[Reprinted: US News, 5-26-2020] Shutting down tourism early, low population density and lessons of hurricanes past have helped countries in the region weather the pandemic’s harm, experts say. In September 2017, two Category 5 hurricanes wreaked havoc on the Caribbean in the span of two weeks. Places such as Anguilla, Dominica, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands were badly damaged – people … [Read more...]
COVID-19 Invades T & T and Government implements drastic measures to avert its spread
[Reprinted: Global Voices, 3-16-20] Compared with the mounting numbers of coronavirus cases in other countries, four patients testing positive for COVID-19 might not seem like a lot, but the government of Trinidad and Tobago is taking no chances. In a press conference on March 16, 2020, Prime Minister Keith Rowley explained his administration's strategy in dealing with this pandemic: avoid levels … [Read more...]
Bahamas joins the list of Caribbean islands infected with COVID-19
[Reprinted Loop Caribbean News 3-16-20] The Bahamas has its first confirmed case of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). At an emergency press conference this afternoon, word of such came from the Acting Health Minister the Hon Jeffrey 'Jeff' Lloyd. Speaking at the head table and chairing the meeting, he said: "The Bahamas today confirmed its first case of COVID-19 here in New … [Read more...]
Chest CT scans diagnose COVID-19 better than lab tests, says study
Chest CT scans are more efficient than lab tests in confirming 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) diagnoses, according to a new study out of Wuhan, China. Encompassing more than 1,000 patients, the assessment deemed CT to be the primary screening tool for COVID-19. Finding such a tool that can make early diagnoses is high in importance, as without specific therapeutic drugs or vaccines for the … [Read more...]
Coronavirus spreads to the Caribbean
(Reprinted Miami Herald, 3-2-2020) The first confirmed cases of coronavirus are being reported in the Caribbean, after authorities in the Dominican Republic on Sunday confirmed that an Italian national was checked into a Santo Domingo hospital over the weekend. In addition, the Regional Health Agency of Guadeloupe confirmed three cases after a resident of the French overseas territory of St. … [Read more...]