Jamaica, a good example in the fight against COVID-19 – PAHO | News

Nadine Wilson-Harris, journalist

Jamaica, Argentina and Costa Rica are today recognized by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) for their respective efforts to reduce the spread of COVID-19 through contact tracing mechanisms.

PAHO Deputy Director Dr Jarbas Barbosa said the three countries are role models for others to follow as the Americas have witnessed an average of 150,000 daily cases of COVID-19 over the course of from last week.

Since the start of the pandemic, nearly 22 million people have been infected with COVID-19 in the region and more than 660,000 have died.

“Contact tracing should be part of all response plans and should be adjusted according to the pattern of transmission – from sporadic cases, to clusters, to community transmission,” Barbosa said.

“Argentina, Costa Rica and Jamaica are just a few countries that are doing this particularly well,” he said.

He said contact tracing can reduce the spread of the virus.

“We recognize them in order to share their efforts. There are other countries doing their best. They mobilized their resources [and] they are fighting an unprecedented public health crisis, ”he said.

Health and Welfare Minister Dr Christopher Tufton said contact tracing remained a critical part of the ministry’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, despite Jamaica entering the community transmission phase on September 3.

Contact tracing involves public health staff working with a patient to help them remember all of the people they have had close contact with during the period in which they may have been contagious.

Exposed people (contacts) are then warned of their potential exposure.

Barbosa said small Caribbean countries have performed particularly well, establishing robust disease surveillance systems capable of detecting an increase in COVID cases.

“With strong laboratory surveillance systems, Caribbean countries have been disciplined to impose restrictions and tighten public health measures in the event of new infections, while keeping tourism afloat,” he said. .

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