Published Tuesday, September 1, 2020


By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

Social Security, through the Rafael Ángel Calderón Guardia Hospital, located in Aranjuez District of San José Province, purchased two Mobile Medical Units for $235,425 as special equipment for emergencies or disasters.

According to Alejandro Larios-Enriquez, Coordinator of the Hospital Brigade, these modules, once the national emergency due to covid-19 is over, can be used for any type of emergency or disaster, where patients in critical conditions can be treated.

The modules differ in measurements. One measures 30 square meters and the other is 52 square meters. Both meet specifications to expand patient care areas during an emergency, Social Security said.

These Mobile Units are in addition to the equipment recently donated by the United States government.

On Aug. 24, the U.S. government, through the United States Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM) donated three Mobile Medical Units valued at $1,125,000 to Social Security.


Each unit has five modules that can be used independently or interconnected. The donation includes a total of 15 modules that add up to a total usable area of 729 square meters.

The new units, totaling 120 beds for the care of covid-19 patients, were needed to support public hospitals during the pandemic.

The new units are quick and easy to assemble. They are made of high-quality materials: aluminum, fire-resistant vinyl, capable of withstanding various climates and weather conditions, including rain, winds and tropical environments.

These units have an electric plant, lighting, independent air conditioning systems, a water supply system from an external drinking source, an internal cover of thermal covering and portable sinks to facilitate clean hygiene for officials and patients.

According to Sharon Day, the U.S. Ambassador, the donation is one more example of how much the U.S. values its relationship with Costa Rica and how much the government values Costa Rica's commitment to respond to the pandemic. "In times like the ones we live in, we can only overcome difficulties if we face that together as neighbors, communities and governments," Ambassador Day said. "We stand shoulder to shoulder with Costa Rica in these unprecedented times. We hope that these mobile medical units will provide medical care to all who need it and reinforce the unbreakable alliance between our countries."

These mobile units will be managed through the Emergency Attention Center. One was installed in Mexico Hospital and the other at San Juan de Dios hospital. A third unit will be installed in another public hospital, Social Security said.


Donations of equipment are vital to Social Security in its fight against the pandemic that continues causing deaths in the country.

As of Monday afternoon, the Ministry of Health provided the following statistics on the status of the virus in the country:

• 741 new covid-19 cases, bringing the total to 24,795 active cases. The ages of patients infected range from a three-month-old baby to a 99-year-old person.

• 9,491 foreign-born have been infected of the 41,287 cases since March, approximately 23% of the total cases.

• 450 patients are being treated in public hospitals, where 144 patients are in Intensive Care Units in delicate health conditions, 306 patients are in recovery rooms. Most of the infected patients are quarantined in their homes.

• 16,056 coronavirus patients have fully recovered, which is a 39% recovery rate.

• 94,127 people have been ruled out.

• 150,106 medical covid-19 tests have been made.

• 436 deaths of people infected with covid-19 since March, approximately 1.1% death rate. Of these 169 were women and 267 men. The ages range from 19 to a 100-year-old person.

Authorities report the case of the youngest death from covid-19. The 19-year-old immigrant lived in Guanacaste Province, when she was diagnosed with the virus on Aug. 24. She was immediately hospitalized at México Hospital in San José Province where she later died. Her infection was complicated by her preexisting health condition of an autoimmune disease.

She is one of 31 foreign-born patients who died due to the virus. On July 30, the ministry announced they would not provide updated information on immigrants who died from covid-19 in the country. Up to then, authorities reported 30 foreign-born people had died from that virus since March. Including the recent death of the 19-years-old patient.

Readers can see the updated number of total patients in each district at the National Distance Education University on its Covid-19 Map.


As of Monday night, the pandemic has  killed 849,383 patients worldwide, according to recent statistics reported by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University.



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What other types of equipment should social security acquire to better serve covid-19 patients?  We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com