Costa Rica adds 74 coronavirus cases, hospitalizations remain constant

Costa Rica confirmed 74 new cases of the coronavirus over the past day, totaling 1,612 cumulative known cases, the Health Ministry announced Friday afternoon.

The 74 new cases are the third-largest day-over-day increase tracked by Costa Rica, all of which have occurred this week.

Nine more people have recovered, leaving Costa Rica with 731 total recoveries and 869 known active cases.

Twelve people have died after contracting the coronavirus. Twenty people are hospitalized with COVID-19; three people are in intensive care.

529 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 383 tests per day. The country has averaged 372 daily tests over the last five days.

Costa Rica has processed a total of 31,308 diagnostic tests for SARS-CoV-2 (529 more than Thursday).

The country has approximately 38,000 available PCR tests, the Health Ministry said Friday.

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

The cantons with the most new cases on Friday were reported in Upala (13), San Ramón (11), and San Carlos (6).

Twenty-two of Friday’s cases were reported in foreigners.

The below map has been updated through June 10, 2020: 

Les compartimos los datos actualizados sobre el estado del COVID-19 en Costa Rica, con fecha del 12 de junio de 2020. pic.twitter.com/xLiZ8iFkQd

— Ministerio de Salud de Costa Rica (@msaludcr) June 12, 2020

The below chart was last updated June 10.

Status of Costa Rica coronavirus cases on June 10, 2020. Tico Times chart.

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.