Los Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) this week identified Puerto Rico as one of the few jurisdictions in the United States with high community transmission of COVID-19.
Using a metric on the level of infection on the island, the CDC reports that 32,108 new cases have been reported in the last seven days, with a positivity rate that exceeds 25% and a record of 40 deaths. In addition, 45 new COVID-19 hospitalizations were reported in this past week.
The CDC breaks down community transmission into three levels: low (colored green), medium (yellow), and high (red). The Puerto Rico map was painted red this Thursday, indicating high transmission.
Given this scenario, the CDC recommended the use of masks in closed spaces and that the population and visitors to the country make sure they have their COVID-19 vaccines up to date. People with suspicious symptoms are also encouraged to get tested for the virus.
According to the CDC, the level of vaccination in people five years of age or older in Puerto Rico is 86.5%. Just this week, the CDC’s vaccination advisory panel recommended the third booster dose of the vaccine manufactured by the Pfizer company for children between five and eleven years of age.
“In hospitals we are calm, with few COVID patients, but the positivity and incidence is very high. There is no doubt about that,” commented Dr. Miguel Colón.
The infectologist indicated that he has received many calls in recent weeks from suspected cases and people positive for the virus asking him what they should do: take antivirals, undergo monoclonal treatment or wait.
Of the infected people who require hospitalization, he said, the majority are older adults who have been infected by their children or grandchildren. None of the patients she has hospitalized, she said, had taken the fourth dose.
“Those are the ones who are falling into the hospital, the most vulnerable,” he said.
Of the younger people infected, he said, the symptoms he has seen are stronger than a common cold and can last two to three weeks sick.