The American continent experienced a decrease in its death toll from COVID-19 this week, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) reported this Wednesday. According to the report, infections were reduced by 28% and deaths by 9% compared to the previous week, this being the first decrease since the appearance of the omicron variant.
Across North America, cases are down by a third, but numbers remain high. Meanwhile, in South America, deaths decreased by 13% and in Central America by 17%. In the Caribbean region, eight nations reported an increase in deaths, although infections fell by 44%.
The director of the organization, Carissa F. Etienne, highlighted the importance of addressing low vaccination rates in Caribbean countries, since 10 of the 13 territories in the Americas that have not yet reached 40% vaccination coverage are in that region.