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COVID-19 pandemic in Puerto Rico

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2020 coronavirus pandemic in Puerto Rico
(top to bottom)
DiseaseCOVID-19
Virus strainSARS-CoV-2
LocationPuerto Rico
First outbreakWuhan, Hubei, China
Index caseSan Juan
Arrival dateMarch 13, 2020
(4 years, 4 months, 2 weeks and 5 days)
Confirmed cases6
Recovered0
Deaths
0

This article details the pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the United States territory of Puerto Rico.

Background

Puerto Rico's population is at a heightened risk of COVID-19 due to its higher proportion of elderly people compared to the US as a whole. In 2017, 21% in Puerto Rico versus 16% in the rest of the US are over the age of 65. Additionally, elderly residents of Puerto Rico are seven times more likely to live in poverty than in the rest of the country. Puerto Rico has one fifth as many intensive care unit beds per capita than the rest of the US. Additionally, Puerto Rico is still recovering from Hurricane Maria and the 2019–2020 Puerto Rico earthquakes.[1][2]

Timeline

January

Beginning in late January, Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport became one of twenty US airports where travelers will undergo additional screening. The screenings focus on passengers from Wuhan and require a form stating their travel, contacts in Wuhan, and any possible symptoms. Travelers will have their temperatures taken.[3]

February

On February 29, Governor Wanda Vázquez Garced established a coronavirus task force to examine potential cases.[4]

March

March 4–8

On March 4, an Panamanian doctor and four companions arrived in San Juan, Puerto Rico after traveling to New York, Miami, and Panama. They attended the National Day of Salsa festival in San Juan, Puerto Rico on March 7 despite having a fever and feeling ill. On March 12, Vázquez requested all people who were in the VIP section to self isolate if they had flu-like symptoms.[2]

On March 8, a 68-year-old Italian woman on the cruise ship Costa Luminosa sailing from Fort Lauderdale, Florida was put in self isolation in a Puerto Rico hospital after showing symptoms of pneumonia. A test was sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).[5] She ordered that all cruises arriving in Puerto Rico certify that no passengers meet the criteria for COVID-19.[6]

March 10–13

As of March 10, the Puerto Rico Department of Health reported that five cases were under investigation. According to the Secretary of Health, Rafael Rodríguez Mercado, the CDC received tests on March 10, but the results were still unknown 48 hours later.[4]

As a preventive measure, on March 12, Vázquez declared a state of emergency and activated the Puerto Rico National Guard. As of March 12, Puerto Rico had no confirmed cases of COVID-19.[4][7] The Government of Puerto Rico barred tourists from travelling to Vieques and Culebra. Only residents and those delivering supplies are allowed to travel to the islands.[8]

In mid-March, several universities including University of Puerto Rico, Universidad del Sagrado Corazón, Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico, Ana G. Méndez University, Interamerican University of Puerto Rico, and National University College cancelled in-person classes and moved to remote instruction.[9]

As of the morning of March 13, Puerto Rico had 17 suspected cases of COVID-19 and had sent tests to the CDC on March 9. Vázquez criticized the CDC on March 13 for not having results over four days later.[10] However, later in the evening of March 13, Vázquez announced in a press conference that three cases had been confirmed: the 68-year-old Italian woman from the cruise ship Costa Luminosa and her 70-year-old husband (both tourists) hospitalized in isolation at the Ashford Presbyterian Community Hospital in Condado,[11] as well as a 71-year-old Puerto Rican cancer patient in treatment at Auxilio Mutuo Hospital[12] whose relatives had traveled off the island.[13][14] During the evening of March 13, Vázquez closed all public schools for 14 days and barred Dominican Republic cruise ships and ferries from docking.[14]

On March 13, the House of Representatives of Puerto Rico approved House Bill 2428 to amend Puerto Rico Law 180-1998 to establish unpaid emergency leave of up to 20 days for employees with a suspected or actual diagnosis of a pandemic illness.[15] The bill is awaiting consideration by the Senate of Puerto Rico.[15]

March 14–18

Plans to take people's temperature as they enter Puerto Rico at 7 different points of entry are pending the receipt of 50 thermometers.[16]

On March 15, Vázquez declared a curfew from 9:00 pm to 5:00 am until March 30. People are only allowed out for work or in cases of emergency. She also ordered all businesses to close with the exception of grocers, supermarkets, gas stations, banking institutions, pharmacies, and medical companies. She also confirmed a fourth case of COVID-19, an 87-year-old military veteran and California resident who was transferred to the Mayagüez Medical Center by United States Coast Guard helicopter after presenting symptoms on a cruise passing through the Mona Passage.[12]

