Costa Rica adds 64 coronavirus cases, 11 recoveries; obligates wearing masks

Costa Rica confirmed 64 new cases of the coronavirus over the past day, totaling 2,277 cumulative known cases, the Health Ministry announced Monday afternoon.

Eleven more people have been classified as recovered under Costa Rica’s new definitions that qualify certain patients based on time rather than a negative test.

Costa Rica has 1,222 active cases and 1,043 recoveries.

Twelve people have died in Costa Rica after contracting the coronavirus. Twenty-eight people are hospitalized with COVID-19, two more than Sunday. Four people remain in intensive care.

Wearing masks obligated

Starting Saturday, June 27, Costa Rica will require the wearing of masks or face shields in many circumstances.

All commercial workers — anyone who attends to the public — will be required to wear masks or face shields. (In the case of restaurants, waiters must wear masks rather than just face shields.)

The general public will be required to wear masks in the following circumstances:

• On public transport.
• At cinemas and theaters.
• At churches, if and when they reopen.
• At banks.
• At restaurants, except when eating.

“Wearing a mask does not replace washing your hands, or maintaining distance between social bubbles,” said Health Minister Daniel Salas.

Full guidelines will be published by the Health Ministry on Monday afternoon; we will post a story with full details later today.

Active coronavirus cases in Costa Rica

The below graphic will update automatically when the Health Ministry releases detailed information later this afternoon.