COVID cases drop in Americas, but ‘glaring gaps’ in jabs: PAHO

The sharp drop in US COVID-19 cases is a ‘testament’ to the importance of vaccines, says the head of the Pan American Health Organization.

While COVID-19 cases have been dropping overall in the Americas, the head of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has urged greater vaccine access to tackle infections and protect vulnerable health networks across the region. During a weekly news briefing on Wednesday, PAHO Director Carissa Etienne said coronavirus-related deaths in the Caribbean islands of Bahamas, Haiti, and Trinidad and Tobago doubled in the last week. Over the last week, PAHO said 1.2 million new coronavirus cases and 31,000 deaths were recorded in the region.