Last Updated on April 21, 2020, 7:36 AM AST by Anthony Morris
Three migrants who had been deported two weeks ago by the United States, to Haiti, have tested positive for the novel coronavirus while they had been kept in quarantine in Haiti.
Many lawmakers of the United States had also opposed the step of deportation of the persons by a flight to Haiti owing to the risk of spreading the novel coronavirus further in the impoverished country of Haiti, as the country is very vulnerable to an outbreak of the virus.
At the time when the persons were deported by the flight, Haiti just had 25 confirmed cases of the COVID-19 as compared to over 380,000 cases of the virus in the United States.
Haiti now has 47 confirmed cases of the COVID-19, but the number of these confirmed cases may rise quickly.
A major outbreak of the COVID-19 could prove out to be devastating for an impoverished nation like Haiti, which only has around 100 ventilators for a population of 11 million in the country and where the healthcare system is collapsing already.
Also, Haiti’s water and sanitation system are in shambles.
The Government of Haiti has already closed its borders and declared a state of emergency in the country; still, many of the Haitian people have continued with their daily lives as usual as are on hand to mouth existence and so they cannot afford to stay back home.
It is noteworthy that around two-thirds of Haiti’s population, live below the poverty line.
Previously, Forty-six Guatemalan migrants had been deported by the United States on two deportation flights had also tested positive for the COVID-19 coronavirus.
Haiti is facing a recession this year and is also combating with political instability and gang violence while having minimal resources.
To date, only 508 tests have been carried out in Haiti according to the health ministry.
However, it is hoped that the number of tests would ramp up next month when the rapid test kits arrive.
Anthony Morris covers stories related to politics and regional developments. His in-depth reporting about governance and reforms makes him stand out in regional journalism, with a deep analysis of political trends and their impact on Caribbean communities.
