No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeCovid 19 UpdatesPAHO warns Covid-19 is far from under control in the Americas

PAHO warns Covid-19 is far from under control in the Americas

The Covid-19 pandemic is far from being under control in the Americas despite the reduction in cases in the United States and Brazil, the countries in the world with the most fatalities from the virus, the Pan American Health Organization warned Wednesday.

“Almost 40% of all global deaths (from Covid-19) reported last week occurred here in the Americas,” PAHO Director Carissa Etienne said at a press conference.

“This is a clear sign that transmission is far from being controlled in our region.”

Etienne noted an acceleration of infections in much of the continent and an occupation of beds in Intensive Care Units (ICU) of almost 80%.

In South America, hard hit by the pandemic in recent months, she highlighted an increase in cases in Guyana and Bolivia, bordering Brazil, as well as in Colombia, which has been shaken recently by massive anti-government demonstrations.

“In Colombia, where Covid-19 cases have been increasing steadily for several weeks, we expect even more pronounced increases after a week of protests,” Etienne warned.

She said that in Chile and Peru, 95% of ICU beds are in use, the majority by patients with Covid-19, and described a worrying scenario in Buenos Aires, with 96% ICU occupancy, and in some areas of Brazil, where there is a waiting list.

She also noted high rates of infection in Canada, particularly in areas with indigenous populations, and said that Cuba “continues to drive the majority of new infections in the Caribbean.”

In Central America, she described increases in cases in the areas of Costa Rica and Honduras that border Nicaragua, and in the border regions of Guatemala and El Salvador.

“It is not surprising that the increase in hospitalizations in our region is causing an unprecedented oxygen supply challenge in the entire American continent,” Etienne said, pointing to Bolivia and Antigua and Barbuda as “highly affected places.”

Trending Now

Panama Starts Talks on Gas Pipeline Linking U.S. and Asia

The Panama Canal expects to begin construction of a gas pipeline in 2027, a project whose first formal talks with companies interested in participating...

Costa Rica Rental House Stories – From Doorknob Disasters to Gecko Guests

We’ve lived in a long line of rental properties over our time in Costa Rica. In sequential order, we started in a tiny apartment...

Costa Rica’s South Pacific Emerges as Prime Drug Route

Costa Rica's Judicial Investigation Agency flags the southern Pacific coast as the top spot for drug smugglers. Officials point to four main entry points...

Costa Rica’s Central Bank Defends Exchange Rate Strategy

The exchange rate has been an important topic during the administration of President Rodrigo Chaves. The strong appreciation of the Costa Rican currency has...

U.S. Lists Costa Rica as Major Drug Transit Country

The U.S. government has placed Costa Rica on its annual list of major drug transit or production countries for fiscal year 2026. President Donald...

St Regis Papagayo Resort Breaks Ground in Costa Rica Guanacaste

Developers broke ground this week on the St. Regis Papagayo Resort, the luxury brand's first spot in Costa Rica. Solana leads the project on...
spot_img
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica