Regional covid cases on 8-week downward trend

Cases of Covid-19 have been on a downward trend in the American continent,  for the eighth  consecutive week reports  Pan American Health Organization (PAHO but warns that biosecurity measures cannot be neglected.

“Progress in our region is not a reason to become complacent or discontinue public health measures that help keep us protected,” said PAHO Deputy Director Jarbas Barbosa. “It is essential that we stay the course until everyone is vaccinated and protected against the virus,” he said.

The PAHO biweekly report highlights that active cases  in Panama fell by about 400 in the last 15 days. It also reports that for seven consecutive weeks there is a positivity below 4.3%, reaching 2.5% in Epidemiological Week 43), one of the lowest during the entire pandemic.

“All age groups show a stability with a downward trend in the incidence of Covid-19 from EW 32 to EW 43, except for the group 80 and over, which registers a 66.8% increase in incidence from 26.2 in EW 42 to 43.7 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in this week 43 ″.

PAHO highlights that at least 32 countries in the region have already reached the goal of vaccinating 40% of the population by the end of the year and that several countries are about to achieve it.

However, it is reiterated that many nations continue to experience delays in immunization and that coverage in Haiti, Nicaragua, Jamaica, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Guatemala continues to be below 20%.

“Inequity in vaccination continues to be the biggest obstacle to reaching our coverage goals. Our best strategy to reduce the transmission of Covid-19 and save lives ”, said Barbosa.