandemic.

“This will continue spreading throughout the country,” Salas said. “What we have to ensure is that it doesn’t transmit in a massive form in the upcoming weeks.”

The Health Ministry said it does not have any specific recommendations regarding international travel, but noted travelers may face quarantines or other measures when abroad.

“With a virus of this nature, if you close your borders to one country, or two, or three, you’re still going to get it,” Salas said. “It is a global virus.”

At least seven schools have closed temporary or transitioned to online courses. The University of Costa Rica (UCR) on Wednesday asked faculty to suspend in-person courses.

The Social Security System (Caja) has instructed public hospitals to postpone some elective procedures in preparation for coronavirus-related hospitalizations, said Román Macaya, the institution’s president. The Caja has a capacity of 5,500 beds throughout Costa Rica, of which approximately 40% are occupied by elective procedures.

This developing story will be updated as necessary. 

Popular Articles

Former Honduras General Hospitalized Before Protest Death Trial

Honduran General Romeo Vásquez, who is due to stand trial Friday for the death of a protester following the 2009 coup, was transferred to...

Costa Rica Stands with Venezuelan Opposition Leader Edmundo González

Costa Rica showed its support for Venezuelan opposition politician Edmundo González Urrutia, who has claimed victory in the Venezuelan presidential elections since July 28....

Michael Jordan in Costa Rica for Fishing Tournament

Basketball icon Michael Jordan is enjoying a holiday in Costa Rica. According to the National Directorate of Migration, he arrived on January 6. The...
spot_img
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait

Latest Articles