On Monday, the Costa Rican Minister of Health announced that he has activated protocols to combat the new coronavirus, known internationally as COVID-19. The virus has appeared so far in countries such as China, Thailand, Japan, South Korea, Iran, United States, Canada and Italy. The first Latin American COVID-19 patient was identified on Monday, a Brazilian who contracted the virus in Italy. There are no known cases of infected Costa Ricans thus far.

The Costa Rica Star will be following this possible pandemic with regular updates.

According to Daniel Salas, Minister of Health, all Tico Medical Centers have been notified of symptoms to watch for in this possible health crisis. Said Salas, “Should we identify a possible case of coronavirus, we will harness all tools to combat the virus and protect citizens. This includes doctors, nurses, medical labs, pharmacies, and of course the media to help inform the public without causing panic.” It is fortunate that Costa Rica has a well-organized chain of health centers with the CAJA system, something that many other affected countries sorely lack.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has warned citizens to prepare for an outbreak of coronavirus within the U.S. as the number of confirmed cases outside of China has continued to grow. The CDC stated on Tuesday, “It’s not so much a question IF this will happen anymore but more of a question of exactly WHEN.” They predict that even fast-tracked, it will take at least a year to find an effective vaccine for COVID-19.
The World Health Organization (WHO) Dr. Benedetta Allegranzi has a short video on how to protect oneself against both spreading and contracting this new virus. More information on the spread of COVID-19 and how to avoid infection will follow in future Star issues.

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