On March 15, Puerto Rico Police commissioner Henry Escalera Rivera postponed all personnel training. Current cadets at the Police Academy will report to locations close to their residences to conduct administrative tasks at the barracks. Until further notice, several documents and certifications will not be issued: background and criminal checks and copies of police reports. The Criminal Record Office will not be offering in-person services and will instead send records through email free of charge.[17]

On March 15, a 65-year-old woman at an undisclosed location became the fifth confirmed case. Puerto Rico has 17 other suspected cases of COVID-19.[18]

On March 16, Vázquez discussed the possibility of declaring martial law should the population not heed the curfew and rules imposed with the state of emergency. The governor had mandated the closure of all non-essential businesses for two weeks yet some companies had gone about business as usual and opened their doors, prompting Vázquez to say "we can be much stricter."[19] Business owners are subject to a $5,000 fine and up to six months in jail if they don't abide by the curfew. On March 16, police fined a bar in Orocovis and carried out over two dozen enforcement actions.[20] Puerto Rican Police reported they had made 36 arrests and filed 85 charges for violations in the three days since the curfew was enacted.[21]

On March 17, Vázquez sent a letter to the Federal Aviation Administration with three independent requests. In a statement, she explained the letter seeks authorization to close airports without passenger screenings, limit airstrips for charter planes, and allow the island limit air traffic to the military and vital services.[21]

On March 18, the sixth confirmed case was announced by a Hospital de Veteranos spokesperson. State epidemiologist Carmen Deseda reported that at the Veteranos, there were 26 possible cases, 10 of which tested negative.[22]

Government response

At a press conference on March 12, Governor Vázquez declared a state of emergency and activated the National Guard. She stated that National Guard personnel will be stationed at the Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport and the Port of San Juan to screen arriving passengers for symptoms.[4] The declaration also ordered all mass gatherings and events in March to be postponed or canceled. Vázquez expressed frustration at the CDC due to delays in testing.[7] On March 13, the Secretary of Health of Puerto Rico, Rafael Rodríguez resigned.[23] Congressperson Jenniffer González questioned why Vázquez removed the Secretary during a time of crisis, stating that it could signal to federal legislators that the Puerto Rico Department of Health was incompetent and unprepared for the crisis.[24]

In March 2020, the United States Department of Health and Human Services allocated Puerto Rico nearly $5.9 million to combat COVID-19.[25]

On March 13, Puerto Rico public schools were closed for 14 days.[14] The House of Representative of Puerto Rico approved a bill to establish new unpaid emergency leave. It is awaiting consideration by the Senate of Puerto Rico.[15]

Congressperson González successfully requested the CDC to include Puerto Rico and the other Territories of the United States in their digital alert system.[26] On March 14, González stated she would remain in Washington, D.C., despite having previously scheduled meetings in Puerto Rico, so she could work with the United States Congress.[24]

On March 15, Vázquez issued an island-wide curfew through March 30 and closed all businesses not involved in food sales, medicine, or banking.[12]

On March 15, the police commissioner postponed personnel training.[17]

On March 15, José Aponte Hernández, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives of Puerto Rico said he would request from Jenniffer González Colón, (the resident commissioner of Puerto Rico) for funds to get an old hospital up and running. What was discussed was the possibility of using an old hospital located on the Roosevelt Roads Naval Station located in Ceiba (a small eastern municipality), to treat persons affected by the 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Puerto Rico.[27]

Statistics

2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Cases in Puerto Rico[12][11][18][22]

Updated March 15, 2020

Municipality Confirmed Cases Recoveries
San Juan 4 0
Mayagüez 1 0
Undisclosed 1 0
Total 6 0

