The director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Dr Carissa F. Etienne has called on the authorities in the Caribbean to be fully prepared for the 2021 hurricane season.
Dr Etienne warned that the coronavirus pandemic and the potential devastation of high winds and flooding make preparation even more critical than usual.
“We must safeguard our countries and territories against the dual threat of COVID-19 and the hurricane season. We must ensure that health services are fully operational to save lives and protect the well-being of populations before, during and after hurricanes,” Dr Etienne said.
“We must also make sure that emergency care, hospitalization, ICU beds, laboratories, and quarantine and isolation centres are protected and functional,” she added.
The Atlantic hurricane season began on June 1 with forecasters predicting a 60 per cent chance of above-normal activity The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) forecast is for 13 to 20 named storms, including six to 10 hurricanes and three to five major hurricanes.
