Ominous assessment of coronavirus from America: It may take years to get under control

Should the pandemic spread coronavirus continue at the current pace, it will take years for the virus to come under control on the American continent, The Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) warned today, urging countries to share access to vaccine doses.

Nearly 1.2 million new cases and 34,000 deaths were recorded in the region last week and four of the five countries with the highest death toll in the world are in american continent, said PAHO director Carissa Etienne during the organization’s weekly press conference.

“If current trends continue, the health, social and economic disparities in our region will grow even more and it will take years before we bring this virus under control on the American continent,” Etienne was quoted as saying by the Athenian-Macedonian News Agency.

Outbreaks appear to be exacerbated during this time of year during the pandemic. she noted, and the emergence of new more contagious variants he added new complexities in epidemiological surveillance.

Only 10% of the population in Latin America and the Caribbean has been fully vaccinated, with a particularly acute condition in Central America and the Caribbean.

PAHO is grateful to the United States, Spain and Canada for their promises to donate millions of installments or provide funding, but more needs to be done, the director said.

“We hope other countries, especially those with overpayments and international financial institutions, will follow suit and provide the support we need,” said Etienne, adding: “Vaccine donations are needed in the short term.”

Ahead of the start of the Copa America football tournament in Brazil on Sunday, Kiro Ugarte, PAHO’s director of Emergency Medical Services, said countries hosting mass events should consider postponing it if risks coronavirus can not be controlled.