Health Ministry announces Costa Rica’s ninth COVID-19-related death

A 58-year-old woman became the ninth person in Costa Rica to die as a result of the coronavirus, the Health Ministry announced Friday afternoon.

The Alajuela resident had tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 on April 23 and was hospitalized on that date. She was transferred to intensive care at Hospital México on April 25.

The 58-year-old, a Costa Rican, had lymphoma and high blood pressure, conditions which complicated her treatment, the Health Ministry said. She is the first woman to die in Costa Rica due to COVID-19 or related complications.

“I mourn the death of the ninth person in our country by COVID-19,” President Carlos Alvarado wrote on Twitter. “She is the first woman in Costa Rica to die from the virus.

“From myself and from the country, I send a hug of solidarity and a lot of peace to your family.”

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, and a 75-year old died Wednesday after nearly a month in intensive care.

Costa Rica has confirmed 843 cumulative cases of the novel coronavirus, the Health Ministry announced Friday. Of those, 542 people (64%) have recovered, nine people have died (1%) and 35% of cases remain active.

Seventeen people are currently hospitalized with COVID-19 in Costa Rica. The country’s health authorities said Friday that hypertension and smoking have been the biggest risk factors for patients infected by SARS-CoV-2.

If you believe you may have COVID-19 or have questions regarding the coronavirus, contact Costa Rican health authorities by dialing 1322.