Bridgetown, Barbados, 31 July 2020 (PAHO/WHO) — Caribbean nations are making efforts to strengthen COVID-19 testing as countries reopen their borders to regional and extra-regional travel.
The PAHO/WHO Office for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean Countries hosted a webinar to discuss Scaling up COVID-19 Testing in the Eastern Caribbean and United Kingdom Overseas Territories (UKOTs) on Thursday, 30 July 2020.
The purpose of the webinar was to provide guidance on the recommended methods for COVID-19 diagnosis; share country experiences and lessons learned on COVID-19 testing; and discuss opportunities and challenges for maintaining adequate COVID-19 testing capacity.
By the end of the session, several outcomes were achieved. New PAHO guidelines for COVID-19 testing were clarified; issues and challenges affecting effective in-country laboratory testing were identified; and the use of technology to supplement existing surveillance tools was explained.
The presenters included Dr. Yitades Gebre, PAHO/WHO Representative for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean Countries, who in welcoming participants, observed that “the substantial gaps in immunity to COVID-19 globally will result in continued and substantial waves of disease through at least end-2021.”
Dr. Gebre explained that “early, targeted testing helps to isolate cases, manage patients and prevent spread”, adding that testing can save lives by averting 1 death for every 1000 tests.”
Dr. Lionel Gresh, PAHO/WHO Virologist from Washington DC, provided PAHO/WHO guidance on laboratory testing for COVID-19 and advice on procurement of reagents and laboratory supplies. The role of antigen detection and testing for patients who are isolated were among the topics Dr. Gresh discussed.
He also recommended that “symptomatic patients should be discharged from isolation 10 days after symptom onset, plus at least three additional days without symptoms”; while asymptomatic patients should be discharged “10 days after positive the test.”
Regional perspectives were shared by Ms. Songee Beckles, Director of Best dos Santos Public Health Laboratory, Barbados; Dr. Lester Simon, Laboratory Director, Mount St. John’s Medical Center, Antigua and Barbuda; and Dr. Ahmed Shalauddin, National Epidemiologist, Dominica.
The country representatives spoke of political commitment, partnerships within the countries as well as with regional and international institutions, and cooperation in such instances as when there are shortages of laboratory supplies. They also recounted similar challenges – instances of limited availability of reagents and testing kits.