References

  1. ^ Buckee, Caroline (March 13, 2020). "Puerto Rico must act now to stop the coronavirus". Boston Globe. Retrieved March 13, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. ^ a b Wyss, Jim (March 12, 2020). "A partying, dancing Panamanian doctor emerges as the latest coronavirus threat to Puerto Rico". Miami Herald. Retrieved March 13, 2020.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  3. ^ Aratani, Lori; Berger, Miriam (January 30, 2020). "Here are the 20 U.S. airports where health officials are screening for coronavirus". Washington Post. Retrieved March 14, 2020.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  4. ^ a b c d Gresik, Dylan (March 13, 2020). "Governor of Puerto Rico declares emergency, activates National Guard in response to coronavirus". Military Times. Retrieved March 13, 2020.
  5. ^ Marcial Ocasio, Jennifer A. (March 8, 2020). "Italian woman whose cruise stopped in Fort Lauderdale, Puerto Rico being tested for coronavirus". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved March 13, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  6. ^ "Puerto Rico takes Preventative Measures for Possible Case of COVID-19". NBC 6 South Florida. March 8, 2020. Retrieved March 13, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  7. ^ a b Casiano, Louis (March 12, 2020). "Puerto Rico activates National Guard amid coronavirus, stops large gatherings". Fox News. Retrieved March 13, 2020.
  8. ^ Charles, Jacqueline; Wyss, Jim (March 12, 2020). "Caribbean and Latin American nations take drastic measures to curtail coronavirus spread". Miami Herald. Retrieved March 14, 2020.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  9. ^ "Estas son las universidades con cambios en clases por coronavirus [These are the universities with class changes due to coronavirus]". NotiCel (in Spanish). March 12, 2020. Retrieved March 14, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  10. ^ Wyss, Jim (March 13, 2020). "Waiting days for results, Puerto Rico governor criticizes CDC for slow COVID-19 response". Miami Herald. Retrieved March 13, 2020.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  11. ^ a b Rivera Clementa, Yaritza (March 15, 2020). "Gobernadora decreta toque de queda por el coronavirus". El Vocero de Puerto Rico (in Spanish). Retrieved March 15, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  12. ^ a b c d "Wanda Vázquez decreta toque de queda para todo Puerto Rico para contener el coronavirus [Wanda Vázquez declares curfew for all of Puerto Rico to contain coronavirus]". El Nuevo Dia (in Spanish). March 15, 2020. Retrieved March 15, 2020.
  13. ^ Torres Gotay, Benjamín (March 13, 2020). "Tres pacientes arrojan positivo a coronavirus en Puerto Rico [Three patients test positive to coronavirus in Puerto Rico]". El Nuevo Día (in Spanish). Retrieved March 13, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  14. ^ a b c "First coronavirus cases seen in Puerto Rico". Associated Press. March 14, 2020. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  15. ^ a b c Colón-Acevedo, Sara E.; Felipe Santos, Juan; Álvarez-Sánchez, Maralyssa (March 13, 2020). "Puerto Rico Senate Considers Unpaid Emergency Leave for Pandemic Illness". The National Law Review. Retrieved March 15, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  16. ^ "En Vieques se atenderán los casos sospechosos del virus en un tráiler [In Vieques suspected cases of the virus will be seen in a trailer]". El Nuevo Dia (in Spanish). March 15, 2020.
  17. ^ a b "Policía pospone adiestramientos de personal por coronavirus". Wapa NotiCentro. March 15, 2020. Retrieved March 15, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  18. ^ a b Lilley, Sandra (March 15, 2020). "Puerto Rico imposes curfew, early closings to contain coronavirus spread". NBC News. Retrieved March 15, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  19. ^ "Gov. Vázquez Does not Want to Resort to Martial Law". Caribbean Business. March 16, 2020. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
  20. ^ Wyss, Jim (March 16, 2020). "Empty streets, bored tourists, anxious merchants: Puerto Rico amid coronavirus curfew". Miami Herald. Retrieved March 18, 2020.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  21. ^ a b Wyss, Jim (March 18, 2020). "Puerto Rico seeks to suspend all incoming flights to battle COVID-19 spread". Miami Herald. Retrieved March 18, 2020.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  22. ^ a b Del Valle Hernández, Sara (March 18, 2020). "Confirman el sexto caso de coronavirus en Puerto Rico". El Nuevo Dia (in Spanish). Retrieved March 18, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  23. ^ "Renuncia el secretario del Departamento de Salud, Rafael Rodríguez [Rafael Rodriguez, Secretary of the Department of Health resigns]". Telemundo Puerto Rico (in Spanish). Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  24. ^ a b Delgado, José A. (March 14, 2020). "Jenniffer González expresa preocupación con la salida del secretario de Salud [Jenniffer González worried over the resignation of the Secretary of Health]". El Nuevo Dia (in Spanish). Retrieved March 15, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  25. ^ "CDC Allocates $5.8 million to Puerto Rico in Support of COVID-19 Response". Caribbean Business. March 11, 2020. Retrieved March 13, 2020.
  26. ^ "Incluyen a Puerto Rico en sistema de alertas del Centro para el Control y Prevención de Enfermedades [Puerto Rico included in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention alert system]". Congresswoman Jenniffer González-Colón. February 12, 2020. Retrieved March 13, 2020.
  27. ^ "Piden usar el antiguo hospital de Roosevelt Roads para coronavirus". primerahora.com (in Spanish). March 15, 2020. Retrieved March 16, 2020.
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