Description of the first epidemic curve due to Covid-19 in Costa Rica

Abstract

Introduction: the objective of this manuscript was to describe the main epidemiological characteristics of the so-called first epidemic curve caused by the Covid-19 disease in Costa Rica between March 6 and April 24, 2020.  Results: at the end of those 50 days of the first curve, there were a total of 687 confirmed patients, between the ages of 1 and 87, 52% male (n = 359), affecting 0.013% of the country's registered inhabitants (n: 5 111 238) with a lethality of 0.87%. The average number of new cases per day was 13.8, the median was 16, and the mode was 19. 90% of the cases were nationals (n = 620) and 10% (n = 67) were foreigners, including formal residents. The age distribution was 91% of adult patients (n = 618), 5.1% of older adults (n = 35) and 4.9% of minors (n = 34). During the first epidemic curve, it was possible to monitor the cases and establish the clusters, which facilitated the work of care by health personnel.  Conclusion: unlike other countries, the first epidemic curve in Costa Rica represented a particular period of low stress (few cases and low lethality of these) for the national health system, which could be used to strengthen interventions in at-risk communities potential, such as human settlements located in border plantations, slums and barracks, and also to reinforce health education in the population, as well as provide the health system with more resources to attend the second epidemic wave.