COVID-19 cases and deaths might be declining compared to the start of the year. However, the emergence of Omicron sub-variants BA.4 and BA.5 has led to increased hospitalisations in the Americas.
Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) Director Dr Carisa Etienne yesterday reported that among 33 countries and territories with available data, hospital admittance for the disease increased in 14 over the last week compared to the previous week.
At PAHO’s weekly virtual briefing on COVID-19 and other health issues in the Americas, Etienne said a growing proportion of cases were Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 sub-lineages, which are driving infections across the Americas. She said the sub-variants were now the predominant strains in the USA but Latin America and Caribbean countries are increasingly reporting these sub-lineages.
“Omicron BA.5 has been detected in at least 22 countries and territories and is likely to become predominant in all the sub-regions during the next weeks. The emergence of BA.4 and BA.5 is yet another reminder that the virus keeps evolving every time it is transmitted and that we must remain vigilant,” Etienne said.
While countries are sampling less, Etienne said they must strengthen genomic surveillance. With the resumption of international travelling, she said countries must use every tool to protect their populations, especially the vulnerable ones. Although the T&T Government will remove mask-wearing regulations in public places on the weekend, Etienne urged countries to reintroduce public health measures like mask-wearing and public health measures when cases spike. She also advised them to accelerate their vaccination programmes to reach everyone possible, as vaccines are highly effective in preventing severe disease and deaths against the Omicron sub-lineages.
