Last Updated on June 29, 2020, 6:51 AM AST by Anthony Morris
A 57 per cent increase in the cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19) yesterday was recorded in Haiti even after the International Organization for Migration (IOM) had issued the warning that there were many more people infected with COVID-19 disease.
The Ministry of Public Health of Haiti has said that the 179 new cases have brought the total number of cases to 5,722 since the first case was identified in the impoverished nation on March 19 this year.
The Ministry has said that two new deaths were also recorded in the country due to the COVID-19 disease and these deaths have brought the total number of deaths in Haiti due to COVID-19 disease to 98.
The Ministry also said that the country was dealing with 4,983 active cases and added that the number of suspected cases which were investigated in Haiti since March 19, has now reached to 11,506.
However, Giussepe Loprete, the head of Mission of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), said that the figures might be misleading since some people try to nuance. Still, he has a 100 per cent belief that the cases of COVID-19 in Haiti are underestimated.
Giussepe Loprete also said that there were difficulties in testing Haitian people, some of whom do not believe that the disease exists.
He added to his statement by saying that the figures could prove to be smoke screens if Haiti can not do the tests for COVID-19 coronavirus.
Loprete, said this while he was speaking in a video conference which was chaired by the Prime Minister of Haiti, Joseph Jouthe.
He said that no decision should be made regarding the re-opening of the borders of Haiti without a real assessment of the current situation.
He said that ending the confinement is possible only after a careful assessment of the situation, but it will take more tests and more information, to control the situation.
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.
