Epidemiological Update: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) (15 October 2020)

ABSTRACT

All 54 countries and territories in the Region of the Americas have reported COVID-19 cases and deaths. Since the 18 September 2020 PAHO/WHO Epidemiological Update on COVID-19 and as of 13 October 2020, 3,018,295 additional confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 77,525 deaths, have been reported in the Region of the Americas, representing a 17% increase in cases and a 13% increase in deaths. Across all subregions, a relative increase was observed, both in the number of cases and number of deaths. The highest increase in cases was observed in the Caribbean and the Atlantic Ocean Islands subregion, with a 20% increase in cases and an 18% increase in deaths, followed by the Central America subregion, with a 20% increase in cases and a 16% increase in deaths; the South America subregion, with a 17% increase in cases and a 16% increase in deaths; and the North America subregion, with a 16% increase in cases and a 12% increase in deaths. In the last 60 days, 10 of the 54 countries/territories in the Region reported increased intensity of COVID-19 transmission and modified their COVID-19 transmission classifications accordingly Aruba, Belize, the British Virgin Islands, Curacao, Guadeloupe, Jamaica, Martinique, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Martin, and Trinidad and Tobago. Five of these had a relative increase in confirmed cases of greater than 90% (range 94% to 97%) Aruba, Belize, Curacao, Guadeloupe, and Trinidad and Tobago. During the same period, 7 of these 10 countries/territories also presented with a relative increase in deaths, ranging from 29% to 93% Aruba, Belize, Guadeloupe, Jamaica, Martinique, Saint Martin, and Trinidad and Tobago. [...]