Costa Rica adds 33 coronavirus cases, 5 recoveries

Costa Rica confirmed 33 new cases of the coronavirus over the past day, totaling 1,375 cumulative known cases, the Health Ministry announced Tuesday afternoon.

Five more people have recovered from COVID-19, leaving Costa Rica with 717 total recoveries and 647 known active cases.

Eleven people have died after contracting the coronavirus. Twenty-one people are hospitalized with COVID-19; four people are in intensive care.

Health Ministry offers more details on latest death

Health Minister Daniel Salas on Tuesday provided more information about the May 30 death of a 26-year-old woman who was diagnosed posthumously with the coronavirus.

Salas said that the woman died shortly after her arrival that day to the Guatuso health clinic. Though a family member said the 26-year-old hadn’t experienced any respiratory issues, an autopsy to help determine the cause of death revealed she had suffered from pulmonary edema, or fluid in the lungs.

A subsequent test for the coronavirus returned positive.

Salas said that while the Health Ministry believes COVID-19 may have contributed to the woman’s death, it was not necessarily the direct cause. An investigation is ongoing, Salas said.

“Not everyone with the virus died because of the virus,” Salas said.

“I can’t say that she didn’t die of COVID-19, but we can’t yet say that was the cause of her death.” 

Testing numbers have not increased significantly

The recent increase in active coronavirus cases does not correspond with an increase in testing.

Since Costa Rica began reporting daily testing totals in mid-April, it has averaged 371 tests per day. The country has averaged 225 daily tests over the last five days.

Costa Rica has processed a total of 29,877 diagnostic tests for SARS-CoV-2 (255 more than Monday).

The Health Ministry conducts contact tracing, monitors high-risk regions and tests wastewater in some areas to help target testing.

Active coronavirus cases in Costa Rica

The cantons with the most new cases on Tuesday were San Carlos (7) and Pococí (8).

The below map has been updated through June 9, 2020:

The below chart was last updated June 8. We’ll update it weekly:

Status of Costa Rica coronavirus cases on June 8, 2020. Tico Times graph.

Timeline of COVID-19 in Costa Rica

• March 6: Costa Rica confirms first COVID-19 case.
• March 9: Costa Rica suspends mass gatherings, tells employees to work from home.
• March 16: Costa Rica declares State of Emergency, restricts entry to non-citizens
• and non-residents. In-person teaching suspended.
• March 18: Costa Rica reports first COVID-19-related death.
• March 20: Costa Rica reports second COVID-19-related death. All national parks close.
• March 23: Beaches and religious centers ordered to close. Nighttime driving ban announced.
• March 31: Costa Rica inaugurates coronavirus-specific hospital at CENARE.
• April 4-12: Costa Rica imposes significant travel restrictions during Semana Santa.
• April 15: Costa Rica reports fourth COVID-19-related death.
• April 17: Costa Rica registers first day-over-day decrease in known active coronavirus cases. This trend continues until May 12.
• April 19: Costa Rica reports fifth COVID-19-related death.
• April 20: Costa Rica reports sixth COVID-19-related death.
• May 1: Costa Rica begins easing coronavirus measures.
• May 10: Costa Rica reports seventh COVID-19-related death.
• May 13: Costa Rica reports eighth COVID-19-related death.
• May 15: Costa Rica reports ninth and tenth COVID-19-related deaths.
• May 18: Costa Rica begins opening beaches and national parks.
• May 30: Costa Rica records eleventh COVID-19-related death. 
• June 1: Costa Rica continues easing coronavirus measures.
• June 3: Costa Rica records largest day-over-day increase in cases.

Costa Rica is enforcing nationwide driving restrictions until June 20. Click here for full details.

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