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|  Published Thursday, July 16, 2020
65 positive covid-19 patients result
at mass testing in Alajuelita
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff
The massive diagnostic tests for covid-19 in Alajuelita Canton, in San José Province, resulted with 65 people testing positive.
At the beginning of the week, Social Security had prematurely reported 40 people infected with the virus, after conducting a special operation.
However, the final count of 1,504 diagnostic tests resulted with 25 more infected people. Of the total tests applied, 1,348 were performed at people's homes and 156 at the community clinic.
Specialists continue giving follow-ups to people who tested positive, Social Security said in its statement.
The communities where the most positive cases detected were in Los Pinos, Juan Rafael Mora, Corina Rodríguez and San Josecito.
The team of 100 specialists were in charge of the tests, visiting 23 of the 111 communities in that canton. They were escorted by 15 police officers.
According to Social Security, testing was carried out on people who live in the following communities: Chorotega, Corina Rodríguez, Los Pinos, Alajuelita Centro, La Guápil, San Felipe, Tejarcillos, San Josecito, Juan Rafael Mora, Vista Real, San Felipe 1, Calle Alto Parte Este, Concepción Arriba, El Tejar, Las Vegas, Piedras de Fuego, Cochea, Antolina, Calle Vieja al Colegio, Los Almendros, Riveras del Río, Ocho de Diciembre and Avenida Seis.
A two-block radius was established in each neighborhood where tests were conducted. In each house, the sample was applied to an asymptomatic person. But, if a person with symptoms of covid-19 was identified, the sample was first applied to them.
If people with covid-19 symptoms were detected outside of the established perimeter, they would receive an order to be attended at the Alajuelita Social Security clinic.
That was the second operation of mass testing for covid-19 in San Jose Province, that Social Security has carried out since the beginning of the pandemic.
The first mass testing operation was held in Pavas District.
According to Social Security, as a result of the operation the community transmission in Pavas District was ruled out.
An investigation, conducted by specialists from the Ministry of Health and Social Security, for the detection of covid-19 in the zone, resulted in negative.
Community transmission is when there is no clear source of origin of the infection in a new community. It happens when experts can no longer identify who became infected after being exposed to someone who interacted with people from the originally infected communities.
According to data provided by the Minister of Health Daniel Salas, 1,201 diagnostic tests were conducted and of these only 4.5% were positive. 54 people tested positive for covid-19, 27 men and 27 women.
Of the people tested, 1,052 were tested inside their homes or workplaces, and 149 came to the health post to request testing.
"A community broadcast occurs when there is a positive result of 10-15 percent," Salas said. "In this case, we are clear that there have been some local transmissions, but they have not maintained chains of community transmission."
The special four-day sanitary operation in Pavas was carried out in communities and companies in the area where no cases had been reported.
The success of the mass testing operation has led the government to push for a third one.
The next special health operation will take place in the districts of Rositer Carballo and La Carpio.
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