At a virtual press conference on Thursday, April 30, officials of the Pan American Health Organization presented on the topic, “Is the COVID-19 outbreak over in the Eastern Caribbean? Situation updates and considerations in adjusting public health and social measures in the context of COVID-19″. They resoundingly agreed that the COVID-19 outbreak is not over in the Caribbean.
Dr.Yitades Gebre, PAHO/WHO Representative to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean and United Kingdom Overseas Territories and French Departments, stressed that we must be vigilant and keep testing and that contact tracing of those who qualify must continue. “We are not at the end as yet,” he stressed.
He said that the early measures taken by Caribbean Governments accounts for the slow reproduction rate of the virus among nationals.
Presently PAHO is focused on the key pillars of saving lives, protecting health care workers, slowing spread of the disease. They continue to partner with organizations like CDEMA to mobilize resources for countries to meet the pillars.Presently, the countries are on the right course with their national plan and coordination mechanism.
PAHO continues to work through its Emergency operation center which has direct contact with the Chief Medical Officer in the islands and the Country Program Specialist who would know the needs of the country, what they’re going through and how PAHO can best assist.
