Published Wednesday, June 10, 2020 

By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

The Ministry of Health ordered preventive closure of two companies located in the Los Angeles District, in La Fortuna de San Carlos, Alajuela Province.

According to statements by Laura Bonilla-Coto, representative of the companies, the closure occurs for three days due to the process of disinfection and cleaning of the buildings of both companies.

According to data from the ministry, 115 cases of covid-19 were detected in San Carlos District, of these 30 were employed in this companies.

Specialists from the ministry are carrying out diagnostic tests on company workers and their families.


Due to the increase in infected patients, the government ordered preventive measures in the northern zone of the country.

Since Sunday, the National Emergency Commission, announced an increase in restrictions for more northern districts, due to the recommendation of the Ministry of Health to contain the expansion of covid-19 in the country.


The restrictions began Sunday night and will continue until further notice. This affects business activity and driving in Guatuso, Duacarí, La Cruz, Los Chiles, Pococí, Río Cuarto, La Fortuna, Venecia, Aguas Zarcas, Cutris, Pital, Pocosol, Llanuras del Gaspar, Curuña, Pacuarito, Reventazón, Upala, Peñas Blancas, Las Juntas, Cañas and Bebedero.

In this region, the ban on driving applies every day, Monday to Sunday, from 5 p.m. to 5 a.m. of the next day, explained Alexander Solís, president of the Commission.

Businesses, in general, will be able to attend to the public every day, from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The commerce restriction schedule does not apply in supermarkets, pharmacies, or so-called Pulperías, small grocery stores and health services related to business.

Restrictions also apply to river accessibility, from Monday to Sunday, from 5 p.m. to 5 a.m. of the next day. This law applies to the rivers of Medio Queso, Frío, Tortuguero, Colorado, Sarapiquí and San Carlos.

The aforementioned new restrictions do not apply to transport on inter-cantonal routes, such as:

• Route 1, known as Interamericana Norte, between San José and the northern zone.

• Route 6 between Cañas and Upala.

• Route 142 passes through the districts of Cañas, Tilarán and La Fortuna.

• Route 702 between San Ramón and La Fortuna.

• Route 18 between Abangares and Nicoya.

• Route 32, known as the Braulio Carrillo highway, between the provinces of San José and Limón.


Authorities expanded the restrictions due to the increase in new patients infected with covid-19.

The Health Ministry reported on Tuesday 647 active cases or those who currently have the virus, in the country.

Authorities provided the following statistics of the evolution of the virus in the country:

• Of the 1,375 infected since the first case was detected in March, 717 coronavirus patients have fully recovered. That is equal to 52% of total recovered patients.

• Of the infected patients 643 are women and 732 men.

• The ages of those infected ranges from a three-month-old baby to an 89-year-old, with an average age of 35.

• 21 patients are being treated in public hospitals, where 17 are in recovery rooms and 4 have been reported in an Intensive Care Unit, ICU, with delicate health conditions. Most of the infected patients are quarantined in their homes.

• 309 foreigners infected, of these, 47% entered the country unauthorized and are jailed in the facilities of the Professional Migration Police in Heredia Province.

• 20,630 people have been ruled out.

• 29,877 medical covid-19 tests have been made.

• 11 deaths have been reported from patients infected with covid-19 since March, two women and nine men.

The most recent death was reported by the ministry on Monday night. The asymptomatic 26-year-old Costa Rican woman who lived in Alajuela Province was asthmatic, which was a risk factor.

However, the virus was diagnosed post-mortem. According to the ministry report, she died at the Guatuso Clinic on May 30 at 10:36 a.m. She was taken by her family to the clinic due to vaginal bleeding.

As part of the protocols for the pandemic, the Judicial Investigation Organization requested the covid-19 test because pulmonary edema was detected due to the autopsy. The covid-19 post-mortem diagnosis was positive.

According to the authorities, they will continue with the investigation of the people who had contact with the woman.

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

As of Tuesday night, the pandemic has killed 411,009 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 measures should the government take to apply in the northern border as a preventative measure from the spread of covid-19? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com