As the Caribbean's tourism sector continues to expand post-pandemic, is medical assistance provision keeping up? Megan Gaen investigates. Idyllic islands, beautiful beaches, tropical paradise: all synonymous with the Caribbean. Healthcare and evacuation, not so much – though possibly crucial for visitors to the region. Seeing the inside of a local hospital is not usually on the itinerary for … [Read more...]
A terrible cycle’: Hurricane Fiona, natural disasters expose mental health crisis in Puerto Rico
In the days after Hurricane Fiona, Dr. Brenda Rivera-García sat at home without electricity, water and Wi-Fi in San Juan, Puerto Rico. She was stuck listening to the hum of generators powering households across the neighborhood, drowning out the cheerful coquis that chirp throughout the night. The sad hum, the droning "lullaby," mirrored the island's collective grief, Rivera-García … [Read more...]
Caribbean travel: Covid entry rules, island by island
Caribbean islands have reopened to international tourism. Most islands have dropped pre-arrival Covid testing for vaccinated travelers, but regulations are still particularly varied when it comes to entry protocols for unvaccinated travelers. Here are the latest developments for travel from the U.S. to each Caribbean country. To make this information easier to understand, we are segmenting each … [Read more...]
Tourists Tote Dollars And COVID To U.S. Caribbean Islands
[Reprinted: Kaiser Health News, 9-1-2020] The Facebook group called “What’s Going on St. Thomas?” has been flooded with pointed, exasperated comments urging travelers to stay away. This is a marked change. Before the pandemic, the exchanges between vacationers and island residents resonated with promises of excitement and fun. Now, tour operators from the mainland who administer the Facebook page … [Read more...]
Coronavirus cases in the Caribbean to date: 65,942
[Reprinted: Loop Caribbean News, 7-13-2020] Confirmed Caribbean coronavirus cases as of July 13, 2020: Dominican Republic- 44,532 cases, 897 deaths, 21,459 recovered Haiti- 6727 cases, 139 deaths, 2924 recovered French Guiana- 5949 cases, 26 deaths, 2981 recovered Puerto Rico- 2583 cases, 167 deaths Cuba- 2426 cases, 87 deaths, 2258 recovered … [Read more...]