Eyes on Costa Rica and Weather Records - December and Year 2021

 During December, visits to this blog were received from the following 18 countries:

The total number of countries and non-independent jurisdictions from which visits have been received has risen to 134. Of this number, 13 are non-independent jurisdictions such as Greenland, Hong Kong, Puerto Rico, etc.

Côte d'Ivoire (aka Ivory Coast) in West Africa is a new country. The visit from that country originated from the capital city of Abidjan.

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The following is a summary of the weather for the month and year in the area where we live:

In December, it became apparent that the “green season” was definitely over and the “dry season” was well underway. There were only 4 days with rainfall and the amount was minimal.

For the year as a whole, the following table summarizes the amounts and ranges of rainfall in the area where we live:

The following graph illustrates the amount and timing of rainfall in 2021 compared to 2019 and 2020 in the area where we live:

In other areas of the country, the amounts, ranges and patterns of rainfall can differ significantly from where we live.

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Covid-19 Update

The following table updates information which appeared in my blog entry posted on December 12, 2021:

The death rates in all three countries have dropped. That in Costa Rica has dropped by 0.03 percentage points. However, more dramatically, that in Canada has dropped by 0.40 percentage points and that in the United States has dropped by 0.20 percentage points. 

Until these latest numbers, Costa Rica has consistently had the lowest death rate of the three countries. Canada is now in that position and the United States is moving closer. Speculating, the reason may be attributable to the Omicron variant of Covid-19. Apparently, the number of negative outcomes for those who become infected by this variant is significantly less than those infected by the original version and the Delta variant. Accordingly, as the Omicron variant surges as it has done in Canada and the United States beginning in early December 2021, the overall death rate drops when averaged from the onset of Covid-19 in early 2020. 

In contrast, it appears that the Omicron variant just began to take hold in Costa Rica earlier this month. If my speculation is correct and the variant fully takes hold, then in the next month or two there should be a dramatic drop in the death rate in Costa Rica as in Canada and the United States.

Click on images to enlarge.