CARICOM COVID-19 roundup

Cayman employs alphabet system to restrict citizens’ activities

GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands (CMC):

Cayman Islands Premier Alden McLaughlin has indicated that curfew measures across the territory will be “extended and toughened up”.

He said that starting next week, the alphabet system now being used to restrict the days people can shop at supermarket, will be expanded to all activities in the Cayman Islands, with the possible exception of daily exercise.

People will only be allowed to go out for essential services on their allotted days and they will be under full lockdown for the other days of the week.

Residents whose surnames begin with the letters A-K will be allowed out of their homes only on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and those whose surnames start with L-Z Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. No one will be allowed out on Sundays.

The initiative will last for at least two weeks.

The territory has recorded 28 COVID-19 cases.

World Bank approves US20m grant to Haiti

WASHINGTON (CMC):

The World Bank has approved a US$20 million grant for the Haiti COVID-19 Response Project.

The Washington-based financial institution on Thursday said that this project aims to respond to the threat posed by the COVID-19 pandemic through testing and improved treatment in Haiti.

“The World Bank is working in partnership with the Haitian Government and donor community to respond effectively to the threat posed by COVID-19 by preparing the country’s medical system to diagnose and treat this infection,” said Anabela Abreu, World Bank country director for Haiti.

The World Bank said the new Haiti COVID-19 response project aims to limit the transmission of COVID-19 in Haiti through detection, infection control in health facilities and access to best care possible for people who become ill.

PAHO appeals for millions of dollars to help Caribbean cope with COVID-19 pandemic

WASHINGTON (CMC):

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) is appealing for US$94.8 million from donors to fund priority public health measures to help Caribbean and Latin American countries face the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

PAHO said the funds will be used to carry out its COVID-19 Response Strategy, which, it said, is in alignment with the World Health Organization (WHO).

The response strategy “aims to save lives and slow transmission of the virus to mitigate the impact of the pandemic on health systems and population health, with a focus on countries that most need help.”

The organisation said the requested resources will support the strategy through September 2020; as the pandemic evolves, the needs are expected to increase.

“This new virus has shown that it can overload health services even in the most developed countries,”said PAHO’s Dominican-born director Dr Carissa F. Etienne. “We need to invest more to protect the most vulnerable, including health workers, and to save lives.”

PAHO said Brazil reported the first imported case in Latin America and the Caribbean on February 26, 2020.

Within a month, PAHO said the virus had spread to 48 countries and territories in the hemisphere.