Costa Rica adds 29 new coronavirus cases, fewest in a week

Costa Rica confirmed 29 new cases of the coronavirus over the past day, totaling 1,744 cumulative known cases, the Health Ministry announced Monday afternoon.

Nineteen more people have been classified as recovered, leaving Costa Rica with 771 total recoveries and 961 known active cases.

Twelve people have died after contracting the coronavirus. Nineteen people are hospitalized with COVID-19, two more than Sunday; four people are in intensive care, one more than Sunday.

The data mean Costa Rica has 2.35 coronavirus deaths per 1 million people.

248 new tests processed today

Costa Rica has averaged 427 daily tests over the last five days.

Costa Rica has processed a total of 32,510 diagnostic tests for SARS-CoV-2 (248 more than Sunday). The 248 tests are the smallest daily increase since June 8.

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

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 last week. Shelters help the country slow transmission of the virus, the Health Ministry said.

Active coronavirus cases in Costa Rica

The canton with the most new cases Monday is Heredia with five. No other cantons have more than three new cases.

The Health Ministry said Monday that approximately 90% of cases have had their epidemiological nexus identified.

The below map has been updated through June 14, 2020: 

`The below chart was last updated June 15.

Costa Rica coronavirus breakdown on June 15, 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.