A 75-year-old man became the eighth person to die in Costa Rica after testing positive for the coronavirus, the Health Ministry announced Wednesday evening.
The Alajuela resident had tested positive for the coronavirus on April 8 and was hospitalized on that date. He was transferred to intensive care at San Juan de Dios Hospital on April 14, and while he later tested negative for SARS-CoV-2, never recovered.
In addition to his age, the 75-year-old Costa Rican had high blood pressure and a coagulation disorder related to a previous heart surgery, risk factors which complicated his treatment, the Health Ministry said.
Eight people, all men, have died of COVID-19 or complications in Costa Rica.
Two elderly men, both 87-year-old Ticos, died in mid-March. Four more men, the youngest of them 45, died in April.
On Sunday, an 80-year-old foreigner died on the day of his coronavirus diagnosis.
Costa Rica has confirmed 815 cumulative cases of the novel coronavirus, the Health Ministry announced Wednesday. Of those, 65% — 527 people — have recovered.
If you believe you may have COVID-19 or have questions regarding the coronavirus, contact Costa Rican health authorities by dialing 1322.
