Americas: ‘Smart’ use of rapid tests critical amid COVID surge

Dr. Carissa Etienne, Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), highlighted the captious request for countries to scale-up investigating and, successful particular, to leverage “smart” usage of accelerated antigen tests. 

Over the past week, COVID-19 cases successful the portion reached caller peaks, with astir 7.2 cardinal caller infections and much than 15,000 deaths. 

“Although Omicron infections look to beryllium milder, we proceed to impulse caution due to the fact that the microorganism is spreading much actively than ever before,” she said. 

Regional overview 

COVID-19 hospitalizations proceed to surge successful North America, the United States and Canada. 

Panama, Costa Rica and Honduras saw their caseloads much than treble implicit the past week, representing the highest numbers of caller cases successful Central America. 

Caribbean islands are besides witnessing the steepest summation successful infections successful the astir 3 years since the pandemic was declared. Cases successful Martinique person risen by much than 600 per cent, portion Saint Martin has reported a much than 135 per cent increase. 

Caseloads successful much than 17 countries and territories person astatine slightest doubled, which she said is particularly concerning arsenic infirmary capableness successful galore islands is limited. 

Infections besides are accelerating successful Colombia, Peru, Brazil, and Bolivia, portion hospitalizations are increasing successful Paraguay, Uruguay, and Argentina.  

‘Use tests smartly’ 

As the microorganism surges, countries are confronting what Dr. Etienne called the “familiar challenge” of testing. 

Despite a beardown web of laboratories crossed the Americas, request for investigating is higher than ever, particularly arsenic galore countries are besides experiencing an progressive flu season, “so it’s captious that countries usage tests smartly,” she said. 

PAHO has recommended that the champion mode to boost investigating is to leverage accelerated antigen tests, which supply a diagnosis successful minutes.   

These tests bash not necessitate specialized grooming oregon costly equipment, and tin beryllium deployed to superior wellness centres, meaning much radical tin beryllium reached. 

Dr. Etienne urged countries to grow investigating astatine the assemblage level to relieve unit connected overburdened hospitals. 

“Because we are facing a investigating shortage, PAHO recommends that countries prioritize accelerated antigen tests for individuals who are experiencing COVID symptoms and are astatine hazard of spreading the virus,” she said. 

Support to countries 

PAHO continues to enactment determination countries during the pandemic.   

Through its Strategic Fund, much than 42 cardinal PCR diagnostic tests and accelerated antigen tests for astir 40 countries person been acquired since the commencement of the crisis, much than 2 years ago. 

More than 12 cardinal tests person been deployed to countries successful need, with stocks sent to Bolivia, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, arsenic good arsenic St. Kitts and Nevis, successful caller weeks. 

The wellness bureau has besides established agreements with 2 of the WHO-approved manufacturers of COVID-19 diagnostic tests, to unafraid them astatine reduced cost.  

Dr. Etienne urged governments to instrumentality vantage of this statement by purchasing diagnostic tests done the PAHO Strategic Fund.  

Since January of 2021, the Fund has purchased much than 22 cardinal COVID tests connected behalf of determination countries, and orders are expected to summation this year.