Costa Rica confirmed 77 new cases of the coronavirus over the past day, totaling 1,538 cumulative known cases, the Health Ministry announced Thursday afternoon.
The 77 new cases are the second-largest day-over-day increase tracked by Costa Rica, trailing only Wednesday’s 86.
The Health Ministry says it is still calculating the number of new recoveries; until that figure is released later Thursday afternoon, Costa Rica has announced 722 total recoveries and 804 known active cases.
Twelve people have died after contracting the coronavirus. Twenty people are hospitalized with COVID-19; three people are in intensive care.
UN to support Northern Zone efforts
The United Nations will support Costa Rica’s efforts to contain the coronavirus pandemic in the country’s Northern Zone, President Carlos Alvarado announced.
“The primary objective is to guarantee Costa Ricans the health security that they need right now,” Rodolfo Solano, Costa Rica’s Foreign Minister, said.
“This will have a direct impact on the lives of Costa Ricans, particularly in the Northern Zone.”
The cooperation includes financial support amounting to 200 million colones (about $345,000), in addition to medicine and personnel from the Pan American Health Organization.
The plan was created after several weeks of dialogue between President Alvarado and the United Nations, the government said.
“The virus knows no nationalities,” said Alice Shackelford, UN Resident Coordinator in Costa Rica.
407 new tests processed today
The recent rise in active coronavirus cases does not correspond with an overall increase in testing, though Costa Rica has targeted those efforts to hotspots in the Northern Zone.
Since Costa Rica began reporting daily testing totals in mid-April, it has averaged 374 tests per day. The country has averaged 328 daily tests over the last five days.
Costa Rica has processed a total of 30,779 diagnostic tests for SARS-CoV-2 (407 more than Wednesday).
The Health Ministry conducts contact tracing, monitors high-risk regions and tests wastewater in some areas to help track outbreaks.
In addition, the National Emergency Committee has evacuated some high-risk communities to shelters, it said Wednesday.
Active coronavirus cases in Costa Rica
Twenty-nine of Thursday’s new cases were identified in the canton of San Ramón. Ten new cases were announced in San José, and five each in the cantons of San Carlos and Heredia.
Thirty-nine of the new cases were identified in foreigners.
The below map has been updated through June 10, 2020:
The below chart was last updated June 10.
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 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 by opening more national parks, and restaurants on weekends.
- June 10: Costa Rica records largest day-over-day increase in cases and says it’s facing a second wave of the virus.
- June 11: Costa Rica receives assistance from UN to confront Northern Zone outbreak.
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.
Correction: A previous version of this story miscalculated the average number of tests over the last five days.
