Thread by @pahowho

🚨🔊#PAHO Press Briefing on #COVID19🦠in the Americas🌎 July 14, 2021🎙💻
twitter.com/i/broadcasts/1…

As of this week, our region 🌎 reported nearly 74 million cases and 1.9 million deaths from COVID-19 🦠, accounting for more than a third of COVID cases and more than 40% of deaths reported worldwide this week.

@DirOPSPAHO

And while new cases are down ⬇️ nearly 20% from last week, many countries – including the U.S. 🇺🇸– are seeing a resurgence of infections 🦠

@DirOPSPAHO

In North America, the U.S. 🇺🇸 and Mexico 🇲🇽 are reporting an increase 📈 in new infections across most states.

@DirOPSPAHO #COVID19

Many Central American nations are also seeing cases including in El Salvador where a consistent increase 📈 in daily cases was noted between late June and early July, and Guatemala, where at department level there were surges in COVID deaths 💀 in the past 2 weeks.

@DirOPSPAHO

In the Caribbean, infections are also going up ⬆️

Cuba reported the highest number of weekly cases since the start of the pandemic, and cases have tripled in the British Virgin Islands just weeks after reopening to cruise ships 🛳

@DirOPSPAHO #COVID19

Meanwhile, South America is reporting a mixed picture.

COVID infections, hospitalizations, and deaths are dropping 📉 across most of the continent, including in Brazil, Peru, Uruguay, and Chile.

@DirOPSPAHO #COVID19

However, infections 🦠 are once again mounting in Argentina, and in Colombia, they’re reaching their highest-ever levels, raising concerns about the health system’s 🏥 ability to cope as 98% of ICU beds are already in use.

@DirOPSPAHO #COVID19

Cases rise ⬆️ when complacency sets in. We are all tired, but after experiencing successive peaks of infections in the same locations, we must break this cycle ♻ by embracing public health measures 😷 early and consistently.

@DirOPSPAHO #COVID19

When variants 🦠 of concern circulate, it’s even more important that countries step up surveillance, especially while vaccine 💉 coverage remains low.

@DirOPSPAHO #COVID19

One year ago, preparations were underway to launch what would become the COVAX Facility.

Yet today, just 1️⃣ in 🔟 vaccines 💉 administered worldwide have been here in the Americas 🌎

@DirOPSPAHO #COVID19

And even with limited bilateral deals, months of COVAX deliveries 📦 and recent donations from countries like the US, only 1️⃣ in 7️⃣ people in Latin America and the Caribbean have been fully protected against COVID.

@DirOPSPAHO #COVID19

Money 💰, more than public health, has determined how quickly countries can secure the tools 💉 they need to combat this virus 🦠.

@DirOPSPAHO #COVID19

As countries that struck deals with vaccine 💉 manufacturers pull further ahead, vaccination coverage continues to linger in the single digits for much of our region 🌎

@DirOPSPAHO #COVID19

In Chile 🇨🇱, nearly 58% of people have been fully vaccinated against COVID, in Uruguay 🇺🇾, 55% of people are protected.

The U.S. 🇺🇸 has vaccinated 💉 nearly half of its population, and Canada 🇨🇦isn’t far behind.

@DirOPSPAHO #COVID19

Meanwhile, Paraguay and Jamaica have fully vaccinated less than 3% of their populations 👧🏿👨🏽👵🏾, and Honduras and Guatemala have yet to protect even 1% of their populations.

@DirOPSPAHO #COVID19

The U.S government has generously donated nearly 12 million COVID-19 vaccine 💉 doses to countries in our region over the last few weeks, and additional deliveries 📦 are on their way, with PAHO’s help.

@DirOPSPAHO #COVID19

These vaccines 💉 are bringing hope to countries that would otherwise have to wait months 🗓 to secure even a fraction of these doses.

@DirOPSPAHO #COVID19

That’s why we continue to urge donors and countries with surplus vaccines 💉 to share them with our region.

This remains the only way for many countries in our region 🌎 to secure the doses they need, quickly.

@DirOPSPAHO #COVID19

We are concerned about #Haiti, which, in the midst of considerable political turmoil, has seen thousands of people displaced by growing violence and instability, and crowded shelters could become active hot spots for COVID 🦠 transmission.

@DirOPSPAHO #COVID19

Limited supplies 📦 and violence are also hindering the ability of health workers 👨🏾‍⚕️👩🏿‍⚕️ to safely care for patients in need.

In some cases, patients may be avoiding seeking care due to safety concerns.

@DirOPSPAHO #COVID19

PAHO, along with other partners, is committed to supporting the Haitian 🇭🇹 people in these uncertain times and urges other international organizations to join us in supporting the COVID response.

@DirOPSPAHO #COVID19

Over the last few weeks, we’ve delivered considerable amounts of personal protective equipment 🥽, helped expand care for persons sick with COVID-19, and provided thousands of tests and laboratory materials 🧪 to ramp up surveillance activities in #Haiti.

@DirOPSPAHO #COVID19

We’ve also helped train community health workers, and have supported the Ministry of Health in preparing for COVID-19 vaccine 💉 introduction and setting up new systems to dispel rumors and COVID misinformation 📱

@DirOPSPAHO #COVID19

While the situation in #Haiti is unique, many countries in our region – from Colombia to Brazil and now Cuba – are experiencing waves of protests due in part to the impacts of this pandemic 🦠

@DirOPSPAHO #COVID19

#COVID19 has not just ravaged our health systems 🏥, it has fractured social protection programs and destabilized our economies

A new report released by the Economic Commission on Latin America and the Caribbean (@eclac_un) last week paints a grim outlook for our 🌎

@DirOPSPAHO

More than 7️⃣ million companies have closed in Latin America and the Caribbean in the wake of the pandemic 🦠, more than a third of people in our region are living in poverty, and 1️⃣ in 4️⃣ worry about where they will get their next meal.

@DirOPSPAHO #COVID19

Unemployment rates are higher 📈 here than any other developing region 🌎

The report shows how the pandemic continues to be fueled by inequality. And unfortunately, our region is the most unequal in the world.

@DirOPSPAHO #COVID19

We urge countries 🌎 to continue prioritizing health 🩺 and social safety nets as part of their COVID response and as they turn their sights to COVID recovery.

@DirOPSPAHO #COVID19

Social protection is key both to help people adhere to the public health measures 😷 we know work and to rebuild more inclusive, equitable societies.

@DirOPSPAHO #COVID19

Across our region, 🌎 we’re paying the price of chronic under-investment in health 🩺.

So ➡️ now is the time ⏰ for countries to break this cycle by applying a public expenditure in health of at least 6% of GDP to health systems, and chart their path to recovery.

@DirOPSPAHO

➡️ Now is the time ⏰ for countries to renew their commitment to Pan Americanism and solidarity.

@DirOPSPAHO #COVID19

Health 🩺 is a fundamental right.

It was so before COVID 🦠, and the unequal burden of this pandemic has painted the urgency of health equity under new light.

@DirOPSPAHO #COVID19