PAHO Calls on Countries to Continue COVID-19 Testing and Increase Vaccination to Avoid a Prolonged Pandemic

Washington, DC, 30 de September de 2022 (PAHO)- In an update on COVID-19 presented at the 30th Pan American Sanitary Conference, the Director of Health Emergencies of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Ciro Ugarte, stated that “we are transitioning from an acute phase of the pandemic to more sustained control of the virus.”

Since the SARS-CoV-2 virus first appeared until the 17 September 2022, the Region of the Americas has reported more than 177 million cases and 2.8 million deaths, 29.1% and 43% of the global total respectively. In the last 14 days, cases increased by 0.7% and deaths by 0.3%.

Regarding the future of the pandemic, Ugarte said that the worst-case scenario, “particularly if we fail to ensure surveillance and increase vaccination coverage,” is one in which a more virulent and highly transmissible variant appears against which vaccines are less effective, thus prolonging the pandemic.

“We have been on a long journey these past 33 months,” Ugarte said, urging that the way forward requires resilient health systems and services based on primary care, strong epidemiological surveillance and the expansion of vaccination programs.

“The experience of COVID-19 showed us that countries need up-to-date emergency procedures, flexible public health measures and health networks that can rapidly deploy human resources and health supplies.”