Caribbean: Countries and territories continue to report COVID-19 disease as of early November /update 11

Event

Several countries and territories in the Caribbean continued to report coronavirus disease (COVID-19) transmission through November 2020. According to data through Nov. 29 from the World Health Organization (WHO), the following countries and territories in the Caribbean have identified confirmed COVID-19 cases:

No active cases:

• Montserrat: Last reported confirmed case: July 29

• Anguilla: Last reported confirmed case: April 4

Sporadic cases:

• Cayman Islands: 274 cases**

• Saint Lucia: 246 cases

• Antigua and Barbuda: 141 cases

• Saint-Barthelemy: 127 cases

• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines: 85 cases

• Grenada: 41 cases

• Saint Kitts and Nevis: 22 cases

Clusters of cases:

• Cuba: 8,173 cases*

• Bahamas: 7,496 cases

• Turks and Caicos Islands: 748 cases

• Barbados: 270 cases*

• Bermuda: 247 cases

• Dominica: 85 cases**

• British Virgin Islands: 72 cases

Community transmission:

• Dominican Republic: 142,653 cases*

• Puerto Rico: 51,581 cases

• Jamaica: 10,669 cases

• Haiti: 9,264 cases

• Guadeloupe: 8,344 cases

• Trinidad and Tobago: 6,586 cases

• Aruba: 4,791 cases

• Martinique: 5,413 cases

• Curacao: 2,046 cases

• US Virgin Islands: 1,538 cases

• Sint Maarten: 1,041 cases

• Saint Martin: 690 cases

• Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba: 161 cases

*As of Nov. 29, these countries are reporting increases in the number of active cases.

Additional cases may be added to this list at any time, as disease surveillance and testing continues.

Context

Additional cases may be added to this list at any time as disease surveillance and testing continues.

COVID-19 is a viral respiratory disease caused by infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Human-to-human transmission does occur, primarily through respiratory droplets from infected individuals or contact with contaminated surfaces or objects. Symptoms occur 1-14 days following exposure (average of 3-7 days). These symptoms typically include fever, fatigue, and dry cough; less common symptoms include headache, diarrhea, loss of taste or smell, reddening of the eyes, skin rash, or discoloration of the fingers or toes. Symptoms may worsen to difficulty breathing, pneumonia, and organ failure - especially in those with underlying, chronic medical conditions. Some infected individuals display no symptoms.

Older individuals and people of any age with chronic medical conditions or compromised immunity should consider postponing nonessential travel, including domestic travel, and take special precautions to avoid becoming ill, especially where sustained community transmission of COVID-19 is ongoing. All individuals should monitor their health and limit interactions with others for 14 days after returning from travel.

Advice

Emphasize basic health precautions, especially frequent handwashing with soap and water, or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are unavailable. Practice good coughing/sneezing etiquette (i.e., covering coughs and sneezes with a disposable tissue, maintaining distance from others, and washing hands). There is no evidence that the influenza vaccine, antibiotics, or antiviral medications will prevent this disease, highlighting the importance of diligent basic health precautions.

Resources

WHO coronavirus knowledge base
US CDC: Guidance for Businesses and Employers
US CDC: Preventing COVID-19 Spread in Communities
Mental Health Considerations during COVID-19 Outbreak
US CDC: Manage Anxiety and Stress
US CDC Global COVID-19 Travel Health Notice
WHO: Getting your workplace ready for COVID-19