  Costa Rican authorities are not requesting tourists for a covid-19 diagnostic test when entering the country. But this decision could change depending on the development of the virus in the country. - A.M. Costa Rica illustrative photo - |
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 Published Wednesday, January 20, 2021 Private
laboratories provide covid-19
diagnostic tests for travelers By the A.M. Costa Rica staff On Tuesday, Gustavo Segura, Minister of Tourism announced the approval of private laboratories to carry out diagnostic tests for covid-19, for people who must leave the country. According to Segura, these tests will only be for people who must travel to a country where this is an entry requirement. For example, in the United States, as of Jan. 26 of last year, any person who wishes to enter must prove that they are not infected with covid-19. The antigen diagnostic test detects proteins of the virus. To obtain a sample, a swab must be inserted into the nose. This allows the result in less than 24 hours. Among the approved laboratories to carry out the diagnostic test are LABIN Lab., Clínica Bíblica Hospital, Páez Lab., San José Lab and Metropolitano Hospital, among others. According to Segura, the covid detection tests will not cost more than $100 in the Greater Metropolitan Area, GAM, which is the zone made up of cities in the outskirts of San José such as Alajuela, Heredia and Cartago. In rural zones, the most expensive pricing for the test is $150. Costa Rican authorities are not requesting tourists for a covid-19 diagnostic test when entering the country. But this decision could change depending on the development of the virus in the country. According to the most up-to-date statistics on the evolution of covid-19, provided by the Ministry of Health on Tuesday, the number of infected people continues rising. • 861 new covid-19 cases are reported, bringing the total to 40,307 current active cases. • 23,353 foreign-born people have been infected, totaling 186,877 cases since March, approximately 12.5% of the total cases. Of these, authorities confirmed the death of 32 foreign-born patients. But since October, there is no updated information about foreign-born deaths due to covid-19. • 552 patients are being treated in public hospitals, where 236 patients are in ICU’s in delicate health conditions. Their ages range from 1 to 93-years-old. And 316 patients are in recovery rooms. Many of the remaining infected patients are quarantined in their homes. • 144,030 patients have fully recovered, a 77.1% recovery rate of the total cases since March. • 555,839 covid-19 tests have been conducted in Costa Rica since March, according to the Center for Systems Science and Engineering of Johns Hopkins University in the United States. • 2,477 deaths are listed as covid-19 related, approximately 1.3% death rate of the total cases since March. Of these 932 are women and 1,545 men. The ages range from a 2-year-old to a 101-year-old. Readers can see the updated number of total patients in each district at the National Distance Education University on its Covid-19 Map.  According to Johns Hopkins University, the pandemic has killed more than 2 million people worldwide. -------------------------- Are you for or against the covid-19 diagnostic test required to enter the U.S.? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com         
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