Nine confirmed coronavirus cases plus 34 suspected


Booking.com	Published Monday, March 9, 2020 Nine confirmed coronavirus cases plus 34 suspected By the A.M. Costa Rica staff The Ministry of Health reported Sunday that laboratory tests confirm nine positive cases of coronavirus covid-19. The ministry gave these summaries: The first case was of a U.S. woman, 49, whose condition was confirmed Friday. This case is being classified as an imported virus. She entered the country March 1 from New York. She had no symptoms when she entered the country. After several days in Costa Rica, she showed symptoms. She informed authorities that in New York she had contact with a patient who had coronavirus. Friday lab test confirmed that she was the first case of coronavirus in Costa Rica. Now she is in medical treatment, quarantined in a hotel located in San José Province. The second case is her husband, also a U.S. citizen. He is 49 years. His ailment also was confirmed Friday. He traveled with his wife. He also did not show any symptoms when entering the country. He also reported having had contact with a coronavirus patient in New York before traveling to Costa Rica. The medical exams confirm that the man is infected with the virus. However, Sunday, authorities said that he does not yet have the symptoms of the disease. He also is staying in quarantine, along with his wife at the same hotel. The authorities did not provide information about which hotel. The third case is a Costa Rican man, 54, who lives in Alajuela Province. He remains in a delicate condition in San Rafael Hospital. According to the authorities, the man arrived from Panamá Feb. 22, without symptoms at Juan Santamaría International Airport. However, days later he went to a hospital where he was listed as a suspected case. Saturday, the authorities said a test confirmed the man is infected with coronavirus. He was hospitalized at San Rafael Hospital, due to the lung infection and has diabetes. The fourth case is a Costa Rican woman, 73. She is the aunt of the 54-year-old patient who is in the intensive care at the hospital. It is presumed that he infected her. She also remains in quarantine in Alajuela public hospital. The fifth case reported on Sunday is a Costa Rican woman, 54. She was working as a caregiver for the 73-year-old woman. It is presumed that the 54-year-old patient who is in the intensive care at the hospital infected her. She also remains in quarantine in Alajuela public hospital. The sixth case reported on Sunday is a Costa Rican woman, 41. She was in contact with the man who came from Panama. It is presumed that the man who is hospitalized also infected this woman. She also remains in quarantine in Alajuela public hospital. The seventh case reported on Sunday is a Costa Rican woman, 56. She was also in contact with the man who came from Panama. It is presumed that the man also infected this woman. She also remains in quarantine in Alajuela public hospital. The eighth case reported on Sunday is a Costa Rican man, 34. He was also in contact with the man who came from Panama. It is presumed that the man also infected this person. He also remains in quarantine in Alajuela public hospital. The nineth case reported on Sunday is a U.S. citizen woman, 70. She is resident in Costa Rica. Recently she came from the U.S.. She is also in quarantine in an unnamed public hospital. In addition, the authorities confirmed there are 34 more possible cases of virus-infected individuals. These cases include foreigners and Costa Ricans. Some of these cases were in contact with the 54-year-old man who remains hospitalized in Alajuela Hospital, said authorities. All suspicious cases are kept in isolation, either in hotels in the case of foreigners or in their homes in the case of Costa Ricans. Specialists are in the process of confirming or ruling out with lab tests the presence of coronavirus. Due to the increase in the number of suspicious cases that arises day by day, the authorities said they decided to continue updating the information on new cases or suspects, once a day. More updated information is expected this afternoon from health authorities. According to Social Security, the treatment that is being given to patients infected with coronavirus follows the guidelines of the World Health Organization. "The institution knows this pathology, and no other medications are required other than those on the official list," said Social Security in its statement. Also, authorities confirm they have sufficient supply for the expected patients. The institution confirmed that doctors will not be applying experimental medications due to the lack of certainty of the usefulness of those medicines. According to the authorities, the coronavirus covid-19 manifests itself with three clinical scenarios. The first scenario is flu symptoms. In that case, the treatment is carried out based on medications for fever, pain, cough and nose congestion. The second scenario is people who develop pneumonia. About 15% of people infected with coronavirus develop pneumonia. "This pneumonia has no specific treatment, but it is managed in hospitals with serums for rehydration, with medicines for fever and pain and, in a very small percentage, with antibiotics when there are bacteria that bind to the virus in pneumonia," said the specialists. The third scenario, which could apply to 5% of coronavirus infected people, is serious illness, and these patients must be admitted to intensive care units where the multidisciplinary professional specialist will treat them with mechanical pulmonary ventilators, renal replacement therapy and medications to normalize the functioning of the heart and circulation. The population most at risk of developing pneumonia due to coronavirus are elderly adults. Most vulnerable are those with background issues, such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, respiratory problems, asthma, obstructive pulmonary disease, among others, said Social Security in its statements. In these cases, specialists recommend that people with these vulnerabilities take extreme measures with their health care, such as hand washing, proper coughing or sneezing, not approaching people who have respiratory diseases, avoid greeting with hands or holding kissing other people, as well as not touching the face, especially the mouth, nose or eyes. The authorities said those who present some type of respiratory infection, or what is commonly called influenza, should go for medical attention when they have the following symptoms: - Fever higher than 38 C. - Constant cough. - Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. - In the case of the elderly, when the person shows unbalance in walking or constantly falling. Those with these symptoms should go to the emergency room nearest to their home. If the person cannot move on their own, they must call 911 and request the attention of paramedics. A.M. Costa Rica urges readers to share this call with their contacts. In February the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported on the evacuation of two Costa Ricans from the City of Wuhan in China that took place with the help of the government of Ukraine. The Ukrainian government confirmed that the two women, surnamed Reyes-Pérez and Torres-Pérez remain in quarantine before a trip to Costa Rica can be authorized. The date when both women will arrive in the country is expected to be announced this week. ------------------------------- Have you heard about tourists or expats presenting influenza symptoms during their trip to Costa Rica after the coronavirus worldwide crisis? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com