The Caribbean region has been put on high alert for the novel Coronavirus named COVID 19, since the detection of the virus in three Caribbean countries.
According to Dr. Carissa Ettiene, director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), cases have been confirmed in the Dominican Republic, St.Martin and St.Barths as of March 1.
She said, “In the region of the Americas, we have cases in the United States and Canada. There were 2 cases reported in Brazil. We now have 6 cases in Ecuador, 3 cases in the Dominican Republic, 4 cases in Mexico, 2 cases in St. Martin and I case in St. Barts. Many of the cases are related to the outbreak in Italy”.
Dr. Ettiene said further that a decision to change the alert to pandemic status could come very soon. She added that while the virus poses a threat data has revealed that the majority of patients do recover from COVID 19.
Dr. Ettiene made these statements at a press conference with CARICOM Heads of State over the weekend.
