Health Authorities Here Urged to Take Appropriate Action to Safeguard Lives Against Covid-19

Health Authorities here are being encouraged to continue to take appropriate and urgent public health and social measures to safeguard lives against COVID-19.

The advice comes from the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization … PAHO/WHO as the Eastern Caribbean records an increase in cases and hospitalisation related to the circulation of SAR-CoV-2 Variant of Concern (VOC) Delta.

PAHO in a statement says it is observed and reported from several countries the emergence of VOC Delta including from Member States in the Americas with high vaccination coverage.

It says with the VOC Delta exhorts the importance of the preparatory process for the expansion of care capacity in the face of the potential increase in COVID-19 cases, hospitalisations, and death.  

PAHO says in June and July 2021, Antigua and Barbuda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent, Saint Kitt and Nevis, Virgin Islands-UK, Anguilla, Grenada, Dominica, Montserrat including Barbados have shown a steady increase and surge. 

PAHO states that it is necessary to maximize efforts to extend full COVID-19 vaccination coverage, especially in high-risk populations, health and care workers, as well as to reinforce non-pharmacological prevention and protection measures, such as physical distancing, the use of individual face masks, the use of antiseptic solutions (soap and water, alcohol-gel, and liquid alcohol in disinfectant concentration).  

It notes these measures continue to be effective in reducing transmission of this and all variants.