COVID-19 is not gone, forbidden to trust us

Although the numbers of SARS-CoV-2 infections in the province have palpably decreased in 2023, compared to the previous year, it does not mean that hygiene and prevention measures can be ignored, and even more so, border control and surveillance.

According to information published on the official website of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), at the end of last January the Emergency Committee of the International Health Regulations (RSI -2005) on the 2019 coronavirus disease pandemic, at its XIV meeting recommended that COVID-19 continue to be considered as "a Public Health emergency of international concern".

Suggestion approved by the Director General of the WHO, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who also agrees with the advice offered by this Committee, which in turn formulated a group of Temporary Recommendations to the Member States of the health organization, among which stand out: focus on vaccination and booster doses; work in communities, prepare for future outbreaks, and adjust travel measures to risk.

Regarding these actions, a separate section requires, for example, the anti-COVID-19 vaccination program, because despite the fact that it is advancing in Holguín, there are municipalities with delays, such as "Frank País" and Cueto that do not reach 95%, which indicates that they need to deploy more intentional work in this task.

In the same way, it is necessary to defend the work of education and prevention on the pandemic in the communities, to avoid outbreaks and accurately carry out epidemiological surveillance and research at maritime and air borders, a fact that will offer guarantee in the timely detection of any patient.

From the beginning of January to February 19, 95 cases have been reported in the province, including 79 autochthonous and 16 imported; without events and only five active outbreaks in Holguín, "Rafael Freyre", Cueto and Moa, but the most worrying are the two cases without a specified source of infection in the last 15 days, from the Mario Gutiérrez and Álex Urquiola health areas, in the head city.

All these figures are below those reported in the same period of 2022, nevertheless it is necessary to continue with the action protocols planned for these moments, when it is essential the use of the nasobuco in public transport, educational and hospital centers, as well as where there are crowds of people.

Other measures should continue to be observed, including avoiding going out if you are sick, going to the doctor for signs and symptoms of the disease and getting vaccinated according to the corresponding dose, always remembering how many benefits Abdala, Soberana and Soberana Plus have brought to Cubans when we were facing sad days due to COVID-19.