As pointed out by Dr. Carissa Etienne, executive director of the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO), in her June 2 press conference, there is no country of the Caribbean or Central and South America that has been spared a surge in COVID-19 cases. Central America, she said, reports the highest number of deaths to date, with fully one-third of patients in intensive care units. Cases are accelerating in Panama, Belize, and El Salvador, as well as in Cuba, Trinidad & Tobago, St. Martin, and the Dominican Republic.
Dr. Etienne bluntly warned that “wishful thinking” won’t make this crisis disappear. “We need action"—especially vaccines. Today, Argentina will be receiving the active ingredient for Sputnik V production at the country’s Richmond Labs and expects to start production right away. Although struck with a surge of cases, Cuba is continuing its aggressive vaccination campaign with its Soberana 2 and Abdala COVID vaccines, focusing on the epidenter, Havana, with its 2.2 million residents. Because of U.S. sanctions and the decades-long U.S. blockade, it is unable to obtain syringes and other medical supplies it needs.
